Has anyone got experience of importing a car from Japan? Or Scandinavia even?

[Heidel_Kakao]

Hi I am toying with the idea of importing a big Japanese estate car from Japan, probably either a Toyota Crown or Mazda Luce, it will be 1980's or older. I want something that can fit in two dogs and a load of luggage etc for continental road tripping.

 

Has anyone here got any experiences of importing a car from Japan that they can share? Company they used etc. Or any pointers of where else I can obtain a large (big as possible) retro Japanese estate car. I know we got the Mazda 929 in the UK and also the Datsun 280C but I can't find any for sale at the moment.

 

[andy18s]

there's a guy on facebook called Drew who sources and imports bikes from Japan

His page is called "Unobtainium" and gets hold of some pretty exotic GsxrNsrRdTzrZxr-rrrr type stuff

I'm sure there are others who can advise better

[Supernaut]

Two names I've heard of are JDM Auction Watch and Torque.

 

However, a mate got an Impreza imported by Torque and discovered they hadn't torqued the wheel nuts properly... Luckily he didn't lose a wheel.

[Heidel_Kakao]

Two names I've heard of are JDM Auction Watch and Torque.

Yeah I have already started browsing JDM Auction Watch trying to get a feel for what is available. I suppose I had better work out what my budget is as well, probably not enough lol.

[Supernaut]

I just stare wistfully at the pretty pictures on JDM Auction Watch...

[hpi_matrix]

Id wait for a Camry to pop up:

 

[loserone]

You could also try Steve at Goodwood Sportscars, or Anthony and Dan at AK automotive in Rowlands Gill. They import lots of MX5s, but they also import some obscure stuff - and will get anything in 'to order'.

[beko1987]

See if dollywobbler knows any contacts in the Japanese world? He could see if kelsey would sponsor some of it in return for a full feature on the import job.

 

Or you both fly out there and drive it back, documenting it along the way

[Lacquer Peel]

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H-reg-1991-Datsun-Nissan-Primera-2-0-GSi-Automatic-Estate-2-Owners-56k-Miles-/391826193832

 

Probably not quite what you're looking for but it's roomy, Japanese and a little odd.

[Heidel_Kakao]

See if dollywobbler knows any contacts in the Japanese world? He could see if kelsey would sponsor some of it in return for a full feature on the import job.

Or you both fly out there and drive it back, documenting it along the way

I do need to buy a copy of Retro Japanese magazine any to see if is anything suitable in it.

[Heidel_Kakao]

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H-reg-1991-Datsun-Nissan-Primera-2-0-GSi-Automatic-Estate-2-Owners-56k-Miles-/391826193832

 

Probably not quite what you're looking for but it's roomy, Japanese and a little odd.

I didn't specify in the OP but it would also need to be RWD. I was also daydreaming about one day putting a Lexus V8 in a Crown. Probably not going to happen but I like to dream.

[Lacquer Peel]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nissan-Sunny-estate-1989-MUST-GO-/112467239968

A little salty and probably not any more long pointy doggo-friendly than the Impreza. (edit: also not correct wheel drive)

[gordonbennet]

Legacy/Outback not big enough?

 

Not as rare as a Crown/Camry estate but durable and reliable long term bets.

[Snipes]

I can think of a fair few Japanese motors I'd like to import. Not sure how importers, use to 500bhp Skylikes, would react if asked to source the equivalent of a 1995 Carina though......

[Lacquer Peel]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-1-6-DL-classic-1991-Very-Rare-Car-2-wheel-drive-/322578354573

All of the cool old Japanese estates for sale in the UK are FWD, but look at this honey!

[Asimo]

'95 Carina? No probs.

 

 

https://www.tradecarview.com/used_car/toyota/carina/21197092/

[Junkman]

Importing a car from Japan? As long as there is that split pea soup green fleet spec P76 next door to it?

Why, I ask. Just why?

[Heidel_Kakao]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-1-6-DL-classic-1991-Very-Rare-Car-2-wheel-drive-/322578354573

All of the cool old Japanese estates for sale in the UK are FWD, but look at this honey!

That is lovely I will grant you!

[dollywobbler]

I do need to buy a copy of Retro Japanese magazine any to see if is anything suitable in it.

I shouldn't talk myself out of a sale, but we don't have a classified section. Also, we don't have any budget, so Beko's idea sadly doesn't have wings.

 

Primera estate is a very good call. They're getting seriously rare and are Japanese built.

[Heidel_Kakao]

I shouldn't talk myself out of a sale, but we don't have a classified section. Also, we don't have any budget, so Beko's idea sadly doesn't have wings.

 

Primera estate is a very good call. They're getting seriously rare and are Japanese built.

No worries, I will buy a copy anyway lol. I did have a flick through Eddies while at JCS as he had a copy with his Prairie in.

[Heidel_Kakao]

Well I have just paid a fully refundable if needed £500 bidding deposit with JDM auction watch. This will allow me to view past sale prices and get a better idea of how much what I am looking for costs.

 

http://auctions.jdmauctionwatch.com/aj-EZXkfYICu5asHW.htm

This is kind of what I would be looking for!

[djimbob]

fascinated to see how this all pans out, my Dad had a Hiace camper imported a few years back, but the company went bust a couple of years after, seemed fairly painless for him at least

[dollywobbler]

Aye, I'm very interested too. Feature potential here!

[tooSavvy]

 Dan at AK automotive in Rowlands Gill.

 

Eh?... that would be 'just along the road from me'  the 'Gill ?

 

Cool 

 

TS

[Heidel_Kakao]

I have been advised to budget approx £7000 by JDM auction watch to obtain something good and solid. Apparently prices can vary wildly based on condition and spec. As I am fairly flexible in what I am looking for model wise this should hopefully work in my favour.

 

£7000 will easily be the most money I will ever have spent on a car by quite a margin! I think I can justify it if I intend to keep it for a very long time and end up with something pretty unique that was not available in the UK when new for that rarity and wow factor. I will need to have a huge clear out of stuff to help with raising fundage but I have been meaning to do that for a long time anyway.

[alcyonecorporation]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-1-6-DL-classic-1991-Very-Rare-Car-2-wheel-drive-/322578354573

All of the cool old Japanese estates for sale in the UK are FWD, but look at this honey!

 

He wanted £1100 for it at the 2015 Beaulieu Autojumble. 

[sierraman]

I'd find a translator first. I don't know what 'this is fucked but I'd still like more than the going rate is' in Japanese.

 

Any seller could be showing you a Dog Licence for all you know when it comes to documentation.

[Heidel_Kakao]

I'd find a translator first. I don't know what 'this is fucked but I'd still like more than the going rate is' in Japanese.

 

Any seller could be showing you a Dog Licence for all you know when it comes to documentation.

Yeah the JDM auction watch people provide a translation of the auction sheets for any car that you are interested in bidding on. The cars are all graded as well. I have actually been watching a few videos on Youtube where they walk you all round a car from a Japanese auction and explain what stuff the auction sheet covers etc.

 

It seems fairly straightforward to be honest, just a case of waiting for something to come along that I want to bid on.

[Snipes]

I have been advised to budget approx £7000 by JDM auction watch to obtain something good and solid. Apparently prices can vary wildly based on condition and spec. As I am fairly flexible in what I am looking for model wise this should hopefully work in my favour.

 

£7000 will easily be the most money I will ever have spent on a car by quite a margin! I think I can justify it if I intend to keep it for a very long time and end up with something pretty unique that was not available in the UK when new for that rarity and wow factor. I will need to have a huge clear out of stuff to help with raising fundage but I have been meaning to do that for a long time anyway.

 

Bear in mind the car will need parts during it's life. If you hit a pothole and wiped out the front nearside suspension, or if it failed the test on poor handbrake and needed a caliper or a cable would you be able to get the parts? Would you be able to store it off the road if you had to wait to find parts for it?

I had a bad experience with my s12 Silvia when it needed a few simple parts but I couldn't find them anywhere, even with contacts in Europe, Astralia and California, then lost my storage and had to sell it in a hurry at a big loss.

[dollywobbler]

That is a valid issue with Japanese stuff, even UK-spec models. There's Datman for your Datsun stuff though, and a pretty active club, so I'd favour something from that marque myself. £7000 would get you a Stagea and a ton of fuel though, and there are plenty of those already over here...