Re: Dreaming of a new spider

[George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>]

I don't know about this engine business, but I do know this. Its not 
the engine that determines US salability, it is the compliance of the 
car's actual structure, not the engine, that's important. The engine is 
only important for it's emissions properties. It is illegal to import 
an uncertified vehicle into the USA that's newer than 25 years old. You 
can import all of the Montreals and Tipo 33 Stradales into the US you 
want to along with all the "Bertie" GTVs and GTAs, pre-1978 spiders, 
Berlinas, TZs, SZs, you want. Bring in any old Ferrari, Maserati, Fiat, 
Osca, Bizzarini, Iso, or whatever you want as long as it was built was 
before 1978 and the Federal Government doesn't care. BUT, if the car 
was made post 1977, you have to post a bond equal to the car's worth 
(something that U.S. Customs sets, not what the buyer actually paid) 
and sign a paper promising to make the car comply with all U.S. safety 
standards within 180 days of signing. If the car was never imported 
into the USA, that compliance cannot be effected. You can't get U.S. 
bumbers for a current Alfa Spider, for instance, because none were ever 
made. Same with tail lights, side impact protection, headlight and 
bumper height, glass specifications, and 101 other details.

These individuals in Wisconsin might be immigrants or might might be 
Americans who have bought the cars while living abroad, and were able 
to bring them in as personal property which is a loophole in the law. 
It' s a well plugged loophole, however, because you have to have 
maintained resident status in the foreign country to take advantage of 
it, so you just can't go to Europe, buy non-compliant late model Alfas 
and bring them back as personal property.

AutoDelta can do this because they've gone to the trouble and expense 
to have themselves listed with the DOT as an automobile manufacturer. 
They import three Alfa models (Spider, GTV Coupe, and 166 Sedan) and 
extensively re-manufacture them. They  change out the glass for DOT 
approved type, they have crash tested the required number of cars, 
fabricated compliant bumpers for them and replaced the stock Bosch FI 
and ECU with one designed for American emission standards compliance. 
Their cars are not just re-badged imports, they are extensively 
RE-MANUFACTURED cars where the 101 things required to make the car an 
American market automobile have been done.

George Graves
'86 GTV-6


On Friday, October 4, 2002, at 09:01  PM, Ryan Fellini wrote:


> Well, back a few posts I had mentioned that there appears to be a 
> loophole
> for these three particular cars when coupled with the 3.0L engine.  
> There
> must be something because Autodelta is importing these, and I also know
> of some individuals in Wisconsin who have a yellow Spider and silver 
> 166
> (both 3.0L) registered for the US market (ok, not that the colors of 
> the cars
> mean anything.. :)
>
> I'm just guessing now, but the 3.0L engine is based on one that was
> already certified for the US.  Also, the 166 is a evolution of the 164 
> (so
> you can claim it is similar to a car sold here, as was apparently done
> with that 164 Q4 recently seen on eBay) and both the GTV and Spider
> were also developed with federalization in mind. It must not be simple
> coincidence these are the vehicles showing up here.
>
> Also, if "its illegal", well.. someone better tell that to Autodelta. 
> ;]
>
> Just guessing again, but if they got these Autodeltas approved for 
> street use,
> there must be a way to bring over a used 3.0 GTV, etc. from Italy.. and
> also get it setup (ala Autodelta specs) for legal use.  Its probably 
> far
> easier than trying to import a 156 or 147 with the 2.0 JTS engine, etc.
>
> Ryan
>
>
> > Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 14:54:51 -0700
> > From: George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>
> > Subject: Re: Dreaming of a new spider
> >
> > Would that we could 'just import' a used 3.0 Spider or Coupe from
> > Italy. I'd be working on it now. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell,
> > its illegal.
> >
> > George Graves
> >
> > '86 GTV-6
> >
> >
> > On Friday, October 4, 2002, at 02:05  PM, alfa-digest wrote:
> > >>> ps. anyone know what Autodelta charges?
> > >>
> > >> Spider - about $US47,000
> > >> GTV Coupe - about $US45,000
> > >> 166 - about - $US55,000
> > >>
> > >> This from the President of AutoDelta himself (a Sr, Giordano)
> > >
> > > Holy cow!  Lets just import some used GTV 3.0 from Italy
> > > directly!  I can't stand how Autodelta is modifying the
> > > aesthetics on those cars.  They look close to tricked
> > > out Civics...
> > >
> > > take care,
> > > Ryan
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