TheOtherEric

At this point I'm pretty much giving up on this car for a number of reasons, one of which being just getting it across the border. But anyway, the car was built in the U.S. then taken to Canada. Current owner just has a bill of sale, no title. Definitely can't meet any US standards since it's a full-on race car.

Just for the archives, it seems that a car like this may not be defined as a "motor vehicle" and thus not subject to NHTSA standards. Dunno if that's sufficient to clear Customs or not. Nor have I seen anything official stating that... so I would want an individualized clearance letter to be safe, which would likely take a while. One thing's for sure, don't screw with Customs. I wouldn't dream of being "selective with the truth" with them. My findings:

http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/7271-2.html
NHTSA has authority to regulate the manufacture and sale of new motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment. The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (the Safety Act) defines "motor vehicle" as one "manufactured primarily for use on the public streets, roads, and highways... ."

http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/3080o.html
Under l5 U.S.C. 1391(3), a "motor vehicle" is "any vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power manufactured primarily for use on the public streets, roads, and highways...." The agency has interpreted this definition to exclude such vehicles as minibikes, golf carts, all-terrain vehicles, single seat racing cars used on closed courses, airport crash and rescue vehicles, and farm tractors. On the other hand, the agency has included in the definition farm trailers which haul produce over the public roads to processing centers, stock cars modified for racing unless such modifications are so extensive that the vehicle can no longer be licensed for use on the public roads, and vehicles capable of use both on rails and the public roads.

http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/2649o.html
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act defines a "motor vehicle" as a vehicle, with or without motive power, manufactured primarily for use on the public streets, roads, and highways. This category includes vehicles capable of off-road use but which are nevertheless generally licensed for use on the public roads. Over the years, NHTSA has provided interpretations that the following types of vehicles are not "motor vehicles": single seat racing cars, stock cars modified to the point that they are no longer licensable for use on the public roads, all-terrain vehicles, racing motorcycles and off-road motorcycles that are trailered over the public roads, ...

Charles A. Toupin

Eric, don't bother, just leave it here in my garage



c.

TheOtherEric

BTW, here's the requirements for racing vehicles, requiring destruction after 5 yrs. To me, this doesn't square AT ALL with the comments from NHTSA above that a permanently-built race car is exempt from NHTSA requirements. Makes zero sense to me.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CARS/RULES/...ng/Racing.html

J richard

If you read the section NHTSA section you refer to there are two seperate ways to import, one is permanent, and the other one is temporary, it is the temporary import that would make you export or distroy the car after five years, not so if it is permanent, you just can't ever register it for the street.

If I have a title I still don't know why anyone would even ask or have the right to keep you from bringing it into the country. Are you telling me if I want to take my unregistered car up to mosport for a race I can't bring it back? To take cars into mexico you need to show you own the car and you have mexico liablity insurance because you are driving it on the road, but a boat or sandrail only needs to show the ownership, and nobody ever checks comming back into the US...maybe they're more particular with the canadians, ya know, sneaking in all that beer and hockey pucks...