I am a first time poster. I have tried search but did not come up with anything valuable to answer my questions. 1. Is there any resource available that can identify the differences of a car sold in Japan vs US? 2. Anybody have any experience/knowledge in importing a 575M into the US? TIA Bilal
1 - Japan should be RHD 2 - probably not worth investigating due to federalisation requirements esp if RHD
8th digit of VIN should be "A" for North American cars. J for Japan cars. I agree with Boxer. Most likely a nightmare to import the car to the US.
I saw pictures and it is a LHD car. But I don't know what other changes were made to make the car a US version. By 2000 I thought all the manufacturers were developing a world car with very minor differences. Was that true for Ferrari? Thanks
Check with DOT for the requirements to bring what is probably a B-spec (European) 575M to the US. Or get the VIN and it may be one of the rare ones ordered overseas with US specs (A-spec). We know the differences in the versions, but you would have to use an approved remanufacturer to bring a non-US spec 575M here. U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Enforcement Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance Contact Name: Richard Merritt (may find him in directory as Dick Merritt) Rm 6115, NEF-30 400 7th Street, SW Washington, DC 20590 202-493-2266 Kathy Rice is his secretary- 202-366-5291 Main Dept- 202-493-5300
Japanese buyers purchase their cars LHD. It's a status thing to show it's an imported car! Strange but true
FYI, Lots of Euro cars in Japan are LHD. Interestingly, the Japanese often like their European cars in the original configuration--left hand drive--so quite a few are sold that way.
Taz, Thank you for the information. Where can I get more info about Spec A & Spec B cars and the differences between them? Thanks
You can go through the parts catalog page by page and see which parts differ. Except for the remanufacturers, I doubt anybody has made a list. First thing you have to do is figure out what the VIN is, or you are shooting blanks. The Japanese are as picky about car specs as the US, and in some cases, pickier. If this is a J or B spec 575M, that is what the last letter in the VIN will be. The cost for import, taxes, conversion, and certification will likely exceed $20K, which makes for a pretty shaky deal unless you found a three pedal HGTC. Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini Parts Diagrams: Model = 575M Maranello
