The Not So Definitive Importing a Defender Supplemental - Desert Edition

A

Abu Buckwheat

warrior-scholar-shooter
mongosd2 said:
They swapped the vin plates, you need to compare the vin on the frame (passenger side, in front of the spring perch, but there are other places on the frame with micro dots) to the vin on the brake booster. That's were they'll say it's a "replacement" frame, so there is no vin on it
Click to expand...

VIN swapping. Thats got to be it. There is no way thats a restoration. My cars still have 1985 rust and parts on them. Over here if the police cannot CLEARLY read the chassis VIN and the exact matching VIN plate, if one number is obscured on the right side chassis engraving, even by wear or rust, they send you by tow truck directly to the Land Rover dealership, check the heritage and import data (into the UAE because they have all the records) and then either re-engrave the VIN so it is clear and matching or they seize the turck. I know because it sets you back $500 just to get it engraved clearly and it must be moved by tow truck from your house to the DMV and nabck until its registered. No chassis VIN, no vehicle registration and vehicle is confiscated if they even slightly suspect its a VIN swap.
 
D

denisimo

New member
mongosd2 said:
Are really you that naive? It's one thing to find 2 or 3 trucks "restored" to that level. But the "restorations" that are being done, are done with a grinder, a drill and 4 rivets. They swapped the vin plates, you need to compare the vin on the frame (passenger side, in front of the spring perch, but there are other places on the frame with micro dots) to the vin on the brake booster. That's were they'll say it's a "replacement" frame, so there is no vin on it

Defenders do not need a roll cage to be DOT legal and no Land Rover diesel is a EPA type accepted engine. Are they here, yep, are they available for a swaps yep, are they coming over in trucks yep...Depends what color "grey" you want
Click to expand...


Not naive, but im not going to accuse them of wrong doing with out knowing the facts.... thats how the law works.


And there are shops in UK that do restoration and conversions of Defenders to LHD and with newer engines, but the final price adds up very quickly with options.


Anyone has a link to DOT on roll cages for Defenders??



p.s.

I think this is where the black D110 came from.

http://www.berkshirelandrover.com/l...&record_id=101322&image_id=4081&images2Page=1 They have a bunch of 1985 Defenders restored with newer parts and look like 2007 or newer.

http://www.rmr4x4.com/web/1178/vehicle/864107/1986-Land Rover-Defender 110
 
Last edited:
M

mongosd2

Adventurer
there is no link to the DOT for roll cages on Defenders. If you want to bring one in legally that is new, you need it federalized, which involves airbags, exhaust and a plethora of things...

I saw the truck RMR had a the National Rally it is clearly a vin swapped truck...It's so obvious that it's not even funny. Berkshire is restoring trucks, that's now that funny...
 
M

mongosd2

Adventurer
The trucks are coming in, there's no question of that...with engines that aren't type accepted. Complete vin swapped truck are coming over, parts trucks are being imported. It depends how much of a gamble you want to take. The best advice is to go with a import agent (Talk to Doug at Diving Creek for a realistic summary of the rules) who knows what rules can be "bent", how far they can be "bent" and what can be "broken".
 
D

DividingCreek

Explorer
denisimo said:
Found this.

B. (2) Engine not in Vehicle or Chassis
EPA regulates the entire vehicle, not individual parts, for cars, light trucks, and motorcycles. If an engine is not installed, and is to be used in a car, motorcycle, or light truck, it may be imported as an automotive part. No approval or Customs bond is required by EPA.


http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-67257.html?
Click to expand...

I would respectfully submit that outcome depends on the Customs officer who handles your particular entry. EPA isn't @ the port of entry. US Customs interprets the EPA and DOT regs and enforces them as they see fit on behalf of those agencies. Importation isn't black and white for this reason. Many have trouble wrapping their minds around that. I get calls regularly from people with engines denied entry by Customs.The more you read the regulations the more contradictions you find. The best advice I can give would be to read the US Customs "Field Guide" for officers to follow. They can litterally do whatever they want. The owner has no recourse. I had one truck that took 10 months to get Customs to grant entry (long story). In that time they charged all kinds of fee's to include daily storage @ a secure facilty. The first thing the owner had to do upon the truck clearing was sign a "hold Harmless" form letter absolving Customs from any damages or financial losses he may have incurred. My advice would be to not bend any rules if you are a first time importer. Customs tracks your activities by your SS# and passport number which are on the entry filing. I know people who have been detained in airports when re-entering the US after having had engines or trucks denied entry years before. Like a dog with a bone they don't let it go.
 
Last edited:
David Harris

David Harris

Expedition Leader
DividingCreek said:
I would respectfully submit that outcome depends on the Customs officer who handles your particular entry. EPA isn't @ the port of entry. US Customs interprets the EPA and DOT regs and enforces them as they see fit on behalf of those egencies. Importation isn't black and white for this reason. Many have trouble wrapping their minds around that. I get calls regularly from people with engines denied entry by Customs.The more you read the regulations the more contradictions you find. The best advice I can give would be to read the US Customs "Field Guide" for officers to follow. They can litterally do whatever they want. The owner has no recourse. I had one truck that took 10 months to get Customs to grant entry (long story). In that time they charged all kinds of fee's to include daily storage @ a secure facilty. The first thing the owner had to do upon the truck clearing was sign a "hold Harmless" form letter absolving Customs from any damages or financial losses he may have incurred. My advice would be to not bend any rules if you are a first time importer. Customs tracks your activities by your SS# and passport number which are on the entry filing. I know people who have been detained in airports when re-entering the US after having had engines or trucks denied entry years before. Like a dog with a bone they don't let it go.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up.

Back to what Frank said: How much are you willing to gamble?
 
D

DividingCreek

Explorer
the newest Defender that can enter via the current laws are 1997 D90's made up until the end of the 97 model year which I think is August 97. Those trucks must have been built as left hand drive, fuel injected ,4.0 v8's and posess the EPA,DOT approved sticker. The only trucks that left the factory that way came here or Japan. Not sure why left hand drive trucks were sent to Japan where they drive on the right but those japanese trucks built before August 97 are eligible for import. No sticker no entry.
The Japanese trucks have the same cage and many have power windows and locks not offered here.

There are Japanese spec 90's out there with DOT stickers manufactured after the drop dead date and they are NOT eligible for entry. For example a Sept 25th 97 truck would be denied entry.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
190,114
Messages
2,924,102
Members
233,417
Latest member
dhuss

Members online

Total: 922 (members: 35, guests: 887)
Top