Grey market cars
Created by: Minijonesn
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Last post: Apr 21, 2024 Member since:Jul 20, 2002
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A revin could have been stolen from the UK to be sold in the USA, or it could have just been revinned to avoid the stupid import laws.
Likely that you get any difficulty owning one? No. Possible? Yes.
I'm not going to judge anyone who owns one (unless they are abetting theft by buying one with a dodgy history), but if buying you should certainly discount the price as compared to a properly titled one. Value is less because you have buyers who won't touch them (like me)
Likely that you get any difficulty owning one? No. Possible? Yes.
I'm not going to judge anyone who owns one (unless they are abetting theft by buying one with a dodgy history), but if buying you should certainly discount the price as compared to a properly titled one. Value is less because you have buyers who won't touch them (like me)
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Last post: Dec 21, 2020 Member since:Nov 25, 2020
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That all sounds like what my gut was telling me but people kept telling me "there are tons of these out there dont worry about it". I thank you all for your input I will do what the others told me and what you guys told me. I WON'T buy one like that and then I WON'T have to worry about it lol. Thanks again
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I can only relay to you a story I heard 3rd (or maybe even 4th) hand of a scenario to what you are describing/proposing.
Again, this is 100% hearsay and I cannot swear to you here on the internet or in a court of law that these events actually took place.
There reportedly was a mini in California that got caught up as collateral damage as part of another investigation into dealings in other potentially illegal vehicle-related matters. The mini allegedly may have had conflicting vehicle identification markings. What I think I heard was one of those markings matched what was on the vehicle's title. The rest of the vehicle did not support the declared year on government-issued paperwork. A concerned citizen who wanted to help may have suggested they could see if they could obtain the vehicle's most accurate factory identification and that would be supported using historical factory documentation. The helpful citizen was then asked if she/he was admitting whole or part knowledge of or involvement in Fraud involving Federal Motor Vehicle Laws...
I'll stop there.
Buying something that one suspects (or dare I say "knows") is not what government agencies have certified it certainly does seem to implicate oneself as not wholly innocent.
I think if someone wants to involve a government agency and question a vehicle's Year (or Make or Model), I would think that vehicle would need to be quarantined or at least put on some sort of "hold" until such time that a proper investigation and determination can be made. The 3 outcomes I can think of are 1) Status quo, the car stays what is says on the paperwork. 2) The vehicle goes through a retitling scenario and whatever affiliated tests or VIN assignments that go along with that such as those vehicles declared Specialist Construction 3) Vehicle is declared "indeterminate" and destroyed to take it out of circulation and out of the future risk pool because it may be a vehicle out of compliance from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Wild Child Classic Cars in AZ deals with minis and may be able to guide you on AZ vehicle purchases.
https://www.wildchildclassiccars.com/for-sale-updated
Again, this is 100% hearsay and I cannot swear to you here on the internet or in a court of law that these events actually took place.
There reportedly was a mini in California that got caught up as collateral damage as part of another investigation into dealings in other potentially illegal vehicle-related matters. The mini allegedly may have had conflicting vehicle identification markings. What I think I heard was one of those markings matched what was on the vehicle's title. The rest of the vehicle did not support the declared year on government-issued paperwork. A concerned citizen who wanted to help may have suggested they could see if they could obtain the vehicle's most accurate factory identification and that would be supported using historical factory documentation. The helpful citizen was then asked if she/he was admitting whole or part knowledge of or involvement in Fraud involving Federal Motor Vehicle Laws...
I'll stop there.
Buying something that one suspects (or dare I say "knows") is not what government agencies have certified it certainly does seem to implicate oneself as not wholly innocent.
I think if someone wants to involve a government agency and question a vehicle's Year (or Make or Model), I would think that vehicle would need to be quarantined or at least put on some sort of "hold" until such time that a proper investigation and determination can be made. The 3 outcomes I can think of are 1) Status quo, the car stays what is says on the paperwork. 2) The vehicle goes through a retitling scenario and whatever affiliated tests or VIN assignments that go along with that such as those vehicles declared Specialist Construction 3) Vehicle is declared "indeterminate" and destroyed to take it out of circulation and out of the future risk pool because it may be a vehicle out of compliance from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Wild Child Classic Cars in AZ deals with minis and may be able to guide you on AZ vehicle purchases.
https://www.wildchildclassiccars.com/for-sale-updated
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Last post: May 30, 2023 Member since:Jun 6, 2016
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ve9aa
I think most of the answer was already in your question.(and subject line)
ie: Don't do it !
ie: Don't do it !
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I think most of the answer was already in your question.(and subject line)
ie: Don't do it !
ie: Don't do it !
~ 30 minutes in a Mini is more therapeutic than 3 sessions @ the shrink. ~
Mike NB, Canada
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I agree with bikewiz, not sure there would be a time limit, but then again who would know unless you red flag yourself.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kolsen
Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought in some states, if you register it as a classic and get those plates you never have to renew your registration/plates again.
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"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."
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Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought in some states, if you register it as a classic and get those plates you never have to renew your registration/plates again.
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It's unlikely the car will ever be "legal" even after 25 years, the title was fraudulent from the start. I would assume it's difficult or nearly impossible to alter a title after it's assigned in the US without some slight of hand.
Think of it this way you have a '74 Ford Pinto but now you want to retitle it as a '94 I don't think that will happen.
As has been stated numerous times on this forum and others in regards to California, buy a car already in-state and titled in California it will save you tons of time and money. There's a thread by someone that had his later model certified in Cali, do a search and see what he did to make it CARB legal.
Think of it this way you have a '74 Ford Pinto but now you want to retitle it as a '94 I don't think that will happen.
As has been stated numerous times on this forum and others in regards to California, buy a car already in-state and titled in California it will save you tons of time and money. There's a thread by someone that had his later model certified in Cali, do a search and see what he did to make it CARB legal.
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Im in California but the car Im looking at is titled in Arizona, so if it can be fixed in Arizona DMV before leaving or I can get it resolved in California DMV after I buy it, either would work for me but I dont want to buy the car if its always going to be at risk of being confiscated do to its original illegal importation
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Veggivet
Is the OP in California?
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Is the OP in California?
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Others more knowledgable can give you the details, but I'm fairly sure the "rolling" 25 year rule does NOT apply to California.
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I was in the same situation when I bought mine. I believe that after it's true 25th birthday, it is free and clear of confiscation. Congrats if you decide to go for it!
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There's a guy on this forum that works for the Ca DMV.
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So I found a car for sale that I really like but it is registered as a late sixties car and is clearly a early 90'S car. I get that these were typically done to import cars that were not 25 at least years old. So the question is will this car forever be at risk of being confiscated or once its 25 years old can it then be registered by the proper year, or what can be done with theses cars to make it legit?