912E in Japan

Squonk · Post by **Squonk** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:12 am

As you requested, Doc. Let the oohing and ahhhing begin!

Post by **doc** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:47 am

Ooh!! Ahh!!

Looks like a new car! Sweet.

doc

Squonk · Post by **Squonk** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:53 am

doc wrote:Ooh!! Ahh!!

Looks like a new car! Sweet.

doc

It does, doesn't it? Engine rebuilt about 30-40K miles ago. Trans about 6 months ago. Paint is 5 years old.

It sure has been a headache arranging to get it imported. Man, the Japanese government seems to do everything it can to prevent cars from getting in over here. The customs guys really have the panties cinched up tight.

Luckily, the car is a '76. One year older and I would have been hit up for about $4K just to get the emission checked.

Class 11 streeter · Post by **Class 11 streeter** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:56 pm

OOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!

Class 11 streeter · Post by **Class 11 streeter** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:56 pm

AAAAHHHHHHHH!

Class 11 streeter · Post by **Class 11 streeter** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:56 pm

NIIIIIIIIIIICE!

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:45 pm

We've been sending tons of cars to Asia for the past few years.. is it really that tough to import..

Is stuff that much more valueable over there?

Class 11 streeter · Post by **Class 11 streeter** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:12 pm

MNAirHead wrote:We've been sending tons of cars to Asia for the past few years.. is it really that tough to import..

Is stuff that much more valueable over there?

I'll bet the weak American dollar makes buying US sourced cars VERY tempting!

Squonk · Post by **Squonk** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 2:56 am

MNAirHead wrote:We've been sending tons of cars to Asia for the past few years.. is it really that tough to import..

Is stuff that much more valueable over there?

Well, the guy I am using to import the 912 advised me to just buy a car already in Japan. He said most people who bring cars over themselves are in a position where they don't worry about the cost involved. (I am not in that group.)

The government makes it difficult for private individuals to import cars. I guess they have to deal with it with major companies, but that doesn't mean they have to make it easy for the little guy. I think I mentioned this before, but just the emission test costs between $3-4K. I slid by with this because cars '76 and before don't have to have that test. And even then, there's a cut-off of April '76. Why April? Who knows?

And older used cars have to have a yearly inspection. That will run you somewhere between $800-1200.

Is it more valuable? I guess the market prices are a bit higher, but they have to be on cars like that because the import costs are going to get passed along. I saw a '65 912 for 2,800,000 yen, or about $28K. Check it out at this link.... http://www.carsensor.net/usedcar/detail ... adsp061112

I'm not looking forward to having to buy any parts here, that's for sure. At least I have the option of buying them in the U.S. and having them shipped here. Not sure which will work out more cheaply.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:39 am

If it helps.. I'm more than willing to fill out your customs forms.

Squonk · Post by **Squonk** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:35 am

MNAirHead wrote:If it helps.. I'm more than willing to fill out your customs forms.

I may need some help on that at some time in the future. I'll keep you in mind. For the car, I'm having to pay this guy, and his counterpart in the U.S., $1500 for all the paperwork, etc. It's the 'etc' where they are making their money. He is handling all the importation process here. Handling the customs thing, arranging for the car to be trucked from Nagoya to Okayama, getting the car inspected, has to have it registered in his name since he is importing it, then transferring the car to me so I can have it registered in my name. Talk about jumping through hoops!

arr_kid · Post by **arr_kid** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:23 am

That's a real gem, I have a similar one in the UK but it's not as original.

Bet you can't wait to get hold of it!

Squonk · Post by **Squonk** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:15 am

arr_kid wrote:That's a real gem, I have a similar one in the UK but it's not as original.

Bet you can't wait to get hold of it!

I am, in fact, finding it very difficult to wait. I'm having a whale-tail put on it along with A/C and that will take about a month to complete. (For those of you that don't like the idea of a whale-tail on a 912E, it was at least an option for the '76 model.)

As for being original, the interior and the paint have been re-done, so it may look original, but it isn't. The important thing to keep in mind is that......

IT'S MINE!!! hehehehehehe

Squonk · Post by **Squonk** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:16 am

arr_kid wrote:That's a real gem, I have a similar one in the UK but it's not as original.

Bet you can't wait to get hold of it!

And I should add, your 912 looks sweet itself. Can you post some pics of the interior?