Smart Roadster in USA

[curtis]

I'll pass...

[mike-in-sa]

I looked into that stutgart roadster. The only way I could find that would work was to disassemble the car and send it back in parts as three or more shipments. Still would not be legal to drive. Maybe if it was converted to electric?

[Smartfor2guy]

2 of them on Ebay.................

[bob_in_europe]

Originally Posted by Smartfor2guy

2 of them on Ebay.................

On ebay.com, I found:
- 1 for currently for sale
- 1 from an ended auction
both from the same dealer in Latvia ... and still in Latvia.

My expectation is that the dealer has never heard of NHTSA or EPA, or he is hoping to sell it to some yank sucker who has never heard of NHTSA or EPA !!

But your input gave me a good idea.

I am going to run an on-going search. If one comes up for sale on ebay.com, I'll know it ! Then I can ask how they got it legal. Thanks !!

[SmartieUSA]

Originally Posted by EricV

From what I understand none of the Roadsters can be legally titled in the US, even if DOT and emission conversion is done by G&K. They aren't on the list of vehicles that can be imported.

A local dealer in Portland, OR, (Ron Tonkin GT), bought about 25 of them from Smart a year or more ago, only to find out afterwards that he couldn't sell them for street use. Some have been sold for off road use only, a.k.a. track use.

Can you email or PM me information on who this dealer is?
I would like to pick one up for "off road use".

Thank you bobf at oodg dot com

[bucketboss]

Having gone through importing a couple of motorcycles several years ago I can tell you that it is quite the challenge to do so. There are basically 2 forms to get through.

First is the DOT form stating that the car is on the approved list of DOT vehicles or complies with the current regs for that year. If it doesn't it would have to go to a RI (Registered Importer) for conversion. There are the crash test, bumper stds. Even then it has to be approved for importation and that list is year specific as well as model specific with the RI giving exact modifications to become legal. Things like a shifter with Park, spedo in MPH, DOT tires/glass, pass mirror with the words "objects are closer than they appear", etc.... the list can be quite long. They will impound your car and require it to either be exported or destroyed if it does not comply.

Then there is the EPA. They want a car with and engine that has been tested to meet emission stds. for the yr mfd as well as support information for future emissions etc.... just piles of paper and legal hooey.

There are several "exceptions" to these rules. One is "off road use only" which circumvents both. I think there is a catagory for exhibition and one for test purposes but they limit the time the car can stay in the US to I think a year. Then it gets exported or you pay some riduculous fine if it stays over the limit. The other exception is military or overseas personnel living here on a temp basis where they can have it here as long as they are but again it must return with them.

Basically, it isn't worth the bother.

[jwehrheim]

Can you bring the car in as a component/kit car? Many states have no problem registering a kit car.

In fact, I think someone should build a smartcar type roadster as a kit and stick a motorcycle motor in it. If I could find a kit, I would buy it and build it.

[Dustin]

Its hard enough to find a LHD Smart Roadster, let alone transferring it.

[dingos]

take the motor out and you can import it, That is all you have to do! Ive done it in the past, in the late 90's when the import scene was coming on strong. Custom's is all you have to deal with, as long as the engine ain't located in the engine comparment and the vehicle can't drive your safe. We would get integra's, civic's. Skylines with the engines in the trunks' and never had a problem. There is alway's a loophole check your state on kit car registration's and what needs to be done.

[arieletvizir]

Originally Posted by Dustin

Its hard enough to find a LHD Smart Roadster, let alone transferring it.

What is "LHD"?

Sorry, but my english is not perfect....

By the way, some pictures of my own Roadster with buddies!