Date:         Fri, 24 Sep 1999 11:46:21 -0700
Reply-To:     kevinm@RED.PRIMEXTECH.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kevin Mikkelson <kevinm@RED.PRIMEXTECH.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fwd: NHTSA making it easier to import to USA!
In-Reply-To:  <3.0.2.32.19990924092143.007e0250@red.prmx.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Does this now mean we can get a VW Transporter TDI Synco California Coach
http://www.vwn.de/uk/leisure/index.html
or a Mercedes-Benz Vito Marco Polo
 http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/cars/rv/marcopolo/photo5.htm

Kevin M
'89 Westy
Bothell, WA

>From:         JordanVw@AOL.COM
>Subject:      Fwd: NHTSA making it easier to import to USA!
>Interesting short in this weeks Autoweek. The US government put in to effect
>(Aug. 13) and new rule on import vehicle to the US that does not meet US
>safety standards. If the car is less than 25 years old an individual (not
>and importer or dealer) can import for "Show or Display" without bring it up
>to US safety standards. If it is sold  before it is 25 years old it has to
>be sold to an individual and it can not be driven more than 2500 miles per
>year. The car still has to meet emission standards. It requires prior
>approval and the government can inspect the vehicle anytime they want.
>The trick is that to get prior approval you must "persuade" the NHTSA that
>the vehicle is of significant "Technical or Historical" value and it must
>not be something the manufacture previously imported. The example they use
>is you could not import an F50 but you could import a McLaren F1 or a
>Porsche 959. None of this will help anyone import say a 1987 urq or a 97 S6
>but it does open up possibilities. I guess the key will be how much
>technology differences there needs to be  from a similar model that was
>imported or if you can make a case for historical significance, i.e. owned
>by ???? It is obvious that the rule is very subjective and up to the
>discretion of those that must be "persuaded".