Euro QVs in North America?

I was in Arizona, as was the prior owner to me. If I remember correctly, I sold it to a guy from Colorado. He flew in and drove home.

Here's a couple more shots....
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TOYOTA!

(the jump that is)

 

As a former emissions Technical/Research consultant to the Director, for one of the largest, most successful and LEGIT federally approved EPA testing facilitiues nmin the US during the halcyon days of the "grey market"...to adress your original question: How many were brought in??
This is a multi tiered answer based on several states of conditions which the vehicle may exist in the eyes of the law....
firstly, importation is via US customs(HS-7 is the first step as I recall)...just because the car was "brought in" doesn't mean it stayed here-legally or in a "stae of non-conformity"
To import requires a bond be issed by an insurer of a 365 day duration in length-financially insuring conformity within this time framew, failure to obtain letters from BOTH DOT and EPA is grounds for bond liquidation, and an order for either re-exportation back to port of origin(no FTZ sillyness-its gotta go),or a seixure oreder-at gun point if neccessary-by the Dept of the Treasury-they are the financial/"police action enforcement-at the time-for the US customs branch. Remeber, its an IMPORT bond
Both the DOT and the EPA will have a file on all cars issued a bond, and status records as to whether a bond RELEASE letter was issued and on what date, it will also say in the file if NO release has occurred, and likely on what date the liquidation of bond orders etc were forwarded to treasury..

Due to federal reorganization post Patriot Act it is not likely that any information of any sort would be forthcoming from customs(ICE). I'm certain the same can be said for the Dept. of the Treasury...As it should be...
EPA is another story, as is DOT(Ethel was always so helpful in archive and records...)..
just because the car passed-bond relleease-or failed to conform-bond liquidation and redelivery notice ordered-means the car was here, but NOT neccessarily STILL here...
In MY experience, the 308QV, to do legit, was a more difficult car to do than either the BBi or the 400/412 cars...the MOST difficult by far, waqs the 288...of course, for those familiar with the FTP/LA55 knows that the whole game is won or lost by the 45 second mark as you go over the big hill...colb bag is the entirety of this engineering experiment-plain and simple...all this said, EPA records was the cheif form of enforcement as the enforcement in the mid to late 1980s was enacted due to RAMPANT fraudulent testing data submission(it was equally bad for DOT) all of this was the reason for the enactment of the ICI staute for "direct" importation and the requirement to essentially obtain a asmall volume certificate of manufacture for all of this stuff...in short, remove the financial incentive for "grey market" to exist.

Freedom of information access usuALLY REQUIRES specific request scope for an inquiry, such a broad spectrum might be poossible, but likely would require an inquiry via a technically oriented Law Firm-say from Reston, VA?
In this fashion, you could potentailly know the cars, the dayes, names of importes of records, conformity status, AND VIN numbers....

 

Been wondering how many also in NA. Mine is 1984 #49861. From my records it was imported to Florida almost new. First title issued in April 1985 with a 1000 miles. I am 3rd owner. Only federalizing I detect are sidemarkers, Speedo, and internal door reinforcements. Also has Charles Pozzi French delivery I'D plates. Cool amber passing lights per French tradition. No smog or emissions equipment from factory. Passed Florida emissions test as is up until 2004 . Thankfully no inspection where I currently live. Still magical to look at after all these years. Not as fast as it should be, but still impressive in upper range.

 

Interesting, but I have called Mr Merrick (?) a few times and few of my euro cars (Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini) had any paperwork, nor were all of them "in the brown book" that he has. GA does not care as the cars are so old, and we have NO inspections and NO emissions testing where I live. So I seek out euro cars as they are more "pure" in a drivers sense.


I would much rather have an older euro spec car than a proper USA spec car.

I did enjoy your post, as it was very informative. Thank you for sharing that.

 

That was the idea...... "Oh what a feeling..... Ferrari"!

 

I have 55841, red/black GTS, 107,000 miles (70k of those mine since I bought it in 1998). It is presently in Fredericksburg, VA. I drove it to work today! The importer on the door jamb is "Dream Cars International," and I'd love to hear more history on its exact country of origin and the circumstances of its import, original owner, etc.

 

I looked through some old pics and got a few here. One is a fellow f-chatter driving the car on the track when I was in Iraq in 2008, one is me on the track at Hallett in 1998 or so, and one is from 2002 at Carl's in Fredericksburg in 2001 or 2002.
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My 83 Euro QV GTS
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Someone should make a Euro 308 QV in NA Registry thread.

-F

 

My 83 Euro GTS
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Thanks TM!

 

Im considering selling mine but I dont know if I can do it, my medical bills from my fight with cancer is draining my ferrari funds. I dont think I can be the good owner this car deserves anymore but I cant hardly bear to part with it. Currently needs a belt service, if I can come up with the money for parts a mechanic friend of mine is going to help me do it. He did my last belt job & it ran great for five years so he knows what hes doing. I cant decide what to do.....what would you guys do? Any opinions? Im thinking of buying a older muscle car because I can drive it & not be paying to service it like the 308, plus I can do it myself. Maybe a classic mustang since I have owned several of them. im confused :-(

 

Thank you your opinion, I have to think hard on this one make sure I dont do something I will regret.

Kent

 

My vote. KEEP THE QV!
When I sold my GTB QV I couldn't even go in the garage the week it was going to ship, as I didn't want to think about it. Thought I would "upgrade" to a 360 later on but after six months I spent every night in front of the computer looking for another QV but wanted a Euro bad!!Trust me, you"ll regret it. With all you've been through that car is one of the positives and something that all of us here dream of owning. Stay positive, look to the future, things will be better next year and even better the next!

 

Well I tossed & turned last night thinking of what I should do, no matter what, my 308 is going to cost me money plus there is some restorations to be done. With prices on the rise im curious how much a red/tan 1983 QV GTSI Euro model, in good condition (not perfect)
is worth? I just dont see me having the money to do all of this plus I really dont know how much time I have since my cancer is incurable. We just lost a member (chairpilot 83 euro also) to this same thing a few months back & just want to enjoy a nice car without the maintanence costs. Then again I will never find another one like this either...so much to consider

Kent

 

Kent,
I paid $40K Cdn last summer in Calgary for my 84 Euro GTS QV (red/tan), with 51K miles on it. Body and paint is in great shape, interior good but drivers seat shows some wear on the piping, mechanically good but I've been doing the major and replacing all coolant, heater, fuel hoses over this past winter. Yours has lower miles, aftermarket wheels, newer leather.

Hope that helps, wishing you the best of luck.

 

There's a guy looking for a 308 QV GTB in the Classified section and I directed him to this thread to see if he might be able to pry one out of you guys' hands.

What do you guys think the going price is for a 308 QV GTB in good condition with around say 40,000 miles?

-F