Japanese import C4 - Any pitfalls?

[Bill4553]

Afternoon,

I'm currently looking for a C4 corvette in the range of £4-8k ish (quite a wide, albeit low price band because I'm working on the assumption that if looked-after, it will not depreciate significantly). From what I have seen so far, there is a great degree of variability in the condition of the vehicles but in every case, their owners all have reasons for why their example is special and worthy of the price tag!

So far, the best example by far is an '87 model imported from Japan with 60k on the clock. This appears to be in very good condition though it does have aftermarket wheels (not too bad looking but not original nonetheless) and is an automatic (I would ideally like a manual but there are very few of these around). I've also heared of a '94 at the top end of my price bracket which I think came from japan though I haven't see it yet.

Does anyone know of any reasons not to go for a Japanese import or reasons why such a car would be valued lower than a direct American import??

Thanks in advance for any comment/advice

Regards

Bill

[vetteheadracer]

Quite a few vettes were sold into the Japanese market and they have slightly different lighting requirements and I think some of the option codes are different.

No reason for not going for a Jap import one as they were all built in the same factory in Bowling Green

You won't get any history with the car, but then again if you import from the US the history quite often gets lost.

As long as the car has an SVA (and/or) MOT then you should be fine.

Checkout Classic American magazine this month as there were a lot of vettes for sale in there. Also check the club web site under the "MarketPlace" at www.corvetteclub.org.uk

Hope this helps.

[Bill4553]

Thanks for your input... I'll certainly have another look in Classic American as well (I have the March issue but am not sure when they tend to come out).

Does anyone know whether the state of tune is any different if it has come from Japan? Do they have tough emmisions standards which might limit the power output?

The car I was looking at has a SVA and MOT so it should be good and legal.

Cheers

Bill

[vetteheadracer]

Hi Bill,

I get my Classic American on subscription and it arrived on Friday morning, it has a picture of Richard Hammond (of Top Gear etc. fame) with his Sub Lime Dodge Charger, which is up for sale but I digress.

Loads of vettes in there this month. On the emissions I know that the Japs do modify their cars so it must be possible that your car might not be stock, however if it is it will probably be similar in spec to a US cars as they have to pass California Emissions and they are the most strict in the US.

California cars have specific regular production options (RPOs). I know that C5's were sold into Jap officially as they were into Europe and therefore they were built specifically for those markets. I don't know whether the C4 was built or grey imported into Japan as it was never available in Europe.

[franv8]

There is a Japanese export option code listed for Jap cars, so there will be some differences, but I don't know what they are.

In terms of Jap vs US Emissions - most cars lost power when they were imported into the states (due to tougher emissions...) and interstingly (well to an anorak like me) the MX6 engine I bought last year ex Japan did not feature EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) that my UK car did have - so emissions may actually be easier in Japland.

It seems there are a number of Jap imported Vettes coming through at the moment, and they are very keenly priced. Usual Vette rules of buying apply, watch for accident repaired ones, particularly C4's, as a valuable car they are often repaired rather than written off, but frame damage is a likely outcome which is generally not economically repairable on a C4.

Best of luck with it!

Francis.