Check this one! 1990s VW LT 4x4 available in the USA

Christian P.

Christian P.

Expedition Leader
Staff member
No affiliation - but if it was just a bit cheaper...the car is in Phoenix. Maybe someone should introduce them to the Expo headquarter...


Definitely the only one of its kind in North America! It is the bigger brother of the VW vanagon. This is a VW LT 40 4X4 Westfalia Camper. They were not sold in the US/Canada and only a few 4X4 were produced in Germany between 1991 and 1995.
I build it for my travels through North America and the feedback of hundreds of people was just great. Now I will give the opportunity to buy it rather than ship it back to Germany.
The engine is a 2.4 L Turbo Diesel. It has a manual 5 speed transmission and is a real 4X4 with 2 separate differential locks for each axle. 2 Tanks: 20 and 50 Gal. This thing was build for the tough jobs. There is a full Westfalia Camper equipment in it. Cooking, hot and cold water, big fridge working on gas and electricity, a shower and a water flash toilet, aircon. 2 extra batteries loaded by a second alternator. There are so many features that it is too much to list. It all Westfalia quality. The car is located in Phoenix/ AZ. Contact through Email only.


http://www.toroamarillo.de/

3669408.jpg


3669409.jpg
 
L

Lynn

Expedition Leader
LTs are yet another of those vehicles I wish were legal here...

From what I've read elsewhere the LTs were a joint project with Steyr, right?
 
Flagster

Flagster

Expedition Leader
Can it be titled?..."90s" doesn't equal 2011-25 in my 4th grade math mind...
 
Last edited:
Haf-E

Haf-E

Expedition Leader
The VW LT wasn't really a joint project with Steyr - the relationship was more like with the VW Syncro. Steyr made a 4x4 version called the "Noriker" which had straight portal axles and was going head to head against Unimogs - unsuccessfully. Norikers are really rare. They were only sold by Steyr - not VW though.

This appears to be just straight axle (no portals) and it looks like the rims are 6 lug type - so the axles aren't gwagen based - so I doubt its related to the Steyr project.

They should sell it up in Canada as they only have a 20 year waiting period up there.
 
Christian P.

Christian P.

Expedition Leader
Staff member
The Swiss said:
I highly doubt it. Plus - if things have not changed - the owner risk a $250,000 fine if they do sell it in the US.
Click to expand...

Michael,

Can you provide us with a reference for this fine? I could not find anything on Google. Seems a bit high to me.
 
T

The Adam Blaster

Expedition Leader
Haf-E said:
They should sell it up in Canada as they only have a 20 year waiting period up there.
Click to expand...

15 years to the month for vehicles not made specifically for the Canadian or maybe even N. American market.
My 1996 RHD Jeep Cherokee from Japan is getting shipped in about a week. :)
 
L

Lynn

Expedition Leader
louie71 said:
So can it be titled or not? I'm confused. Is this van legal to drive in the US?
Click to expand...

Maybe, and depends... :sombrero:



First off, for the owner to sell this vehicle in the US is <probably> not legal. From the NHTSA web site:

NONRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
A vehicle registered in a country other than the United States may be imported for personal use by a non-resident of the United States for a period not to exceed one year. The vehicle cannot be sold while in the United States and must be exported within one year from the date of entry. This period cannot be extended under any circumstances. The importer's passport number and the name of the country that issued the passport must be supplied on the HS-7 Declaration form. Use Box 5 on the HS-7 Declaration form.
Click to expand...


Can it be titled by a US owner?
Click to expand...
Maybe. There are stranger examples of non-US vehicles being titled and registered in the US. My suspicion is it depends on the vigilance of your particular state DMV, and how honest you are with them.

Is this van legal to drive in the US?
Click to expand...
By a US Citizen, no. Keep in mind that a State title and registration does not make if Federally legal. From online information I have studied, the DOT, EPA, and NHTSA all have laws that make it illegal to import most vehicles under 25 years old.

Having said that, there are lots of vehicles around that, for one reason or another, appear to have bypassed the Federal roadblocks and gotten State titles and registrations.

Seems to me if it were State legal, but not Federally legal, the chances of getting in trouble would be small. But if the Feds found out, and wanted to come after you, they could confiscate the vehicle and fine you.

If I were considering buying this vehicle and getting State title and registration, when I would be really worried about the Feds catching me is if I did a trip out of the country, then tried to come home. There would always be the chance that a Federal Customs agent might know the rules, and be in a particularly bad mood that day.

Having said that, as I have pointed out elsewhere, I certainly ain't a customs attorney, and welcome anyone proving me wrong. Please. There are lots of vehicles I would love to import, but I just ain't a gonna cross the Feds. I can't imagine watching them crush my dream rig.
 
Last edited:
T

Terrainist

Explorer
So, when someone says they are "giving the opportunity to buy it", what they MIGHT really be trying to do is illegally sell it to someone who can't legally drive it so they can get out of their obligated exportation costs and headaches? Possible?

Killer van nonetheless. There is a picture of it next to a regular old style VW bus on their website, and this van absolutely dwarfs the regular bus. Hard to tell how big this rig is with nothing for reference, it's bigger than it looks. If I knew how to cross post a pic, I would.
 
louie71

louie71

Observer
Just got some interior pics from the owner. Post them when i get the chance. Interior looks in really good shape.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
188,456
Messages
2,905,198
Members
230,428
Latest member
jacob_lashell

Members online

Total: 992 (members: 7, guests: 985)
Top