This seems to come up here and there, and I happen to come across a short article on it from a source reputable enough to grace my bathroom (for reading -- back issues of R&T are for spare paper)
Here's the highlights.
> The federal "Show or display" exemption is mainly for exotics & show/trailer fodder - you can barely drive the cars, it's limited to 42 models and the cars must still meet emissions.
> Canada allows anything to be imported after 15 years, but these cars are likely illegal in teh states.
> US customs collects 2.5% duty on all imported passenger vehicles and 25% on trucks.
> Cars at least 25 yrs old get a pass on safety requirements
> the EPA exempts all vehicles more than 21 years old, anything newer must meet standards for the model year including teh works, OBD, evap, crash standards etc.
> The feds decides what gets in but each state has its own requirements as well. Eg. CA requires smog on anything after 1976, vehicles without 17 digit VINs will have DMV issues, police inspections, etc etc.
Here's the highlights.
> The federal "Show or display" exemption is mainly for exotics & show/trailer fodder - you can barely drive the cars, it's limited to 42 models and the cars must still meet emissions.
> Canada allows anything to be imported after 15 years, but these cars are likely illegal in teh states.
> US customs collects 2.5% duty on all imported passenger vehicles and 25% on trucks.
> Cars at least 25 yrs old get a pass on safety requirements
> the EPA exempts all vehicles more than 21 years old, anything newer must meet standards for the model year including teh works, OBD, evap, crash standards etc.
> The feds decides what gets in but each state has its own requirements as well. Eg. CA requires smog on anything after 1976, vehicles without 17 digit VINs will have DMV issues, police inspections, etc etc.