Uh, Guys? (And Girls) - Easy GT-Four Registration Stateside, Why didn't we see this before? Options

[Espo]

So my buddy, who's been telling me my planned 3s swap is a waste (since I have an ST and won't be trusting myself with doing the work) just found out you can register a GT-Four stateside with no limitations. Now the only problem might be getting a whole one through customs and not a clip...but we do know about custom vehicle registration, right?

Since I live in New York, I found this: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/homemade.htm

But...there are no kit car registration limitations, no...well really anything except lots of fees and waiting on inspections.

Seriously, this is plausible to do, isn't it? Why aren't more of us doing it? Considering a GT-Four used is probably cheaper than a swap any day.

[freddy121389]

I contacted a company that goes through importing cars and this is what the head of their department sent me.

Mr. Guiffredo

Unfortunately, with regards to this vehicle, the US Department of Transportation has a firm position on the requirements for importing RHD vehicles.



Per DOT, "The DOT has determined that there are differences between right hand drive (RHD) vehicles and left hand drive (LHD) vehicles. The fact that most manufacturers do not manufacture right hand drive vehicles for the U.S. market means that the manufacturer has not performed U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) certification testing for a RHD vehicle. We recommend that any individual interested in importing a RHD vehicle into the U.S., request information from the U.S. manufacturer's representative that specifically identifies that the RHD version of the non-U.S. vehicle would meet the same Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards as the LHD version of the vehicle." This letter must be on Manufacturer letterhead and refer to your vehicle directly by VIN number. However, it is highly unlikely that the manufacturer will be willing to provide such a letter if they have not made a vehicle of this model for sale here in the states.



Without this documentation, we will be unable to do the conversion work on your vehicle without crash testing.



US DOT will require that at least one additional identical vehicle be imported for the purposes of crash testing. There is no guarantee that the crash test data will meet the standards of DOT.



Sorry I do not have more positive information.



Thank you,

Gina Benitez



Wallace Environmental Testing Laboratories, Inc.

2140 Wirtcrest

Houston, TX 77055

Phone: 713-956-7705

Fax: 713-956-0104

so basically if you want to import a rhd celica, you would also have to import a second one for crash testing which you would also have to pay for. It's a pretty penny, and it would have to pass the crash test in order to get one here. It's an extremely pricey process. Your best bet would do an awd conversion and 3s swap.