Trying to understand land cruiser import situation

[Rare Breed]

I understand the 25 year rule of being able to import a land cruiser to the US from a foreign country such as Africa or even Canada. What I don’t understand and have read here often “ you can’t import a new land cruiser from another country to the US.”. Is this strictly true? Or can you still do it understanding you will have to do modifications that may be costly to make it legal? Just want to put this to rest please

 

[Hombre]

You can import a brand new land cruiser but it can not be registered for highway use. For instance, if you have a big ranch and want it ONLY for hunting on your ranch than it can be done. You will need patience to get it done and will need someone who is familiar with the import process.
You will never be able to do the modifications to meet US highway standards. Let that thought go, ask me how I know?
If you have deep enough pockets, there is a guy in Florida that can import a vehicle from middle east and he will basically rebuild it with compliant parts(frame/motor/body) to make it street legal.
Pockets better be deep.

 

[Rare Breed]

Thanks for answering. nope no deep pockets here.

 

[BourbonTrail]

Interesting thread, but this stuff always makes me ask the question: how in the f*** do people legally drive the POS vehicles and OHV’s on the road, like they do, without getting in serious trouble. You can’t tell me that one of those obnoxious side by sides is road worthy, yet we have at least a dozen drive down our road every week. I watched a guy drive a truck with different sized wheels and his bed falling off, license plate tacked onto the roof. Yet a Land Cruiser is dubbed not road worthy.

Oh wait, it’s all about the

 

[JimP]

Interesting thread, but this stuff always makes me ask the question: how in the f*** do people legally drive the POS vehicles and OHV’s on the road, like they do, without getting in serious trouble. You can’t tell me that one of those obnoxious side by sides is road worthy, yet we have at least a dozen drive down our road every week. I watched a guy drive a truck with different sized wheels and his bed falling off, license plate tacked onto the roof. Yet a Land Cruiser is dubbed not road worthy.

Oh wait, it’s all about the

A lot is going to depend on where you live. A number of localities have made it legal to drive a ATV on the roads providing that they have a few safety items. Other areas you can drive them from your home to a local riding area. Some areas have licenses for them that are required if you are going to use them on highways or other roads, with the license comes the requirement for more items that you need to add such as turn signals and mirrors.

The biggest problem with a Land Cruiser that hasn't been built for sale in the US is the emissions. You can purchase a Toyota Land Cruiser here in the US, but it isn't the same one that you can purchase in Africa. I would love to have one with the 2000 cc diesel engine but by the time all the US emission crap is put onto it you have defeated the purpose of buying one.

 

[Inkgardener]

Can’t you legally drive a tank down the road?

 

[yfarm]

Was driving north on I 95 near WPB Florida and passed two Transport trucks each carrying 8 new white Landcruiser pickups. Was told there is an upfiiter on the eastcoast that receives the vehicles and fits for some governmental agency that then ships offshore. Perhaps the final destination precludes our government from purchasing from a US manufacturer.

 

[spike.t]

A lot is going to depend on where you live. A number of localities have made it legal to drive a ATV on the roads providing that they have a few safety items. Other areas you can drive them from your home to a local riding area. Some areas have licenses for them that are required if you are going to use them on highways or other roads, with the license comes the requirement for more items that you need to add such as turn signals and mirrors.

The biggest problem with a Land Cruiser that hasn't been built for sale in the US is the emissions. You can purchase a Toyota Land Cruiser here in the US, but it isn't the same one that you can purchase in Africa. I would love to have one with the 2000 cc diesel engine but by the time all the US emission crap is put onto it you have defeated the purpose of buying one.

A 2000cc diesel......don't recall seeing one of those on a cruiser......they just started putting the 2.8 turbo from the hilux in it along with auto transmission...no thanks....will stick with my manual 4.2 straight six....think they just recently stopped making it with the 4.5 v8....in sa also get a v6 petrol one....but been a few different engine sizes over the years

 

[Surgeon1]

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A NEW CREWCAB LAND CRUISER WITH THE TURBO DIESEL.
got to ride and drive one a short distance in Zim a couple years ago. It would be my everyday truck on the ranch and to town the rest of my life!

 

[JimP]

A 2000cc diesel......don't recall seeing one of those on a cruiser......they just started putting the 2.8 turbo from the hilux in it along with auto transmission...no thanks....will stick with my manual 4.2 straight six....think they just recently stopped making it with the 4.5 v8....in sa also get a v6 petrol one....but been a few different engine sizes over the years

It may of been the 2.8, I just asked my last PH after he filled it up with diesel and he told me that it was a 2000cc

 

[Muskox]

I retired from the military almost 15 years ago. The entire 15 I have worked for DOD.

We have hundreds of Toyota LandCruiser FJ70 series crew cab and single cab pickups, and wagons and troopers, at big western military bases for training. Maybe thousands. They cost like $30,000 new when we get them from the company in Japan or Belgium that has the contract to sell them to the USA.

Toyota Belgium is the distributor for Europe and Africa.

When we crash them which is about 40-50 a year, they get stripped for parts and sent to Barstow, CA for storage.

When you see them in the USA 99.99% chance they are DOD owned.

25 year old ones not withstanding.

Used to be a pretty good inventory of Defender 130's, 90's, 107's and 110's but I have not seen one in a long time.