G'day Warren,
Thanks for the information. Sent an Email off to DRBsportcars about the kit, no reply back yet.
I like the XR8 Dash so will try and see if I can find one on eBay, but the Sat Nav, Instrument Cluster, Climate Control etc would be from Toyota or Custom built.
Ordering in a Lamborghini Miura replica from the UK at the moment that will run a 3.5l VVT-i V6 through a 6 Speed Getrag transaxle, sorting out Toyota parts for that.
The 540 will be the next project so it gives me time to sort out customizing the chassis, if I can get one and have it shipped to Japan.
Kit cars in Japan are a pain, You can order built cars in from overseas as long as they are licensed in the country they came from and then there is no problems about emission or anything.
BUT if you build yourself you need to get a Manufactures license like what Toyota, Mitsuoka, Honda all hold, you have to have the chassis and body approved, it must meet Japan’s STRICT emission laws, You really need to jump through hoops here.
Back in 1996 when I was here, there were 3 USA Lamborghini Replica Companies who opened up their doors in Tokyo and within 18 months they all closed up shop. The cost of their Lamborghini Replicas were about $80,000 fully built; you could have brought a new Lexus LS400 for $60,000. So no one wanted to buy a replica with second hand parts when they can buy a new Lexus.
There are a lot of Cobras here in Japan all imported from the USA, and so many people believe they own a GENIUNE Shelby Cobra. Because the person that sold them it said it was. I have told 2 people they have REPLICAS only but they do not believe me…
