Sagaris in the US??
Discussion
These guys in Orlando Fl claiming they can bring them in. I have been chatting to them about getting a Nissan Skyline in, they specialize in JDM vehicles but a TVR has just recently appeared on the site.
I have no idea whether their claims are true or not. They use the kit car method. They ship the car to some island in the carribean and take the engine, tranny, steering column out and then ship it back in as parts, then reassemble it again as a full car. They sell the car as parts and apparently you get a title. They have yet to come through with credible references so far and they want money (as always) upfront to start the process, you pay the shipping, the people overseas, then the shipping back then for the car to be put together, 4 different cash transcations. Be interesting to see if anybody does it. The parts method is a loophole, whether the DOT/EPA etc agree with it I dont know, but I think 1gracing with the Noble are doing a similar thing then why can't it be done with TVR's, JDM's or whatever. I dont think 1gracing crash tested their cars either but I may be wrong. Interesting concept anyway and one that seems to be being used more and more as I scour the internt forums. I wonder if they can bring used Tuscans and Cerberas in, great prices on them in the UK.
I have no idea whether their claims are true or not. They use the kit car method. They ship the car to some island in the carribean and take the engine, tranny, steering column out and then ship it back in as parts, then reassemble it again as a full car. They sell the car as parts and apparently you get a title. They have yet to come through with credible references so far and they want money (as always) upfront to start the process, you pay the shipping, the people overseas, then the shipping back then for the car to be put together, 4 different cash transcations. Be interesting to see if anybody does it. The parts method is a loophole, whether the DOT/EPA etc agree with it I dont know, but I think 1gracing with the Noble are doing a similar thing then why can't it be done with TVR's, JDM's or whatever. I dont think 1gracing crash tested their cars either but I may be wrong. Interesting concept anyway and one that seems to be being used more and more as I scour the internt forums. I wonder if they can bring used Tuscans and Cerberas in, great prices on them in the UK.
Sorry here the link www.evolutionimports.net/usedcars.php
Be extremly careful, with these "kitcar" method things.
Some states get really anal over what is and what is not considered to be a kitcar. In CA for example I've heard of people having registrations turned down on cobra replicas because they sourced the shell and engine through the same vendor.
Some states get really anal over what is and what is not considered to be a kitcar. In CA for example I've heard of people having registrations turned down on cobra replicas because they sourced the shell and engine through the same vendor.
I would do it aslong as the car was in the US and titled was in my name, then I would hand over the $$. Problem is you have to part with the money in 4-5 parts with no guarantees. With the Skyline it would be in their interests to invest in 2-3 cars and get them here in the country (they are cheap enough) to show the punters it can be done. I would not care if the invoice was listed as parts aslong as it was a full car that worked and was titled. Their business would be booming if they did for very little capital once the first 2 or 3 cars have come through the process. I've tried explaining this to them without much success, so its definitely buyer beware.
Superformance and 1gracing are doing the kit car method along with The radical I've now heard is the latest one, the first 2 to great effect. Maybe 1 day the door will slam shut on this process? the prices will rocket on the cars already in the country and legalized.
I personally say good luck to them if they have thought "outside the box" and found a loophole, aslong as they are legit companies. The ones in Orlando are NOT yet until its proven otherwise.
Superformance and 1gracing are doing the kit car method along with The radical I've now heard is the latest one, the first 2 to great effect. Maybe 1 day the door will slam shut on this process? the prices will rocket on the cars already in the country and legalized.
I personally say good luck to them if they have thought "outside the box" and found a loophole, aslong as they are legit companies. The ones in Orlando are NOT yet until its proven otherwise.
The car I was referring to having been refused registration above was a superperformance.
Apparently the owner would have been OK if he had taken delivery of the rolling chasis and then had someone else fit the engine. In this case the dealership took the car back.
In CA they have been getting pretty anal about these things. Over the last year or so a lot of people who'd been using title companies to register cars out of state and then transfer them in had there registrations revoked. So even having a valid registration in hand is no guarantee.
These things vary state by state, as I understand it Florida has particularly loose regulations in this reguard. Not saying it can't be done or don't do it, but it's a lot of money if you can't drive it.
Apparently the owner would have been OK if he had taken delivery of the rolling chasis and then had someone else fit the engine. In this case the dealership took the car back.
In CA they have been getting pretty anal about these things. Over the last year or so a lot of people who'd been using title companies to register cars out of state and then transfer them in had there registrations revoked. So even having a valid registration in hand is no guarantee.
These things vary state by state, as I understand it Florida has particularly loose regulations in this reguard. Not saying it can't be done or don't do it, but it's a lot of money if you can't drive it.
CA is a whole "nother" can of worms when it comes to "kit cars" like superperformance, caterham, or Ultima. In CA you need to do SB100 registration to avoid emissions and only 500 or so are allowed each year. Theset get alloted rapidly. Usually the engine must be compliant with emissions for the year of the "body style" of the car somehow Ultimas are allowed too without too much trouble. But it is true some states that should be perfectly legal can have major hangups on kitcars. Sometimes you can get it titled in a different state and bring back to yours with no problem - it's just a matter of getting a title. Seek a lawyer.
Importing cars is just as nuts and virtually impossible. The trouble comes in with the engine. If the engine is built in the US then it will be okay but if a non - epa approved engine is imported, as far as I know, it can be impounded at customs unless perhaps it is clear that it is for off road use.
What I have said here is all based on internet research from both state, federal, but also web forum sites. It is an easily researchable topic. It is a very sad state of affairs for Americans where we can have all the fire power in the world in our homes but no proper cars. The good news is between all this, in many states that do not do emission tests you can have a seriously wicked engine and not be breaking the laws.
Importing cars is just as nuts and virtually impossible. The trouble comes in with the engine. If the engine is built in the US then it will be okay but if a non - epa approved engine is imported, as far as I know, it can be impounded at customs unless perhaps it is clear that it is for off road use.
What I have said here is all based on internet research from both state, federal, but also web forum sites. It is an easily researchable topic. It is a very sad state of affairs for Americans where we can have all the fire power in the world in our homes but no proper cars. The good news is between all this, in many states that do not do emission tests you can have a seriously wicked engine and not be breaking the laws.
And the Sagaris could be imported quite simply (relatively speaking, all these things are complex) with the HS-7 form check marked as "Show and Display". this would require some kind of convincing proof to the NHTSA that it is a limited edition special car worthy to be displayed (???). Trouble with this, other than preying the "proof" is good enough, is I don't know if it allows the car to be driven on the road?? The miles are limited too. Good fellow connected with Turner Motorsports has 3 (yes) Maclaren F1's imported this way (one of them is an LM!).
We can get some incredble cars here in the US. Its just that we want something we can't have, something rare. Its the same the world over. Go to England and Japan and they would like Corvettes, Mustangs, Vipers, why? because they are rare and they can't have them. We want things like TVR's, the rice crowd want the Nissan Skyline. If the Skyline was sold over here and the Supra wasn't, everybody in that scene would want the Supra. There is a definite "rare" factor involved, a Corvette is very fast, we dont look twice at them as you see one every 20th car. A Corvette or Viper in England would have a crowd around it and stop traffic.
They were beaten by the Aston Martin team. The closest Corvette, driven by Fellows/O'Connell/Papis finished one lap down to the Aston Martin, the second Corvette was another 14 laps behind the sister Corvette.
TVR, by the way, finished 25th and 27th overall, 9th and 10th in class. Good strong finish for an independent team!
TVR, by the way, finished 25th and 27th overall, 9th and 10th in class. Good strong finish for an independent team!
I'm originally from Manchester and now live in Fl. Sure the die hard TVR boys don't like Corvettes and vice vera, but I've spoken to many motorheads over there and follow many auto forums. You'd be foolish to say the Vette isn't a good car for the price, holds its value well and the new 500HP version will be a hell of a deal. Watch Clarkson droll anytime he drives a Viper. This isnt a this car is betetr than this car argument, its a fact that people want what they can't have, cars are no different.
oasis said:
I'm originally from Manchester and now live in Fl. Sure the die hard TVR boys don't like Corvettes and vice vera, but I've spoken to many motorheads over there and follow many auto forums. You'd be foolish to say the Vette isn't a good car for the price, holds its value well and the new 500HP version will be a hell of a deal. Watch Clarkson droll anytime he drives a Viper. This isnt a this car is betetr than this car argument, its a fact that people want what they can't have, cars are no different.
Not saying that the Vette is a bad car, just don't think that it suits British tastes, especially when there are British made alternatives like TVR that are around the same price that will out accelerate it, out handle it, and have a nice interior rather than cheap plastic.
The Vette is a good car, but driving one in the UK would hardly stop traffic. There are plenty of PHers that could have bought a Vette if they wanted one, but not too many that have. If people there wanted them, they wouldn't be so rare.
The Vette is alot less money than a TVR, you can get a new vette for 25k pounds. But once again my point is again this isnt about individual cars,price, performance its about the fact there's a lot of car people, obviously not members of a TVR board that want something different ie American, or American kids wanting the Evo and the Skyline. Otherwise we'd all be driving Hondas. People buy cars for different reasons. My friend ships cars to the footballers over there and high end cars to Japan out of Ft Lauderdale. Ferdinand drives Hummer and a Chrysler 300C, Rooney, Anelka drive Cadillac Escalades, Neville a Grand Cherokee Jeep, an X5 is far better, but why do they? too be different and because they are rare over there, even to the point where nobody can afford to pay the petrol never mind the car itself. He exports Corvettes, Vipers, cadillacs to Japan. I wouldn't have a Vette, I'd have a TVR because its quick, very different and rare, but the resale and reliability wouldnt be as good as the vette, but some people dont care with certain criteria, style performance, unique, rare is more important than reliabilty etc. Wouldnt make much financial sense in the long run, but thats not why some people buy cars.
taimar78 said:
They were beaten by the Aston Martin team. The closest Corvette, driven by Fellows/O'Connell/Papis finished one lap down to the Aston Martin, the second Corvette was another 14 laps behind the sister Corvette.
TVR, by the way, finished 25th and 27th overall, 9th and 10th in class. Good strong finish for an independent team!
I wouldn't say they were beaten by Aston Martin. More like they were unluckier than AM. After the 8th hour, they were 1st and 2nd in class, 3rd & 4th overall.
The second Corvette might have won had it not been punted off by a Porsche (and suffered major suspension damage). Props to Prodrive though for the outstanding finish.
I suppose you are correct that the "rare" factor is the driving force but not for me. I look at performance and that intangible pleasure factor. I would take a Skyline over a Supra any day for instance not matter where I'm located.
In the US we are not receiving the high performance cars of the world while in England any American car can be imported fairly easily. England has those higher power evos fq-400, various Sti iterations etc. We are left with marginal cars her
The corvette has become a great car and I imagine some brits like it and some don't. I don't the PHers attraction to a pushrod V8 and this is perhaps because they are all around me in the US and technically not all that interesting / until this new z06 engine emerges!
Someone import a TVR through these people!
In the US we are not receiving the high performance cars of the world while in England any American car can be imported fairly easily. England has those higher power evos fq-400, various Sti iterations etc. We are left with marginal cars her
The corvette has become a great car and I imagine some brits like it and some don't. I don't the PHers attraction to a pushrod V8 and this is perhaps because they are all around me in the US and technically not all that interesting / until this new z06 engine emerges!
Someone import a TVR through these people!
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