Hi I have a friend who lives in Central America who is planning to come up this summer to visit. We talked and he might be interested in driving up rather than flying. This leads to my real question how much would a 2nd gen or 3rd gen diesel, double cab SFA hilux fetch in the us assuming it's in good shape and not beat hard. Any ideas of price build be welcome.

 

You need to check the DOT rules out pretty carefully. Vehicles designed for foreign markets can be difficult to impossible to license in the U.S. Different safety regs, emission regs, headlight specs, etc. etc. It can be more hassle than it's worth.

 

That's some great advice RJR didn't even cross my mind. Assuming in a perfect world everything is up to code and I get it licensed anyone know how much it would be worth. Hypothetical of course

 

At least one million dollars.

If they were easy to import a ton of people would be doing it and this board would look completely different.

Does anyone know of a non-USA hilux that has been successfully (legally) imported?

 

Seems like I've read about schemes to do this before and it's not really do-able. There's a first time for everything tho' I suppose.

 

Thanks for the comments on this matter. So there is basically no way you can get it licensed here with the diesel. Here is an idea though. What if I did a part out. People love the double cab bodies, and I could maybe sell the engine to someone doing a diesel conversion and maybe sell the frame to someone with an ifs pickup they wanted to turn trail rig. Any thoughts on a partout

 

I just watched the Price is Right today, so I am leary of going over... but I would say $12,001, Drew!

 

Funny. Any estimates on what I could get for cab, engine and SFA frame

 

Saw this badass truck last year at Toyotafest in Long Beach, Cali. Just parked in the parking lot, obviously driven there. No idea what's under the hood, but if he/she can drive it on the roads of southern california with our ultra strict rules it's somehow made legal.

 

I will pay 2,000. Pretty sure they will have to come through Kansas to get to ohio. There are ways to get a title that are legal. Like if the truck was abandoned on my property for a certain amount of time and the owner cannot be found etc...

 

There is paperwork that must be filled out for customs, certifications that the vehicle is older than 25 years and more. It can be a lot of work, but there are ways to do it.

 

i want!!!!

 

If it's older than 25 years old does it have to meet federal emission standards or just state standards. Ohio doesn't have any kind of safety check or emissions if it's over 25

 

Last one of those I saw was selling for $15k

 

Emissions, Emissions, Emissions! If it doesn't pass your buddy is stuck driving it back to Central America!

 

Check out this website from the Dept of Homeland Security. It's pretty daunting.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/bas...orting_car.xml

 

just make sure its got the stock engine (if it was gas, keep it gas, etc) and all the VINs match and are in the correct location.

and it has to be 25 years old to even think about it

the govt will be hoping to bust you, and will find anything. Read all the forms and talk to the people in charge before you do anything.

 

Ok thanks for the info

 

here is a good example

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4324386783.html

 

The real expensive part is most often getting the vehicle to the US

I have seen quite a few interesting things come home via Dover AFB on Uncles coin.

If your looking to make a profit off this it never will happen unless your luck is really good.

Anything can be made to happen all it takes is the correct amount of money and a team of JAG lawyers