Importing 1994-95 Land Rover 90

[haven]

Back in 2008, the US Dept of Transportation decided to allow importation of non-conforming Defender 90 models from the 1994 and 1995 model years. Read the decision here

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2008-12-23/html/E8-30335.htm

The decision was based on the fact that Land Rover did import 90 series vehicles to USA during those years, and that the non-conforming vehicles could be easily modified to meet US standards.

Has anyone here imported a Defender 90 using this NHTSA ruling? What sorts of "easy modifications" were required?

 

[dcproven]

Interesting....
I am guessing the modifications are whatever makes a NAS Defender (Safety devices and so on) please let us know, if that is possible, I will bring me one (or two) in a heartbeat...

 

[psykokid]

If you read through the ruling in a nutshell you have to :

- Change seat belts for US spec items
- Add NAS type roll cage
- add rear step bumper
- change out cluster for US spec one
- add shift interlock on automatic trans trucks
- add seat belt buzzer
- make sure all brake lines, tires and lights are DOT items
- change fuel tank and supply system for US one including inertia switch.

The big problem I see on that list is that the NAS fuel tanks are NLA and hard to come by used. They pop up from time to time but usually garner about 700 +/- on the secondhand market. The engine would have to be a 3.9 V8 to get by EPA since that's what was in the US trucks at the time. Land Rover TDI's were never type accepted or certified for sale in the US by the EPA.

 

[dcproven]

And that 3.9 would be the problem, most Defenders are diesel everywhere...

 

[superbuickguy]

Import it as a diesel, drop a newer Discovery motor in it and you're good to go. The other option is there is an exception for MY 2000 and older - if the vehicle was imported to Canada, you can bring those vehicles into the US (it must conform with Canadian emissions laws). The deal is you should be a dealer to do this - because you'll have to bond the Defender to get it out of customs, get it swapped and certified, then you are released from your bonding obligations.

I learned a boatload when I brought my 300 TDI to the US. One of those things, if you think you're going to have trouble do NOT use the cheapest importer. Spend the extra cash on UPS or FedEx because they're pretty good at getting stuff through customs and for the minimal bonds they have programs that are hella cheap.

 

[Blueboy]

And that 3.9 would be the problem, most Defenders are diesel everywhere...

One exception is Japan.

 

[Javelinadave]

Import it as a diesel, drop a newer Discovery motor in it and you're good to go.

Not even close. The gas motor isn't going to work with your diesel tranny without a lot of extra parts and you can't import the truck into the US with a non EPA certified motor installed in it.

 

[David Harris]

Not even close. The gas motor isn't going to work with your diesel tranny without a lot of extra parts and you can't import the truck into the US with a non EPA certified motor installed in it.

I believe you can import the vehicle in but it has to be brought up to legal spec by a licensed agent within a certain amount of time or used only for off-road or show purposes.

 

[Javelinadave]

I believe you can import the vehicle in but it has to be brought up to legal spec by a licensed agent within a certain amount of time or used only for off-road or show purposes.

This thread is about on road use and legally licensing the vehicle. CBP has been confiscating Rovers that don't meet US specs when they hit the shores. I havn't heard of anybody successfully importing any less than 25 year old diesel powered Defender.

 

[Mack73]

This thread is about on road use and legally licensing the vehicle. CBP has been confiscating Rovers that don't meet US specs when they hit the shores. I havn't heard of anybody successfully importing any less than 25 year old diesel powered Defender.

While arguably not "legally" imported. I did sit in a left hand drive 2001 TD5 Defender 110 with Washington license plates a couple years back. Even have pictures for proof

 

[Javelinadave]

I know of a guy who also has one but it was imported with a 2.5NA or a legal gas motor. Whatever the decoded VIN stated is the new "legal".