Chimaera in US
Discussion
This might sound a bit silly judjing by all the discussions on these pages but, can someone please advise if its possible to import my Chimaera into the US? My job may be moving & I dont really want to be parted.
Looking at some of the comments, things like emmissions, RHD & 5 MPH issues are raised.
Conversion costs?
Will I have to leave it behind
Looking at some of the comments, things like emmissions, RHD & 5 MPH issues are raised.
Conversion costs?
Will I have to leave it behind
Well, I tell you what, your chances of permanently importing it don't look good. BUT you can import it temporarly for a year with zero mods. It's basically impossible to convert noncompliant cars unless there is a nearly identical car here. Most of the info you need is here.
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/
You will fill out an HS-7 form saying you are a foreigner. Click on Temporary vehicle importations and it should tell everything you need to know. Please visit the US's neighboring countries once and awhile because they have some great roads too AND you can extend its stay another year. Only foreigners can bring cars over like this.
>> Edited by PiB on Saturday 25th May 15:30
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/
You will fill out an HS-7 form saying you are a foreigner. Click on Temporary vehicle importations and it should tell everything you need to know. Please visit the US's neighboring countries once and awhile because they have some great roads too AND you can extend its stay another year. Only foreigners can bring cars over like this.
>> Edited by PiB on Saturday 25th May 15:30
Check Faisal's experiences as well (he has imported a Cerbera in California): www.tvrfreak.com
Considering a temporary importation to US (WA) as a foreigner.
PiB !
Please can you tell more of the possible extention to the 1 yr ???
You wrote:
Visit the US's neighbouring countries once and awhile because they have some great roads too AND ***you can extend its stay another year.*** Only foreigners can bring cars over like this.
thanks,
Sigfrid
PiB !
Please can you tell more of the possible extention to the 1 yr ???
You wrote:
Visit the US's neighbouring countries once and awhile because they have some great roads too AND ***you can extend its stay another year.*** Only foreigners can bring cars over like this.
thanks,
Sigfrid
Okay, Okay, now don't make me too nervous with all these stop signs and exclamation points. 
First let me just say that I have not delt with importing first hand. Everything I know or I think I know I have
on the internet. (I'll admit i have been wrong in the past about some things, Show and Display rules for one) I learned from places like the NHTSA's web site and something called the US Federal Register online. With your specif question I have learned from Piston Heads gassing mainly. Particullarly if you follow Faisals posts and his web site.
So basically this is what I have infered from all the information. You lucky foreigners can have your cars for a year here. At the end of the year the impression I get is you can go to Canada (Great if your in WA) come back to the US and resubmit a new HS-7. The following year go back and do it again? This is where it gets grayish in my mind. FK went to Canada one year and Mexico the next year it sounds like. Is there additional paper work needed to go into Canada? I just don't know? Is there something other than the HS-7 form needed? I don't know?
I am curious too. I do recall FK posting once complaining about legal fees maybe. That would be unfortuant if it takes some legal wizardry. Read past posts from the man! FK also went to India at one point. I'm froget if he brought his car. I am trully hopefull that you can do it with minimal effort. My fear would be that if this is a loop hole it may be closed in the future.
This is a good topic and i hope the experts will fill us in with more. Another area of interest is the kit car route. NHTSA has a list of registered importers (RI's) that make cars compliant. Now normally this is crazy exspensive and not worth it. (You can read in the US's Federal Register RI's trying to import cars that where not made for it's market. The cars are almost always already in the US but a person is bringing a Euro spec version to US spec) What I see a person being able to do is not use an RI to convert a car like a Tamora or Chimera but use there engineering skills to rebuild the car with Trans and EPA (!!) spec engine. Thus bring it in like a kit car, Ultima GTR, Caterham 7, etc. Sunspeed International and G & K auto are RI's that come to mind. I would hope these "experts" would know just how dissasembled the cars have to be. G&K has brought in a Skyline GTR once or twice doing the full conversion. I could go on in on. Some of you with the money ready to go should figure it out. See whats possible. I'm still a youngster saveing up and trying to furnish a refurbished home.
I could go on and on about this topic.
>> Edited by PiB on Friday 7th June 19:07
First let me just say that I have not delt with importing first hand. Everything I know or I think I know I have
on the internet. (I'll admit i have been wrong in the past about some things, Show and Display rules for one) I learned from places like the NHTSA's web site and something called the US Federal Register online. With your specif question I have learned from Piston Heads gassing mainly. Particullarly if you follow Faisals posts and his web site. So basically this is what I have infered from all the information. You lucky foreigners can have your cars for a year here. At the end of the year the impression I get is you can go to Canada (Great if your in WA) come back to the US and resubmit a new HS-7. The following year go back and do it again? This is where it gets grayish in my mind. FK went to Canada one year and Mexico the next year it sounds like. Is there additional paper work needed to go into Canada? I just don't know? Is there something other than the HS-7 form needed? I don't know?
I am curious too. I do recall FK posting once complaining about legal fees maybe. That would be unfortuant if it takes some legal wizardry. Read past posts from the man! FK also went to India at one point. I'm froget if he brought his car. I am trully hopefull that you can do it with minimal effort. My fear would be that if this is a loop hole it may be closed in the future. This is a good topic and i hope the experts will fill us in with more. Another area of interest is the kit car route. NHTSA has a list of registered importers (RI's) that make cars compliant. Now normally this is crazy exspensive and not worth it. (You can read in the US's Federal Register RI's trying to import cars that where not made for it's market. The cars are almost always already in the US but a person is bringing a Euro spec version to US spec) What I see a person being able to do is not use an RI to convert a car like a Tamora or Chimera but use there engineering skills to rebuild the car with Trans and EPA (!!) spec engine. Thus bring it in like a kit car, Ultima GTR, Caterham 7, etc. Sunspeed International and G & K auto are RI's that come to mind. I would hope these "experts" would know just how dissasembled the cars have to be. G&K has brought in a Skyline GTR once or twice doing the full conversion. I could go on in on. Some of you with the money ready to go should figure it out. See whats possible. I'm still a youngster saveing up and trying to furnish a refurbished home.
I could go on and on about this topic. >> Edited by PiB on Friday 7th June 19:07
Please someone who actually HAS
a) imported a TVR to US
b) extended the temporary importation after 1 year
I have read the NHTSA site and Faisal´s experiences and as far as I understand no-one has accomplished b).
Please let me know of your/anyones experience/plans of extending the temp stay.
Will move to US but need more Chimaera-time... 1 yr is not worth the cost/trouble.
br, Sigfrid
PS. advice of affordable transport appreciated
Scroll to the oldest portion of this thread and read through. 
Ignore my stupid contribution to the thread.
www.pistonheads.net/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=47&t=5488&h=0
He mentions that he extended his stay by driving to Mexico. I should have posted this link originally.
I would bet there are only a few people in all of USA who have accomplished B so it is prolly unlikely for them to also be on Piston Heads. It would be nice to learn everything from Piston Heads but your going to have to make some phone calls in the real world to figure it out.
Good Luck
>> Edited by PiB on Friday 14th June 18:32
Ignore my stupid contribution to the thread. www.pistonheads.net/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=47&t=5488&h=0
He mentions that he extended his stay by driving to Mexico. I should have posted this link originally.
I would bet there are only a few people in all of USA who have accomplished B so it is prolly unlikely for them to also be on Piston Heads. It would be nice to learn everything from Piston Heads but your going to have to make some phone calls in the real world to figure it out.
Good Luck
>> Edited by PiB on Friday 14th June 18:32
Sorry to hear that but it's prob. the safest and cheapest thing to do. There are legal Caterham 7s sold in the US. Road & Track Magazine tested one a few months ago. Check out the Kitcar discussion there is alot of talk about Ginetta being legal in the US. The G4 is a very nice looking car. They also claim Tommy Kaira's will be available in the US.
www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/roadtests/articleDisplay.asp?articleID=50
www.uscaterham.com/
www.goginetta.com
www.mulbartonimportservices.co.uk/
These people claim the RT 190 (Tommy Kaira's design) will be avail in the US.
I just want to start seeing these cars on our streets in the US.
>> Edited by PiB on Friday 21st June 18:28
www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/roadtests/articleDisplay.asp?articleID=50
www.uscaterham.com/
www.goginetta.com
www.mulbartonimportservices.co.uk/
These people claim the RT 190 (Tommy Kaira's design) will be avail in the US.
I just want to start seeing these cars on our streets in the US.
>> Edited by PiB on Friday 21st June 18:28
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