Importing J-spec to the US?

[Dark_Rider2k3]

So I just found a MINT Mazda Autozam AZ-1. It's the first gen with the gullwing doors and turbocharger. It looks downright amazing and by god I WANT TI.

But the thing is.. What's the legalities of a J-spec car in the states? Considering it's RHD and not Left.

[MrMazda92]

I know you can drive it here, if that means anything to you. I had some Japanese neighbors a few years back, and they had 2 RHD cars that they drove every day.

[Sleeper6]

Your better of getting it imported to Canada and then shipped stateside. Regulations on importing cars are very strict down to making certain models install seatbelts and airbags even if they werent equiped when shipped overseas yet somehow more lax when coming in from canada. Heck look up the history of motorex and why they went south importing skylines.

Personally I ld get one and switch vin plates over from mine but thats just me...

[Evo_Spec]

I know you can drive it here, if that means anything to you. I had some Japanese neighbors a few years back, and they had 2 RHD cars that they drove every day.

they probably brought their car's that they owned in japan before they moved, i know it's a lot easier to do that than it is to just import a car

[Calg_93GS]

from what i gathered from a friend of mine who has a "sister" parts store in california, bringing in RHD cars is a pita state side, more so in cali, having it brought in from vancouver bc might be the better route

(correct me if im wrong, but i was informed that RHD cars for the most part get turned away in california ports)

[Dark_Rider2k3]

It's already state-side. Brought in from canada, and some guy in Buffalo NY has it. But didn't know the legalities in terms of using it on the road and such... and idk if it's registered in the US or not..

[Calg_93GS]

It's already state-side. Brought in from canada, and some guy in Buffalo NY has it. But didn't know the legalities in terms of using it on the road and such... and idk if it's registered in the US or not..

only recommendation i could make then is to contact your local DMV to see whats required for the registration, and then to talk with your insurance company to see if they will even insure the car, i know here in canada alot of insurance companies are no longer offering anything more then PLPD for RHD cars as the parts for some of the jdm only cars (nissan skylines, toyota sera's ect ect) are near impossible to come buy for repair

take into consideration of course that im in canada and our laws can be very different from yours when it comes to vehicles

[Dali]

Any car that you want to import has to be 25 years or older, plus they have to pass emissions, safety and bumper which almost all japanese cars will fail. You cannot import one into Canada and then into the states, you need the certificate of origin and that can only be from north america. Pretty much if you see one it is illegal or it is from a person who moved to the US from say Japan and they have to stay a citizen for a period of time and they are not allowed to sell the car either. In other words it is almost impossible to import unless you wait the 25 years.

[Sleeper6]

Buffalo? Ild be willing to make the trip for you and check it out if your serious thats only a 45 min trip for me and well worth it to check out a rhd

[Dark_Rider2k3]

Buffalo? Ild be willing to make the trip for you and check it out if your serious thats only a 45 min trip for me and well worth it to check out a rhd

Well (and good for everyone else to know) I messgaed him about it.. and he's not so sure he wants to sell to a US customer.. I thought he was located in Buafflo, but he's on the canadian side of the border and is only interested in selling to a Canadian customer.. so unless one of you Canadians decides to buy it and sell it to me then i'm not getting it hahah.

[MrMazda92]

I wonder if it's for anti-American reasons, or if it's financially motivated.

[Dark_Rider2k3]

I wonder if it's for anti-American reasons, or if it's financially motivated.

anti-american. He doesn't hate the US or anything, but he says that in his years of selling to US customers, he's had nothing but problems. They will get cars from him, and then go off b----ing and all this s--- when they have trouble registering it in the states...

[mazda915]

I am also trying to do that as well get a j-spec mx here in the states

[Mooneggs]

only 5 more years!

That will be the height of my international project... sigh... one fully optioned JDM RHD Eunos Presso and one fully optioned LHD Mazda MX-3...

[MrMazda92]

only 5 more years!

That will be the height of my international project... sigh... one fully optioned JDM RHD Eunos Presso and one fully optioned LHD Mazda MX-3...

I'll take the LHD you get rid of