I was looking around on these Japanese websites and came across this site selling New and Used Cars. I stumbled on the new bB and the cost:

Make: Toyota
Model: bB
Driving Type: 1500cc is available in 2WD only
1300cc is available in 2WD and also in 4WD
Steering Position: Right Hand Drive (on the right side of car)
Transmission Type: Automatic gear
Fuel Gasoline - Petrol
Passenger Capacity: 5
Engine Capacity: 1300cc . Also available in 1500cc
Engine Type: DOHC . V V T - i
Number of Doors: 5
Price FOB 1300cc . 2WD = US$ 16,500.
1300cc . 4WD = US$ 18,800.
1500cc . 2WD = US$ 17,600.
Destination: United States US$ 1,800

Terms & Conditions

Goods/vehicle(s) will be shipment after confirmation of payment by our Japanese Bank.
Goods/vehicle(s) will be shipment after confirmation of full payment.
Goods/vehicle(s) will be sent with first available ship.
We need 5 working days for inspection of vehicle(s).
All vehicles are fully inspected by our engineers/mechanics before shipment.
We'll send Bill of Lading and other related documents with speed courier ( DHL / EMS ).
All vehicles / goods are available on first come first serve basis.
If more than one customers are interested in same car, we'll sell to those, who will pay firsrt.
We do not accept payment by credit card or cheque.
We do not issue invitation letter or guarantee letter for visa purpose.
If a payment will reach us late and the vehicle is sold to other customer, we'll send similar car with same specs.
Cars for disabled / physically handicapped persons will be sent without our profit at manufacturer's original price. This offer is for new cars only.
A special 5% discount is offered on bulk purchase ( 10 or more cars at a time ).
A special 3% discount is offered on bulk purchase ( 5 or more cars at a time ).
Special 2% discount is offered to diplomats, United Nations staff, Doctors and Scientists.
Special 2% discount is not available for atomic weapon scientists.
You must be 18 years old or over to buy a vehicle.
17 years old or youngers can buy car through their parents.
An official receipt will be issue after confirmation of payment.
All payments are not refundable.

 

Good luck getting it over to the US. If it was that easy everyone would be driving skylines over here.

 

It would be cool to have a right hand drive car

 

thers a few ways to legally have an imported car.. depending on state thouhg.. the most common is the re-titleing it as a hobby vehicl or kit car. the more legal way thogh is by proving its crash test/emission results.. meanign you need to privatly fund and perfor crash/emision tests.

 

From the DOT website:

As of Oct 2003 the only RHD JDM allowed for import into US is 1990-1999 Skyline GTS GTR. The vehicle must go to US conversion company (est 8k-18k USD) to meet US DOT standards. And you have to give them a returnable "bond" of 150% of vehicle value until conversion is done. If you get caught with an illegal one on the roads it will be confiscated and destroyed at your cost.

As you may know, all the Japanese specifications vehicles (JDM car) are Right Hand Drive. Unfortunately, it is difficult to import JDM cars into the US at present except the 25 years or older model, race cars, show cars, and kit cars. It is because you have to obtain the approval from the DOT and the EPA in order to import the JDM car and it needs to legalize a car when it will reach to the US port.

Let me advise you that unless you wish to present crash test data for any Right Hand Drive car, it cannot legally be imported to the US. This is prohibitively expensive as a vehicle must be crashed to obtain the data, and we do not support the crash test data. Also the JDM car probably do not meet the US emission standard. And after 1996 models probably need to install the OBD2 system in order to pass the emission standard.

 

or you could do what a friend of a friend of a friend did....he had a skyline shipped over piece by piece by piece it was completeyl disassmblyed(?) and put back together. :D

 

i call that the "chop-chop" method. thanks peteyd.

 

anything is possable with a good lawyer!!
my buddy has imported many JIO (Japanese Import Only) motorcycles
in to the US. here is a Picture of My NSR250SP Rothmanns Replica
Japanese 2stroke with a Wa. plate ya buddy!!!



would be cool to see some RSD Bb's on the road here.

 

if u have read other stuff by me u know i m vw/audi junky. i know a guy who lives in germany and nc and has an uber rare golf rallye and he said something about importing cars thru canada is easier than bringin them straight to us shores

 

Can you say Group Buy??!! WOOT!

Seriously tho, you can import cars without crash testing or emissions (the later depending on the state you live in) by just shipping the engine in a seperate box, and register it as a kit car. That's how Noble is starting to sell it's M12 supercar here. There's a garage a few blocks away from me that has several JDM Skylines (some non-GTR) as well as some other stuff (RHD Supra, Sunny Turbo, ect.) that are being reassembled right now for a company out of Orlando. It is possible, and I can't believe someone a little more well-heeled than I hasn't brought an Open Deck over yet.

Ouch, that's cold.

 

And what are you going to do for license plates? To buy one just for show doesn't make much sense and if you get caught driving it, it's not a fix-it ticket for registration, you can kiss it goodbye

 

I read a long article on this subject awhile back. You can legally import race cars or off road cars, but when you try to get them on the road you are looking at massive amounts of cash and head aches.

 

LIST OF NONCONFORMING MOTOR VEHICLES
CAPABLE OF BEING MODIFIED BY A
REGISTERED IMPORTER
as of January 9, 2006:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...LIG010906.html

"Vehicles that have been determined eligible for importation are assigned a vehicle eligibility number."

"Our experience has shown that the safety performance of right-hand drive vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country. However, we will consider the vehicles "substantially similar" if the manufacturer advises us that the right-hand drive vehicle would perform the same as the U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicle in dynamic crash tests. Absent such a showing, the RI would have to demonstrate (through a petition) that the vehicle, when modified, would comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, including those for which dynamic crash testing is prescribed."

So, if you want a legally roadable bB or OpenDeck, plan on importing, and modifying for compliance, at least three of 'em - two for crash testing and one to drive should the other two both pass tests...

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/FMVSS/

Shouldn't cost more than maybe $100k to get a licensable bB or OD on the road here...

 

Do kit cars need to be crash tested then?

If the enigine is imported seperately, then it can be considered a kit, as I understand it.

 

I agree with everyone against the idea for financial reasons.

if someone (like me) wants an opendeck - I feel it's almost better to simply get a few pictures of the opendeck and take it to a reputable bodyshop/customization shop in your area (like west cosast customs) and pay them to do the transformation.

sure it won't be right hand drive but you'll get the hawt opendeck look

 

If you can get a hold of Import Tuner magazine June 2005, they have all the information you need to get a car imported.

HOW TO IMPORT YOUR JDM DREAM: Everything You Need To Know

I must admit the article may talk you out of it, but it is a good read.

good luck!

 

It would be easier to import all the parts that make an xB a bB. Make it right hand drive and everything. No one would no the difference. All the parts are available if you know the right people. Git-R-Done

 

...if one could find a wrecked Open Deck that was good from the "B" pillar rearward, and an xB good from the "B" pillar forward, one could import the trashed OD and a good shop could piece the two together making one good XB OD...

At least it would be something that could be done for a 'reasonable' cost, and one would end up with the world's only left-hand-drive OD...and it should be legal.

 

Yes, You could title it as a regular xB. Good angle of thought Tomas.

 

good idea tom. mr. engineer.