We specialize in bringing in high-end, precisely maintained Japanese vehicles like the Toyota Supra and Nissan Skyline GTR. Our imports from Japan are all vehicles that are 25 years old or older.
In This Article...
Can a Supra be imported into the US?
Because of major long-term reliability difficulties, the 1994 Toyota Supra model was outlawed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You would have a very difficult time finding this model anyplace in the country, and you cannot import it either because the NHTSA has continued to place it on a “blacklist.” The only model year with this severe restriction is the ’94 Supra, so you can still shop for older versions if you’d like.
How much would importing a Supra cost?
You’ve found a Toyota Supra from the 1990s, the vehicle of your dreams. The only issue is that the automobile is in Japan and you need to import it first, so you can’t wait to crank it up and take it for a drive. The difficult portion, as you anticipated, is now over, but you still need to have the car in your possession. Fortunately, importing a car from Japan to the United States is simple, albeit expensive.
Depending on your state, the cost to import any car from Japan varies, however there are some standard costs you should be prepared for. Finding a trustworthy Japanese auto importer is one of the first things you should do after you are certain the car qualifies for shipping, according to Schumacher Cargo Logistics. The heavy work should be handled by whichever business you select; the only important choices are where you’d like the automobile to be delivered, for example. Of course, there is still the option to do everything on your own, but as one seasoned buyer informed Jalopnik, doing so can make the process much more challenging and irritating.
The fee will start at around $2,000 for each car imported into the United States, however it may vary based on factors like the vehicle’s mode of transportation and the location of delivery. If you use one, the importer of your choice will give you a quote. Other fees, such as documentation fees, an escort fee, and taxes are also something you should anticipate, according to a Supra Forums user who discussed the expenses they incurred when importing a car from Japan in the 1990s. Additionally, if you don’t live in a large port city like Miami, you’ll need to budget for travel expenses to pick up the vehicle because the majority of importers will only ship to specific states.
Is the MK4 Supra prohibited?
In the United States, the MK4 Toyota Supra was outlawed in 1994. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) banned the model due to serious long-term dependability difficulties. Because of this, the 1994 MK4 Supra is very uncommon in the United States and cannot be imported from overseas because it is still on the NHTSA’s list of prohibited vehicles.
However, since only the 1994 model of the MK4 is significantly impacted by the prohibition, enthusiasts frequently make due with other year versions of the car.
Why are Supras so hard to find?
The Toyota Supra has been making news more frequently recently despite being off the market in the United States for 20 years. And for good reason: Toyota has spent the last five years igniting enthusiasts’ fervor for its future fifth-generation model, which will be unveiled at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show and will go on sale in 2019. In addition, collectors are starting to drive up prices on clean versions from the 1990s.
The Supra, often thought of as little more than a Celica coupe with more power, has recently found itself in the spotlight, and not in a good manner.
Generation Xers, millennials, and die-hard fans who grew up idolizing the automobile, in particular, have fallen in love with Toyota’s fourth-generation A80 Supra, which was produced from 1993 to 1998.
Here is a glance at the present activities of the tenacious Supra as well as a glimpse at its history.
Toyota Supra Sells for $121K
A 1994 Toyota Supra manual twin-turbo that was in brand-new, factory-condition, recently for an astounding $121,000 at auction. Although that price is unlikely to become the standard, it does firmly establish the Supra as a six-figure car. Why then did this specific Supra command such a premium price?
For starters, it’s a vintage collectible that still contains all of its original parts. This Supra has all the original equipment, right down to the cassette tape/CD player, including the distinctive rear spoiler, its original aluminum alloy wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, and the mint tan leather seats. Additionally, it has only 7,000 kilometers on it, which is unusual for a car this old. The car’s rarity is increased by the fact that it was also unmodified; Supras from this generation were frequently modified and customized, making the unaltered versions difficult to find.
The 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with 320 horsepower and 315 pound-feet of torque in this Supra, along with a six-speed manual transmission, make up its very desirable drivetrain configuration. This Supra also has nostalgically appealing styling. The majority of cars in this generation came with a less powerful base inline six-cylinder engine and either a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission.
The high price is just a result of supply and demand, to sum up. For an unique vehicle like this one, there is a long runway of development potential, even though $121,000 sounds like a lot to pay for a car. Younger collectors who admire these models will eventually have larger money for the ideal automobile they dreamed of as children, while Supras as spotless as this one will only become more rare. Prices can rise significantly when there is a large supply gap and a high demand.
The Supra is Back for 2020
For the first time since the last Toyota Supra was marketed in the United States in 1998, the Supra made a reappearance. A fifth-generation Supra, the A90, was debuted at the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), which took place in Detroit from January 14 to 27. The A90 was mostly developed by BMW and uses a BMW motor and many other components from the new Z4. Since this is the first new Supra to be sold in well over 20 years, excitement is understandably strong.
It has an inline six-cylinder turbocharged engine with 335 horsepower, a rear-wheel drive system, and an eight-speed automated transmission. It promotes aerodynamic balance with a low center of gravity and a 50-50 weight distribution. The 2020 Supra will be offered in two grades, 3.0 and 3.0 Premium, as well as a “Launch Edition,” and will be on sale in the summer of 2019. Renaissance Red 2.0, Nitro Yellow, and Downshift Blue will all be colors.
Which Supra is prohibited in the US?
The rumors are mostly accurate. All Toyota Supras, with the exception of one model, are allowed on American roads. The NHTSA decided to outlaw the Toyota Supra in 1994 owing to ongoing reliability problems.
Sales fell as a result of these dependability problems, and the Supra was eventually discontinued in the United States in 1998. Supra fans will, however, be happy to learn that the vehicle made a victorious comeback to manufacturing in 2020.
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Step 1. Check Vehicle Eligibility
Make that the JDM you intend to import from Japan into the US is legitimately permitted to do so.
US customs is highly picky about the kinds of automobiles that are allowed. There shouldn’t be a problem if the car is a US vehicle that is being returned. If not, there are some requirements that must be met before your car can enter.
The Japanese vehicle must be older than 25 years old, which is the most typical exception. In this case, the car is regarded as a classic car and is exempt from EPA and DOT requirements. Japanese vehicles built before 1996 will be permitted under this rule starting in 2021.
Rare Japanese automobiles like the MR2, Toyota Supra, and Nissan GTR are among the sought-after imports. Over the next ten years, as they are allowed to enter the country, these cars will gradually start to be imported from Japan to the US and spread throughout the market.
Temporary imports of Japanese automobiles are another popular practice. There is no need to modify the car for this kind of import. The car must leave in this case within a year after entrance as the trade-off.
Step 2. Get a Price Quote For Your Shipment
The starting price for importing an automobile from Japan to the US is $2000 or more per vehicle. The cost of importing an automobile from Japan will vary depending on the kind and model of the vehicle, the method of ocean shipping chosen, and the distances between the origin and destination ports. These are just a few of the elements that influence how much it costs to move a car from Japan to the US.
For instance, even with everything else being equal, it will be less expensive to import a car from Japan to LA than to NY.
Please complete our Online Quote Form to get an estimate on the price of importing your car from Japan to the US. You can provide further details in the form after choosing the USA as your destination country.
Step 3. Ship the Car from Japan to the US
As soon as you accept a quote, we can begin collecting the car in Japan and shipping it to the US. As an alternative, you can also leave the car at the port warehouse.
People have actually purchased vehicles in Japan using our transportation system without ever having seen them in person elsewhere. Your car is being prepared for shipping as it enters the port warehouse. You will then be sent a Bill of Lading and notification with the ETA as soon as the ship departs the port. How long does it take to get an automobile into the United States from Japan?
Step 4. Receive the Car in the US
Your Schumacher agent will give you advice once you start working with them about the conditions for importing your car from Japan.
Once inside one of our port warehouses, the car will start the customs clearance process. A Schumacher representative will notify you when your car is ready to leave once it has passed customs.
Origin Import Destinations
The following are our key warehouses where Japanese autos will reach the US:
- CA Los Angeles
- SF, California
- NJ Elizabeth
- Austin, Texas
- GA Savannah
- Tampa, FL
The imported Japanese car from these warehouses can be delivered directly to your home or you can pick it up there.
What does JDM mean?
Japanese-developed motor (JDM) designates the domestic market for automobiles and auto parts in Japan.
It’s a popular misconception that every automobile with a Japanese brand is JDM, but this is untrue. JDM refers only to a car built to be sold in Japan.
When opposed to the American market, where car owners now keep their vehicles for longer periods of timethe average age of the American fleet of cars is 10.8 years[2]JDM market cars are more affordable. Gray markets and stringent motor vehicle inspections are challenges faced by Japanese owners. The Fdration Internationale de l’Automobile estimates that the average annual mileage of an automobile in Japan is only 9,300 kilometers (5,800 miles), which is less than half of the average annual mileage in the United States of 19,200 kilometers (12,000 miles). [3]
Vehicles made in Japan for the domestic market may be very different from those made there for export or from automobiles constructed elsewhere using the same platforms. Japanese automakers are forced to develop innovative technologies and designs first in domestic automobiles because Japanese car owners prioritize innovation above long-term ownership. For instance, Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management made its debut in the 2003 Honda Inspire. However, VCM, which had a bad image from Cadillac’s attempt in the 1980s with the V8-6-4 engine, was absent from the 2003 Honda Accord V6, which had the same basic car and was primarily aimed for the North American market. The Accord V6’s facelift for 2008 saw the successful introduction of VCM.
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) put safety-related limits on JDM cars in 1988, limiting them to 280 horsepower (PS) (276 hp) and a top speed of 180 km/h (111.8 mph). The speed limit of 180 km/h (111.8 mph) was maintained despite the removal of the horsepower cap in 2004.
Is it worthwhile to import a Japanese car?
Japanese secondhand automobiles are among the safest vehicles to import due to their superb condition and reputation for being reasonably priced while maintaining high standards. The country’s excellent road system also compensates for the cars’ minimal wear. When compared to American and European cars, Japanese cars are among the finest in terms of cost-performance. Compared to their western counterparts, Japanese cars are more affordable and smaller, but they are superb vehicles with high performance values, and they are typically built to operate under the ideal circumstances while also being fuel-efficient.
Which vehicles cannot be imported into the USA?
There were just 6 Jaguar XJ220-S models made, but it was enough for the NHTSA to forbid them from entering the country. The XJ220-C racer’s street-legal counterpart, the S model, was created. The S model did not include the base model’s leather trim or the XJ220’s hidden headlamps. The engine of the car was tweaked to deliver a jaw-dropping 690 horsepower.
Lamborghini Strosek Diablo
Designer Vittorio Strosek altered the body of the renowned Lamborghini Diablo because he found it to be too subdued. The front and rear bumpers were changed to ones that were more rounder, as well as the headlights, turn signals, and side mirrors, which were all relocated high on the doors.
Lotus Elise S1 and the 2000 340R
The 1,600 lb weight of the Lotus Elise S1 allowed it to go from 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds while having only 118 horsepower. The Elise, a vehicle with a top speed of 150 mph, was named after Elisa, the granddaughter of Romano Aritoli, the business chairman at the time of its release. With only 340 ever made, the 340R was introduced as a new Lotus limited edition Elise variant. The prototype, which produced 177 horsepower at a weight of 1,100 lbs, earned the moniker “340R” in the beginning. Later, it was used to describe the quantity created when the car’s ultimate production weight was determined to be 1,550 lbs.
Morgan Le Mans ’62 Prototype
Morgan produced one prototype and 80 limited edition commemorative replicas of the 1962 Le Mans in 2002. The prototype was designated as car “00, and each vehicle had its serial number inscribed on the steering wheel and a plaque within the console. Within 72 hours of the line’s inception, all 80 vehicles had been assigned to owners. There is only one door handle installed, on the driver’s side, in order to keep the vehicles as close to the original model as feasible.