I have a German market Elise in my garage; I am very familiar with the
FMVSS. Surprised that I have to tell Tim that since, for a while, I
was constantly reminding folks on elisetalk.com about my car (and I
still think my Elise is faster through a turn that the new ones that
you guys have!)
Cars that are 25 years or older do not have to meet the FMVSS to be
imported. There is a check box for this case right on the HS-7
declaration that one completes when a car is imported. In fact, it is
the first box. Also, the EPA doesn't care about one importing cars 21
years and older.
Note that after the car is imported, you still have to deal with your
state as far as registration. Getting such a car through California
emissions testing is an exercise left to the reader.
Besides, even if this were not the case, I am looking to import a
Talbot Sunbeam Lotus to run in Historic class stage rally, so I could
always use the competition car exemption. Part of stage rally
competition involves driving on public roads (at legal speeds, obeying
all traffic laws) and some folks have gotten NHTSA approval to drive
their otherwise "illegal" cars on the road.
As far as one lifetime exemption, I think someone needs to give that
one to the guys at Mythbusters. It may have once been the case, but
it is not now.
alan
--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Tim and Jo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Alan,
>
> You may want to check with Customs (and maybe DOT)
> before you bring in a car.
>
> It was 1968 that the Feds starting to require various
> "safety" standards, as well as the EPA requiring
> emissions standards around that time.
>
> Back in the late '70s I imported a car from Europe
> and was provided a long list of requirements - everything
> from break-away switches to the proper safety glass.
> As a matter of fact even if the safety glass was real
> safety glass, it would need replaced unless it had a
> "registered" brand logo imbedded in the glass. I don't
> know how much they might enforce the standards on a 25
> year old car, but they might...
>
> Tim Mullen
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lotus-cars/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
