wtb 4door mazda right hand drive in us

LOL More than likely. April of 08 I believe. I sent it to Mike in like January or February... didn't even know it was in there till lofo pm'ed me and said congrats. Note that I do not plan on keeping the stock bed but extending frame about 18" and using a single cab short bed.

<img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" /> <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" title="Very Happy" />
Amazzing, makes me smile and cry at the same time: Love it but can't have it.

Why is it so expensive to import them? I hear about guys importing FJ's from new zealand all the time for cheap.

Ok...You know I have heard this a billion times. Oh you can import this and that for $900 Well prove it. Sorry if it seems like a rant but still at work and real busy but this subject bothers me because I have called literally a dozen or more brokers. As an individual not being a licensened (sp) auto importer it is VERY difficult. Not only do you have the actual shipping part of it but you have customs to deal with, laws, different shipping companies, packaging, packaging materials, a way of packaging what you want. For example if you can import a WHOLE vehicle meaning a) you are certified to bring in as a collector and have paid fees and permits or b) the vehicle passes all of the NTSB and other safety and emission standards that the US have you can essentially drive (or have driven) to the dock...load in an empty 12' container, strap down...tight! and you are on your way. However if said vehicle CAN NOT be sold legally in the US to plumber Joe then you have tons of hoops to jump through. For me I say $10,000 because of what I want and how it needs to be packaged. The actual broker fees/customs fees/shipping cost is only about $3,000 to $4,500 But I still have to do the following.... Find a doner truck or a wrecked one. Will cost at least $1,000. Then have some one willing to cut it up and get it ready to package...another $1,000 or more. Then materials for making a crate...Due to customs rules and US laws only certain kind of woods, screws, nails can be used and MUST be clearly labled. I Know this for a fact as I used to work for a Swedish playground company and have to unload and inspect product for any shipping damage. The wood would all be labeled per US Customs. You can look at this as another $500 to $1,000 to have it done properly as I do NOT want any broken glass and containers have it rough. Then once crated you have to get it to the dock. That could cost another $1,000 depending on how you are getting it there. So far if you add with me we are at about $7,000....now for me I want a mid 90's Courier because they had the wings on the driver and passenger side windows....but I also want the interior form a 97-98 Mazda because...well it is just friggin awsome. So I will more than likely have to buy two trucks... So far I have only found maybe two or three wrecked trucks for the $1,000 price. Everything else has been $2,000 or more.

So that is why it cost so much for me... Now if someone can prove me wrong and show/tell me/or point me in the right direction Please please do. I am begging you find me a cheaper way. I would consider a small loan if I could do it for $5,000 or $6,000.

Again sorry for my rant but I have HOURS wrapped up into trying to get one state side and always hear from some one that has never even talked to a customs broker or shipping company...well I heard you can get a skyline GSRwhatever or another state side for $5 and a bag of funonions. Thanks for listening to my rant and sitting through my Jeff-enomics class.

Again I really do apologize if I came off as a dick...I really am not...just been crazy at work....Had to vent somewhere and have no other friends to listen to me.

jeez jeff write a novel..lol...J/K ...hope work gets better

not bad just busy...which hopefully means more money than in 08'

I only mentioned it because where I live (Ocean City, MD) there are at least 3 imported RHD FJ 'Troopies' on the road. A friend of my brother-in-law imported his for like 6k from New Zealand. To the best of my knowledge these trucks came over as complete vehicles.

I would love to import a Proceed Marvie SUV at some point so if you have any luck please post your story. I think its a crime that the 4 doors and suvs were never sold in the states.

good luck.

I can understand that. and i thought that was a regular cab

If you guys are serious about it maybe you should get together and pay for them to be shipped in a group container. There is a guy local here in Charleston SC that has been importing the Original Mini coopers and other vehicles for years.