Date:         Thu, 16 Jul 1998 12:57:29 -0400
Reply-To:     "John S. Cronin" <john.cronin@OIT.GATECH.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "John S. Cronin" <john.cronin@OIT.GATECH.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Importing a Vanagon from South Africa etc.
Comments: To: "Reinhold, Matthias" <Reinhold@SAGAFYI.COM>, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
In-Reply-To:  "Reinhold, Matthias"
              <Reinhold@SAGAFYI.COM> "Importing a Vanagon from South Africa
              etc." (Jul 16, 12:40pm)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

On Jul 16, 12:40pm, Reinhold, Matthias wrote:
> Subject: Importing a Vanagon from South Africa etc.
> Has anybody ever looked into the possibility of importing a Vanagon from
> South Africa?
> What are the problems other than that the whole vehicle is 'mirrored'?
> What about a T2 Bus from Brasil?

Let's see - first off it needs emission controls, so a catalytic converter
and all the electronics needed to ensure it can meet the emissions
requirements.
This will probably cost a fair sum.

Next, how about American (or European, or whatever) spec safety equipment:
glass, side impact beams, seat belts, air bags, etc.  I am not sure if
airbags are required.  There should be some crash testing done, if you
want to do more than one at a time (ie import for sale, not for personal
use).

I am sure there must be other issues as well - it is probably not
cost effective - if it was, somebody would probably be doing this
already.  It is similar to the situation with the Mexican Beetles
(old style, not New Beetle).  The only Mexican Beetles I know of that
are legally imported, you have to ship them a pan and they put new
components on it and ship it back (so it is really rebuilding an old
car, not getting a brand new one) and that costs about as much as a
New Beetle.

> Or how about EuroCampers from Germany (not to talk about the
> EuroSynchro)?

These might be easier as the base chassis (Eurovan) is currently being
imported to the USA, so there should be bolt on parts to meet most new
vehicle requirements.

--
John S. Cronin                             phone: (404) 894-6164
Office of Information Technology Operations and Engineering 0715
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
Internet: john.cronin@oit.gatech.edu