Cobra in Japan

[nbracken]

Hi guys,
I am a member of the UK CRC and about to move to Japan on a three year work assignment. I can get my Cobra shipped there at a reasonable price from Germany where I presently live but I am looking for any advice on what it takes to get a Cobra replica imported into Japan, registered and insured there.

Anyone with any expereince or contacts please let me know.

Many thanks

Nigel B

[Alex Donghi]

Boy thats a tough one. Unless this thread gets hijacked this will probably be rather dhort

[SPEEDEAMON]

Not so fast Alex! dhort? what is that?

Nigel, I used to ship a lot of cars to Japan in the 80's and 90's. What make and year is your Cobra. I suggest you contact a Japanese carrier in Germany because it makes it a lot easier once the car arrives in Japan. You need the ownership title and any papers for your car and an address in Japan where the car is going to. If you are going to Tokyo, the car will arrive in Yokohama assuming you are shipping by boat. Then it must clear customs and then go to compliance. This can get complicated depending on the year of the car. The rules also change year to year. Unlike here in USA they change rules and laws without the citizen's voice. It is therefore recommended that you ask the freight forwarder you want custom and compliance service upon arrival which they will gladly introduce to you.

It just so happens that there is a kit and replica Cobra shop in Tokyo called SUPER CRAFT. As I recall they are an ERA rep there. The owner is Yasuto Yamada. He may remember me from meeting him in Los Angeles and can speak English. You may want to contact him to help you with the whole thing, plus you know who to go to in case you need your Cobra serviced. try www.super-craft.com but its in Japanese of course.

TEL: 03 3427-3654, FAX: 03 3427-3723

Good luck

Shin Takei

[Excaliber]

Rumor I heard was that "old" cars carry some pretty steep registration fees because there are SO many cars there thats how they keep the numbers down?

At any rate, the Cobra should be a smash hit over there! We got a lot of Japanese visitors here in the Islands and they just went nuts over my replica Cobra. In fact, here's a pic in a Japanese magazine of the car.

Ernie

[SPEEDEAMON]

Ernie. there are very few real Cobras in Japan so the sight of a Cobra is exciting for any fan.

The registration is renewed every 4 years for new cars. There is an inspection process whereby you give up your car to a Motor Vehicles Dept Inspection Station. They go through checking everything including emission control and torque for each and every bolt and dab a yellow paint on them. Anything below par from new specs will be repaired or replaced by the agency "AT YOUR COST". When you pick up your car, you pay for the registration fee plus whatever it cost to bring your vehicle to compliance. Needless to say, the older the vehicle and higher the mileage, it costs more to re-register. Sound like a scam. It sure is between the auto makers and the government. At about four to six years, the manufacturers make it very attractive for you to "trade in" your car for a new one with financing that is designed to be just a little bit more than the registration cost. Wonder where all those Toyotas and Nissans you see in Iraq and Afganistan the Talibans and possibly the Al Queda are driving came from? Yup, these are the cars that are wholesaled to third world countries with some less than 40,000 km. However, if you import a vehicle 5 years or older, the rule gets a lot lax unless they have changed it recently.

Shin

[pjmoore2003]

Originally Posted by nbracken

Hi guys,
I am a member of the UK CRC and about to move to Japan on a three year work assignment. I can get my Cobra shipped there at a reasonable price from Germany where I presently live but I am looking for any advice on what it takes to get a Cobra replica imported into Japan, registered and insured there.

Anyone with any expereince or contacts please let me know.

Many thanks

Nigel B

Nigel, how did this turn out for you?

[nbracken]

Hi there,
I managed to import my Cobra replica to Japan successfully. I used a specialist company in Tokyo that I found. It helped a lot that I had the registration papers from Germany and that it had passed the TUV inspections there. There were some small modifications needed (side repeat indicators - that were mounted in the side vents, a reversing light and a driver's seat headrest - removeable). I cannot remember the actual cost but the total including getiing it registered was maybe $2000

I had three fun years with my car there and was made really welcome by Japanese car enthusiasts everywhere I went and managed to get along to some great meets.

I am now living in Germany again and my car is back here - legally registered for the second time - much easier than the first.

[pjmoore2003]

What company did you use?
Did your car already have emissions equipment on it? Is it required to have an old engine?
Could you have sold the car if you wanted in Japan? Last time I saw Cobras were wicked expensive there?