New NHTSA exemption to allow exotic car imports...

[dshimano@domain.elided]

...NEW GTV's SPIDERS AND 156's TO FLOOD US SHORES!!!

Well, not exactly. AutoWeek reports this week that a new NHTSA rule
passed on August 13th [Friday August 13th to be precise] allows
importation of an exotic car without having to meet US safety standards.
What's the catch?

- -the car must still meet EPA emissions standards for its year of
production [many European cars already do]
- -the car can be brought in for "show or display" only so it is limited
to 2500 miles per year [on public roads!] with the NHTSA reserving the
right to a surprise inspection at any time
- -personal imports only, no dealers allowed
- -until the car is 25 years old it can only be sold to an individual
subject to the same rules
- -pre-approval is required from the NHTSA
- -the car must be of "historical or technical" value [not "hysterical" so
Fiat Multiplas do not qualify but a selespeed or an SZ might qualify]
- -it cannot have been previously imported by its manufacturer, so a 164Q4
would be difficult to get approved since a lesser 164 model was
available here
- -the car must be less than 25 years old
- -the car can have been imported anytime after June 9, 1998

Hopefully this is just the beginning.

So lets see...'twas reported here that a 166 can be poichissed in da
bronx for all of $100k wasn't it? If 7500 miles a year is what you need
you could have a Spider, GTV and 156 all for this price at 2500 miles
each.

...now accepting offers on a '95 164Q, 73k highway miles, Black w/ Tan
leather, New Hope, PA 1999 first place award, all records, always
synthetic, new Stebro center and rear, recent timing belt, radiator...
:-)

email me for the NHTSA contact data, my lights are beginning to flicker
in this hurricane.

dave shimano
'95 164Q
'83 Aston Martin Lagonda
'00 156 6spd V6 Sportwagon???? [have been looking for an old MB 300TE
4-matic wagon, the ultimate anti-SUV for the wife and kiddies]
Lakewood, NJ

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