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Nicholastanguma,

At least as of a couple years ago, one of the top guys at US DOT/NHTSA was a fellow named Coleman Sachs. I believe he is still in chief of import certification, or some such thing. He'd probably be a good guy to try and reach. But you have to be careful and specific with the question/s you pose.

Here's his info:
Import & Certification
Div. (NVS-223)

Coleman Sachs, Chief
(202) 366-3151
Fax: (202) 493-0073
E-Mail: Importcertification@dot.gov

You also might find some of this stuff already discussed in NHTSA letters of interpretation, which is here: http://isearch.nhtsa.gov

undysworld wrote:Nicholastanguma,

At least as of a couple years ago, one of the top guys at US DOT/NHTSA was a fellow named Coleman Sachs. I believe he is still in chief of import certification, or some such thing. He'd probably be a good guy to try and reach. But you have to be careful and specific with the question/s you pose.

Here's his info:
Import & Certification
Div. (NVS-223)

Coleman Sachs, Chief
(202) 366-3151
Fax: (202) 493-0073
E-Mail: Importcertification@dot.gov

You also might find some of this stuff already discussed in NHTSA letters of interpretation, which is here: http://isearch.nhtsa.gov

Thank you, sir!

Today I received a reply from a gentleman name of Clint Lindsay, employee of the Import and Certification Division, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Looks like sending a USA registered 710M to the Puch factory for a frame-off restoration is probs a no-go. Here's a cut-n-paste of the most pertinent portions of his email:

"NHTSA and U.S. Customs will assess the vehicle at the time of importation. Vehicles that have undergone extensive restoration may no longer be considered 25 years old, but newly manufactured. NHTSA does not generally regulate rebuilding or re-manufacturing of used motor vehicles. However, if the rebuilding or remanufacturing involves sufficient manufacturing operations and new parts, the vehicle may be considered newly manufactured. This would mean that the vehicle would be required to meet all applicable FMVSS in effect at the time of rebuilding (re-manufacture) and to be certified as conforming to those FMVSS.

Because of the variety of fact situations involved, the agency has found it difficult to establish a general requirement, and it provides opinions on a case-by-case basis. However, agency legal interpretative letters generally state that when a new body, engine, transmission, and many other new or remanufactured parts, the completed vehicle is considered to be a “new” motor vehicle rendering it ineligible for importation under Section 30112(b)(9)."

If you are prepared to send it Europe and get it "completely rebuilt" there and then ship it back, how about figuring out how much that is going to cost you, then employ one of the guy on here to do the same job in the USA?

That way, it stays an "old" vehicle in the eyes of the authorities and you might even get to see the restoration process as it won't be so far away!

John

Heinkeljb wrote:If you are prepared to send it Europe and get it "completely rebuilt" there and then ship it back, how about figuring out how much that is going to cost you, then employ one of the guy on here to do the same job in the USA?

That way, it stays an "old" vehicle in the eyes of the authorities and you might even get to see the restoration process as it won't be so far away!

John

New thread for the answering of this very question. viewtopic.php?f=18&t=9364

Stekay wrote:It will be considered as remanufactured and the year of the work being done is it year of manufacturer.

Believe me, I've spent a lot of time and frustration talking to customs and DOT. It sucks for all because some people couldn't follow the rules out of GREED.

And so this thread dies as you were 100% correct!