Missing out on a MKIV Supra due to title issue

[JDMSteven]

This 95 NA RHD Auto 80k original mile Supra popped up for sale in Winnepeg, Manitoba. Perfect car for me, all original. Rebuilt title due to hail damage which you can see in pics but doesn't bother me one bit. Only $20k USD, car is clean and legit, fully safetied and road legal in Canada.

All of my sources point to it being impossible for US to approve the car across the border. This is the answer my transport company gave me that I have moved dozens of cars with:

"Since the vehicle has a rebuilt title, it was not built by its original manufacturer and therefor and compliance letter is irrelevant.
 
This will be denied by USCBP"

So sad. I could cry. The deal is too good for me to give up on. I have my 04 Lexus IS300 Sport Design 5MT that I am going to swap this Supra turbo motor out of from this GS300 I bought as an engine donor, but if I got this Supra I'd put the motor in there and the built R154 5 speed I'm getting from my buddy.

[Higgs Boson]

Count your blessings you didn't end up with a damaged turd.

[Humdizzle]

a beat to hell supra is still a supra and will fetch big money when its fixed up.

maybe its possible to import under the 'show and display' law ? i would check with an attorney. you'd be limited to 2500 miles a year but thats fine for a weekend ride.

[JDMSteven]

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

Count your blessings you didn't end up with a damaged turd.

It all checked out. Other than the dents in the body which I'm not worried about, the car was absolutely on the up and up. The owner has 2 other Supra's

[Higgs Boson]

Originally Posted by JDMSteven

It all checked out. Other than the dents in the body which I'm not worried about, the car was absolutely on the up and up. The owner has 2 other Supra's

Maybe mechanically but who's going to buy it from you with a canadian rebuilt title? That's a marriage on your hands and a losing proposition.

You should feel relieved.

[JDMSteven]

Originally Posted by Higgs Boson

Maybe mechanically but who's going to buy it from you with a canadian rebuilt title? That's a marriage on your hands and a losing proposition.

You should feel relieved.

I would never. ever. sell it lol 😂 it's my dream car

[Higgs Boson]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

a beat to hell supra is still a supra and will fetch big money when its fixed up.

maybe its possible to import under the 'show and display' law ? i would check with an attorney. you'd be limited to 2500 miles a year but thats fine for a weekend ride.

Are you going to give him big money for it?

I would never under any circumstances pay any amount of money for a canadian title car/import or for a rebuilt title situation, much less both.

Of course that's just me and you only need one buyer....maybe just not worth it to me to deal with all that.

[Higgs Boson]

Originally Posted by JDMSteven

I would never. ever. sell it lol 😂 it's my dream car

Then I would suggest finding the right one instead of just one.

[G MONEY]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

a beat to hell supra is still a supra and will fetch big money when its fixed up.

maybe its possible to import under the 'show and display' law ? i would check with an attorney. you'd be limited to 2500 miles a year but thats fine for a weekend ride.

I am a huge Supra fan. But auto and no turbo is never going to get big money. My opinion

[DrFerry]

There maybe other cars of similar condition in the USA that are a lot less trouble to import. I'm speculating, but you might be buying a headache if Customs impound it. Sure IF you must have "the one" then I guess an import / export layer will be needed.. The best laid plans of mice and men, of cabbages and kings.. I'm still an MKIV Supra TT lover.. My old car is the last photo. See my "The One That Got Away" post...
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...ostcount=19020
.

[JDMSteven]

Here's the deal... My DREAM would be a USDM factory 6 speed turbo car, but those are so valuable that you really can't drive or enjoy them all that much. Why not get a rebuilt title RHD NA Auto which is the least valuable of all MKIV's and swap in the turbo engine and transmission that I already own for around $7500? That way I can drive and enjoy it without worrying about the value.

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by JDMSteven

Here's the deal... My DREAM would be a USDM factory 6 speed turbo car, but those are so valuable that you really can't drive or enjoy them all that much. Why not get a rebuilt title RHD NA Auto which is the least valuable of all MKIV's and swap in the turbo engine and transmission that I already own for around $7500? That way I can drive and enjoy it without worrying about the value.

Sounds like a plan. The only thing I would change is 1) being sure the car can be imported 2) avoiding a candidate with a rebuilt title. That's just me though. It's your choice to move forward or not, but you were seeking some feedback. Are you absolutely sure a similar car in similar condition with the same specifications doesn't exist in America? Swapping the engine definitely lowers the price of admission into Supra TT land. All I'm saying is why take on a potential headache IF an alternative might be found? Just some food for thought. Ultimately it's your choice. Good luck. Be sure to update us and post pics.