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From: lotus-cars-request@netcom.com at SMTPGATE
Date: 1/30/95 12:45AM
*To: lotus-cars@netcom.com at SMTPGATE
Subject: US Import Regulations
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Text item:
Someone recently asked about importing their Land Rover into the US from
Africa; this is a brief summary that was recently posted on lotus-cars.
cheers-
daren
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Subject: US Import Regulations
Author: lotus-cars-request@netcom.com at SMTPGATE
Date: 1/30/95 12:45 AM
Jeff Shimbo asked me to post a summary of what I have learned
about US import regulations. From the responses I received from
the list and my own research, the situation is fairly simple (and
somewhat bleak in my case).
If you want to import a car to the US that was manufactured on or
after 1/1/68, it must comply with the safety and environmental
protection regulations that were in effect in the US at the time
the car was made. The car must be brought into compliance prior
to arriving at US customs unless it is imported through a
registered importer (they are called "ICIs"). A registered
importer basically retrofits a car so it complies with the
applicable regulations at the border under a bond.
The regulations may require, depending on the year, headrests,
seatbelts, padded dashboards, rocker switches, collapsible
steering columns, dual braking circuits, air injection systems,
catalytic converters, side impact barriers, 5 mph bumpers and the
removal of chrome and other brightwork from around the driver.
(This is just a sample list. The full list of required changes
is usually extensive.)
There are some exceptions, but few appear useful to the private
classic car owner. Museums, foreign diplomats, and foreign
nationals on short term work contracts have limited exemptions as
do foreign car owners sending their cars to the US for repairs.
There is a rolling exemption in the environmental regulations for
cars more that 20 years old if they are imported through an ICI
(although the rules do not explain why an ICI is needed if the
car has an exemption), however, there is no corresponding
exception in the safety regulations so compliance with those
regulations will still be required.
The one exception that may be useful to some owners applies to
race cars. Non-conforming cars that cannot be licensed for road
use may be imported for competition purposes. I have not tracked
down all of the relevant regulations so do not know (1) if they
can be admitted permanently or only for specific events and (2)
how you prove that the car "cannot be licensed for road use".
It is worth noting that some cars are so inherently "bad" that no
amount of work will make them eligible for importation. Rumor
has it Trabants are absolutely verboten.
If people are interested, I will post any additional knowledge I
gain.
Jeff: I hope this helps.
Mike Kunz
'67 Elan SE dhc
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Subject: US Import Regulations
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From: "Kunz, Michael" <MKUNZ+aDEWEYHK%Dewey_Ballantine_NY@mcimail.com>
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