Posted by Jack Cain on April 03, 2000 at 12:21:46:
I too was interested at first in the opportunity to accquire these trucks.
However, when trying to obtain further information about the trucks, besides receiving some pictures via e-mail, the folks at Sindorf have been evasive and give only vague assurances about the ability to import the vehicles into the United States.
Mostly I am being urged that there are many people interested and that if I want to buy them I had best hurry and commit to the purchase.
Specifically I have asked Sindorf for the Trucks VIN / Serial Numbers. They refuse to supply them. This may seem like a trivial matter but I can assure you that from checking with U.S. Customs that it is indeed a serious item.
Forget what you think you knew about importing vehicles into the United States. Many of the old rules no longer apply. In order to import a car/truck with a manufacture date after January 1st 1968 the vehicle has to meet DOT-FMVSS and EPA standards. It doesn't matter if the vehicles were manufactured in the U.S. If they were not certified by their manufacturer as meeting U.S. specifications than they will have to be modified by an ICI to meet U.S. standards (if you want to know how this works e-mail me and I will send you more details). The only way to find out is to have the VIN / Serial number and contact the manufacturer for a "Letter of Compliance" or the U.S. DOT and EPA for an exemption. This documentation must be presented to U.S. Customs upon entry of the vehicle into the U.S.
Just because it is possible to ship a vehicle to the U.S. doesn't mean U.S. Customs will allow it to leave the impound area. Fees for storage are high and if a determination is made that the vehicle is not in compliance there are only two options. The first is to put it back on a ship headed somewhere else. The second is to stand by while the vehicle is crushed.
Perhaps it is a cultural thing. But I am not about to send several thousands of dollars to someone I don't have a working business relationship with who refuses to supply even basic information that can be obtained merely by opening the door of the truck and writing down a few numbers on a post-it.
If any of you pursue the trucks and it works out let me know. Heck, I might even buy one from you.
Jack