Kaizo GTR, seizure and surrender letters
#1
08-19-2009, 04:36 PM
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 39
Rep Power: 17 
Kaizo GTR, seizure and surrender letters
Kaizo is/was a popular provider of R32-R34 GTR shells, remanufactured in the USA and supplied with MSO and US VIN numbers. I personally do not own one, but the story is interesting.
Last month, Kaizo was raided by ICE agents and three cars with RB drivetrains were taken.
http://gtrusa.blogspot.com/2009/06/i...-warrants.html
Now, Kaizo owners are being approached by CARB and ICE and being told that since there was intent to reassemble illegal configuration cars based on the shells that were sold, they are being told to export their cars (at great loss, since US based Skylines trade for a premium) or have them seized.
http://gtrusa.blogspot.com/2009/08/w...ith-kaizo.html
This is a letter received by a Kaizo R33 owner:
Currently, the owners are organizing to battle the export requirement. It would seem that the government is requiring the export of all cars, regardless of condition, whether assembled into a illegal configuration or not, due to the 'intent' of owning the shell. Vague wording is the notifications is giving hope to the owners.
This should be a lesson to all owners of a state legal or re-vinned car (basically, anything other than a Motorex vehicle with it's bond release paperwork) -- you are at risk if the government becomes aware of your car.
There is one dangerous precedent being set with this -- any manufacturer or importer that makes a mistake will cause a loss for the end user of the car, whether or not they are the first owner in line. Those of you with US imported cars may want to pay attention to this, as an importer that's investigated will typically close their doors and become generally unavailable (as is the case with Kaizo's website and phones), and leave you in this situation where you will undoubtedly take the loss. With Kaizo given a manufacturer license, you may have trusted them, but this proves that you must protect yourself anyway, as the mistakes they make may affect you financially.
If anyone with ownership of a grey-market Skyline wishes to assist with the effort, I can direct you to the right people.
Last month, Kaizo was raided by ICE agents and three cars with RB drivetrains were taken.
http://gtrusa.blogspot.com/2009/06/i...-warrants.html
Now, Kaizo owners are being approached by CARB and ICE and being told that since there was intent to reassemble illegal configuration cars based on the shells that were sold, they are being told to export their cars (at great loss, since US based Skylines trade for a premium) or have them seized.
http://gtrusa.blogspot.com/2009/08/w...ith-kaizo.html
This is a letter received by a Kaizo R33 owner:
Currently, the owners are organizing to battle the export requirement. It would seem that the government is requiring the export of all cars, regardless of condition, whether assembled into a illegal configuration or not, due to the 'intent' of owning the shell. Vague wording is the notifications is giving hope to the owners.
This should be a lesson to all owners of a state legal or re-vinned car (basically, anything other than a Motorex vehicle with it's bond release paperwork) -- you are at risk if the government becomes aware of your car.
There is one dangerous precedent being set with this -- any manufacturer or importer that makes a mistake will cause a loss for the end user of the car, whether or not they are the first owner in line. Those of you with US imported cars may want to pay attention to this, as an importer that's investigated will typically close their doors and become generally unavailable (as is the case with Kaizo's website and phones), and leave you in this situation where you will undoubtedly take the loss. With Kaizo given a manufacturer license, you may have trusted them, but this proves that you must protect yourself anyway, as the mistakes they make may affect you financially.
If anyone with ownership of a grey-market Skyline wishes to assist with the effort, I can direct you to the right people.
#3
08-24-2009, 01:19 AM
This reminds me of when the US gov clamped down on Motorex.
Good Luck with the fight guys! I think its patently ridiculous that customers have to export their vehicles instead of having them grandfathered in.
Good Luck with the fight guys! I think its patently ridiculous that customers have to export their vehicles instead of having them grandfathered in.
#5
08-24-2009, 04:23 PM
Skylines are serious business.
*edit: It's a matter of national security. Why waste time trying to lower healthcare costs and pressuring the approx 20 million illegal aliens and those that cross the border to have kids? Let's get those 10 year old low volume sports cars. That's just as bad.
*edit: It's a matter of national security. Why waste time trying to lower healthcare costs and pressuring the approx 20 million illegal aliens and those that cross the border to have kids? Let's get those 10 year old low volume sports cars. That's just as bad.
Last edited by jaspergtr; 08-24-2009 at 04:33 PM.
#6
08-24-2009, 04:33 PM
Yeah no kidding. Didn't you hear? Nissan was responsible for 9/11 and gt-r's were the 2nd gunman on the grassy knoll. Yeesh. Someone tell the D.O.T. To lighten up.
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#10
09-08-2009, 07:36 PM
Interesting.....What about Rossion cars(http://www.rossioncars.com/)? Basically they sell you a (ahem) shell then you pick out an engine(one of one)...It is very close to the same thing. What bullS**t!
So much going on in this country that would seem a lot more important..
Some people do whatever they can to justify their job or lackthereof..why should the owners of these cars pay or lose their personal property. The EPA FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB in a timely manner. Now they want to backstep. Oh hell no.
Funny thing is these cars are more than likely weekend warriors, so the amount of co2 they omit is extremely low on an annual use.
Smoke and mirros as usual.....
So much going on in this country that would seem a lot more important..
Some people do whatever they can to justify their job or lackthereof..why should the owners of these cars pay or lose their personal property. The EPA FAILED TO DO THEIR JOB in a timely manner. Now they want to backstep. Oh hell no.
Funny thing is these cars are more than likely weekend warriors, so the amount of co2 they omit is extremely low on an annual use.
Smoke and mirros as usual.....
#11
09-08-2009, 08:36 PM
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sterling Heights, MI
Posts: 39
Rep Power: 17
I wouldn't consider Rossion cars to be the same situation because the assembled Rossion car is not a standard production model in another country.
When you import a Skyline shell and then reconstruct it using the RB engine, you are specially constructing a vehicle that it would not be possible to import into the United States.
epa.gov contains the following tidbit:
Since the intact Skyline is disallowed from import, assembling one from parts is circumventing the import regulations. This could not apply to the Rossion.
Rossion also has a fully DOT compliant car, as well, which the Skyline in it's original form is not.
When you import a Skyline shell and then reconstruct it using the RB engine, you are specially constructing a vehicle that it would not be possible to import into the United States.
epa.gov contains the following tidbit:
The production, sale and importation of vehicle parts (engines, transmissions, chassis, vehicle bodies, etc.) are not regulated by EPA because parts are not considered motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act. However if the parts constitute a disassembled vehicle or an approximate disassembled vehicle, the combination is considered a motor vehicle under the Clean Air Act. Any attempt to use this policy to circumvent the Clean Air Act or the Imports regulations will be considered a violation of the Clean Air Act and will be strictly enforced.
Rossion also has a fully DOT compliant car, as well, which the Skyline in it's original form is not.
