G-Wagen Ambulance camper conversion!
- Thread starter Devil1964
- Start date
RMP&O
Expedition Leader
Actually, unless the laws have changed, every US citizen gets a one time, one vehical importation right. In the case of autos you have to alter the car to match US bumper and crash bars (inside doors). Trucks I don't know.
As I said I don't know if laws have changed. When I was in the auto restoration biz quit a few years back this was true and that is why we have so many 'gray market cars' I heard of folks getting by the 1 car 1 person law by cutting a car in 1/2...importing as scrape and parts, then rebuilding in the states....If I had time I would Google to see if there are still ways around.
I agree w/ the lemmings thing we just get told its the law and we accept it. In general at least!
I think the laws have changed since that may have been true. I have never heard of this, perhaps before my time. I do however own a 1983 Nissan Patrol that was imported in about 1987 by the original German owner when he moved to the USA. These days....if it is 25yrs or older it is exempt from DOT and EPA regs. If it is newer than 25yrs old you can get it in the USA if it has been sold here, such as an 80 series TLC, emmissions laws still apply though. Or if it was not sold here you can spend tens of thousands of dollars to have a special company bring it up to meet USA regs and laws. Some people in the past have brought in Rovers and other trucks as half cuts or parts or whatever. And then rebuilt them back to a working non-USA truck. That is not legal though and the people knew it so they laid low and keep it hush hush. Some of those trucks are still around in the USA, now legal. But the word got out and this really isn't being done anymore. A truck can be brought into the USA if you get a letter from the manufacturer stating it meets EPA & DOT regs. A number of TLC guys have tried this and never got anywhere with it. To much of a liability for the manufacturer. You can bring in a truck that is not legal if it is specifically for special use such as a firetruck or offroader. But this is not very easy and you run the risk of loosing everything. I have heard lots of people in the military talk about being able to import a vehicle after service overseas. But I have never talked to or heard of one that actually did it. There are loop holes but imo not worth the risk of losing the truck and all cash invested in it.
It really is kind of silly....for example a new Patrol exceeds USA safety standards by a lot but you still can't just import it. A lot of the laws are about protecting the USA car market not about meeting EPA & DOT standards. This is actually pretty common outside the USA in other countries too. Meaning the only reasons there are limitations on importing cars in say a South American country is to protect the local car market. Good idea I guess in therory because some crook would exploit things. When I have been in Colombia, SA I have seen many crazy stange rare odd ball trucks. Such as the Delta Mini-Crusiers. Things is these kind of trucks were imported by the governement for the poor farmers. You can't just import it yourself down there.
Any ways, sorry for rambling on...off topic for this build thread!
Devil1964....cool truck!! Do you plan on suspension mods for it? I have always liked the utilitarian Gs, not very fond of the $100k Gs but love the military ones or the old school diesel soft tops, ect. I really wanted a Puch version back when I owned a Pinz! Any ways, cool truck and build...look forward to see the final results.
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R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Very nicely done interior on that thing! What type of wood did you use? Are those drawer slides for the toilet built to take the weight of a person?
In regards to my quote above....I still haven't researched it. But I might add that the most trouble folks had was that Euro part numbers and US part number were different and getting parts for 'gray market' (some parts were totally different) was always a a hunt and seek problem. At that time several suppliers for gray parts popped up, but I have been out of the market for many years now and don't know if its still hard to come by appropriate parts.
P.S. The last I knew if you ordered a vehicle here at your local dealer you could p/u at a Euro dealership then drive it around, later shipping it back home after the vacation, but that applied to new vehicles. Several years back, maybe 10, MBZ an BMW were pushing this a lot.
P.S. The last I knew if you ordered a vehicle here at your local dealer you could p/u at a Euro dealership then drive it around, later shipping it back home after the vacation, but that applied to new vehicles. Several years back, maybe 10, MBZ an BMW were pushing this a lot.
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Dave Bennett
Adventurist
Very nice G!!! :Wow1:
CephasPete
New member
Great Interior Finish!
Looking great! I'd like to know about the wood you've used as well.
Peter
Looking great! I'd like to know about the wood you've used as well.
Peter
Read the NHTSA rules for importing vehicles here
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/
and the EPA rules for importing a vehicle are here
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/
These rules make it very expensive to import a vehicle that was
not originally built to USA standards. An exception is made for
vehicles more than 25 years old. So start looking for those
1985 70 series Land Cruisers and Mercedes Gelandewagens in
pristine condition!
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/
and the EPA rules for importing a vehicle are here
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/
These rules make it very expensive to import a vehicle that was
not originally built to USA standards. An exception is made for
vehicles more than 25 years old. So start looking for those
1985 70 series Land Cruisers and Mercedes Gelandewagens in
pristine condition!
lowenbrau
Explorer
I just found this thread and am subscribed. Nice cabinetry. I think they call that plywood 'Baltic birch' or something. It has thinner plys than typical north american construction plywood and seems stronger for its size. It is very common in Europe and seems to be very nice to work with. I wonder how much weight is in the the cabinetry in this camper.
In regards to my quote above....I still haven't researched it. But I might add that the most trouble folks had was that Euro part numbers and US part number were different and getting parts for 'gray market' (some parts were totally different) was always a a hunt and seek problem. At that time several suppliers for gray parts popped up, but I have been out of the market for many years now and don't know if its still hard to come by appropriate parts.
P.S. The last I knew if you ordered a vehicle here at your local dealer you could p/u at a Euro dealership then drive it around, later shipping it back home after the vacation, but that applied to new vehicles. Several years back, maybe 10, MBZ an BMW were pushing this a lot.
With Mercedes, if you give them your chassis or VIN number, the vehicle should be on their computer database, so they can work out the part numbers from that (even if it's a European model!)
Yes, I used Baltic birch - I found it lightweight but strong enough for the job!
DreamingOfExpeditions
Adventurer
Ask and ye shall recieve
EPA site attached.
The way I read it, if is traceable and proven older than 21 years of age for the complete vehicle, no restrictions OR before DOT regs for that type and fuel same thing.
Vehicles that are US versions, bought overseas, no issues, just compliance, eg X=X.
Us versions with different engines (ie, a BMW 318d), the engine must meet regulated fuel engine requirements of that year.
Non-US version vehicles, (ie an Alpha Romeo Mito) then goes into Customs, EPA, DOT and Treasury dept, and probably not possible, at the very least a logistics nightmare.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/quiktext.htm#21years
EPA site attached.
The way I read it, if is traceable and proven older than 21 years of age for the complete vehicle, no restrictions OR before DOT regs for that type and fuel same thing.
Vehicles that are US versions, bought overseas, no issues, just compliance, eg X=X.
Us versions with different engines (ie, a BMW 318d), the engine must meet regulated fuel engine requirements of that year.
Non-US version vehicles, (ie an Alpha Romeo Mito) then goes into Customs, EPA, DOT and Treasury dept, and probably not possible, at the very least a logistics nightmare.
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/quiktext.htm#21years
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VermontOverland
Explorer
Awesome truck, Devil. My club is planning a trip to NS this May. We'll be camping on a member's land somewhere near Canso and then attending the Moose Trophy rover event. You should zoom out to hang with us so we can all gawk at your truck.
stevegsmith
Observer
Devil,
How about some pictures of the interior of the cab?
Do you still have the standard non-bolstered military seats? I did when I got mine and they were tough on the tush for long distance. I ended up getting a set of G-original Recaros from a parted out G. The difference is night and day.
Looks great BTW.
How about some pictures of the interior of the cab?
Do you still have the standard non-bolstered military seats? I did when I got mine and they were tough on the tush for long distance. I ended up getting a set of G-original Recaros from a parted out G. The difference is night and day.
Looks great BTW.