I had heard that the Feds were going to allow in rare models [like Gate's
959] with some compliance mods.  But that wouldn't apply to Vanagons from
South Africa.  I believe I read this in Road and Track.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 9:13 PM
Subject: Re: South Africn Vanagon

> I'm no authority, but it was discussed on the list not too long ago and as
> I understand it if that vehicle (make/model) was not officially released
in
> this country, then you simply are not going to be able to bring one in
from
> outside for highway use.
>
> Here's an example I found, looking back a bit.  It's not the one I was
> looking for that talked about newly stiffened regs for bringing in
> vehicles, but it does address the SA van directly:
>
> >X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 15
> >Message-ID:  <ddd28bd4.246d7574@aol.com>
> >Date:         Fri, 14 May 1999 08:47:48 EDT
> >Reply-To:     KENWILFY@AOL.COM
> >Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
> >From:         KENWILFY@AOL.COM
> >Subject:      Re: Mexican buses
> >Comments: To: mckayaa@oit.edu
> >To:           vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> >These were used vans around '95 models.  They were actually more than
$10,000
> >(like $12,000 to $15,000) and they were used.
> >Also they are RHD and you won't be able to bring them into the US anyway
> >because no crash test data is available.  If some eccentric Vanagon
> >millionaire wants to foot the bill for importing a SA Vanagon only to
have it
> >crash tested by the DOT then please email me privately.  I heard that
Bill
> >Gates imported a rare Porsche several years ago that was worth around
> >$500,000.  It is still sitting in customs because they have no crash test
> >data on it and Bill couldn't bring himself to allow them to crash test a
> >$500,000 car (of which few were made).
> >Just FYI.
> >Ken Wilford
> >Van-Again
> >John 3:16
>
>
> At 10:44 PM 2/29/2000 , Benjamin Tan wrote:
> >Why should it be any different from importing from Europe? US customs
just
> >wants you to pay duty. DOT just wants to put US safety equipment
(shouldn't
> >be too complicated since there are US spec Vanagons for parts), EPA well
> >install the US emissions stuff or convert to a US engine until your
> >certification is done.
>
> David Beierl - Providence, RI
>   http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
> '85 GL "Poor Relation"