Date:         Wed, 18 Jan 1995 16:42:16 -0600 (CST)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Dean Paul Karpowicz <chinaski@csd4.csd.uwm.edu>
Subject:      Re: IMPORTING A BRAZILIAN BUS-?

>On Tue, 17 Jan 1995, elfking wrote:
>
>>  i was recently informed by someone i do not know that when importing a car
>>  into the us it must meet us safety standards for its manufacture year. is
>>  this true.  if so would customs inspect a brazilian bus as a 1995 or a a 1975
>>  (if those are the specs they are made to).
>> 
>>  -avery
>> 
>
>
>To import an automobile into the US, it must meet the US standards 
>as of the date the automobile was manufactured, not designed. Alas, the 
>Brazilian busses are not importable, without *major* mods.  Some will be 
>impossible.  Finding "DOT" lenses for the lights might be possible if 
>they really did reuse the mid-70's fixtures, but installing 1995 site 
>impact protection (and certifying it by crashing a couple of vans) and 
>getting an airbag system installed would drive the cost *way* beyond 
>reality.  I looked into this back a bit when I lusted after an East 
>German "Carboard Car".  Even getting a cerifiable manufacture date proved 
>impossible.  If you want a car that was manufactured outside the US and 
>it was not on the road by Jan 1, 1968, and the owner does not have good 
>records, you are setting yourself up for major heartbreak.  Even with 
>all the record, it will still cost a minimum of ~$1500 for certification 
>through one of the few DOT licensed importers. 
>
>					H Steven Dolan
>					dworkin@netcom.com
>
>

It must be possible somehow.  MOFOCO here in Milwaukee has three (at least,
that's how many I saw, they may have more for all I know) white double cab
brazilian made late eighties pickups.  They don't have license plates, nor
do they have VIN's as far as I could tell.  They are parked out in the lot
during the day, and driven inside the garage overnight.  I was there when
they were moving them and they sound great!!!

Dean