Author Archive: Geoff

After plunging to the mid 75 Yen to the dollar level in recent months, the Aussie dollar has finally lifted back above the 80 Yen to the dollar psychological barrier. Whether it continues to improve for us or drops back again remains to be seen.  From an importer’s perspective we hope that it keeps climbing as any increase makes it cheaper to import a car from Japan.  For example each 1 Ye...

This LHD 1988 BMW M3 coupe sold at auction in Japan last Thursday for 4.32 million Yen. With low km and in clean grade 4 condition (no repair history), it would have been approx. $68,900 landed in Australia. View more pictures and auction sheet for this 1988 BMW M3 coupe here. It would have been eligible for import to Australia under the 1988 and Older Import Rule. We can source for import...

This rare and classic 1968 Mazda Cosmo Sports L10A coupe was inspected for a client at auction in Japan over the weekend. Full production of the Mazda Cosmo sports 2-door coupe began in May 1967 and lasted through 1972. Cosmos were built by hand at a rate of only about one per day, for a total of 1,519 (343 Series I cars and 1,176 Series II cars). It had a start price of 4 million Yen but was c...

Coordinated police raids on Sydney car dealers in Feb 2016 resulted in one dealership, “Dream Car City”, having its trading immediately suspended. Edward Lees Imports operated by Phil Lee on Parramatta Road was also raided by police and accused of digitally altering odometers. More detail and video of police raids on Sydney dealerships for odometer tampering Edward Lees Imports is no...

If you have imported a car to Australia from Japan, UK, USA or another country that was bought some time before the import date and has depreciated since then (or was bought from a friend for a nominal value), then you won’t be able to use your original purchase invoice or paperwork for Customs valuation when it comes time to import the car and you will require an import car valuation. We on...

How to Obtain an Import Car Valuation If you have imported a car to Australia from Japan, UK, USA or another country that was bought some time before the import date and has depreciated since then (or was bought from a friend for a nominal value), then you won’t be able to use your original purchase invoice or paperwork for Customs valuation when it comes time to import your car. You will t...

From 2018, proposed changes to the Vehicle Import Regulations will make it possible for new car import by anyone in Australia, not just the big car makers. Private individuals will be able to organise their own new car import to Australia every 2 years. This will apply to new cars and motorcycles from another country with comparable standards to Australia’s (including Japan and the UK). Th...

MAZDA RX-7 Import Information (FD3S) THIS PAGE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY – please note due to market changes we no longer source this model The Mazda RX-7 is a sports car produced from 1978 to 2002 with a total production number of more than 800,000 units.  It has been on Car and Driver Magazine’s “Ten Best” list no less than five times. The RX-7 has become firml...

Tired of searching through online Japan car auction sites that give you the runaround ? You might want to check out our Japan car auction email alerts system for FREE. Simply enter your email address and select a vehicle make and model, it’s as easy as that ! We cover over 70 auctions and 140,000+ vehicles every week Morning email for each day’s auctions, so you can easily monito...

This rare 1988 Suzuki Alto Works RS-X CA72V kei car sold in June 2016 for $6,900 landed. It was eligible for import to Australia under the existing 1988 and older rule. With only a few of these rare cult Suzuki kei cars coming up for auction across Japan each year now, it takes time to source them. To research prices, you can browse browse past and upcoming Japanese auction cars of any model he...

2000 Supra RZ S twin turbo 6 speed, 87,560 km, Grade 4 B Auction time 12:49 pm (Japan), Thurs 30 June 2016 ~ USS Osaka Auction (ENDED ~ Final price $53,200) How to bid This is one of the best Toyota Supra RZ S twin turbo 6 speed coupes we have seen in some time. Extremely rare to find with such low kms and in this colour. Aftermarket parts include 5Zigen exhaust, stunning deep dish alloy wheels,...

Toyota Mark X Sedan THIS PAGE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY – please note due to market changes we no longer source this model First introduced in 2004, the Toyota Mark X (sold in China as the Reiz) is an executive 4-door rear wheel drive sedan designed for the Asian market, and is a combination of the sporty Toyota Chaser and the luxurious Toyota Cresta. The Toyota Mark X is avai...

Compared to a car dealer who’s job is to sell you a specific vehicle they already own, a car import broker (or vehicle import agent) sources all vehicles to order — they do not own them. This means they are always on YOUR side and there is no conflict of interest in telling you the true condition and kms. In contrast, a car dealer has their own interests at heart. View Police raids ...

This LHD 1987 BMW M3 coupe sold at auction in Japan on Saturday for over 5 million Yen, making it the most expensive BMW M3 import we have seen at auction in Japan to date. It was a rare find with sunroof, leather seats, no repair history and a low 57,000 kms. Others recently have sold for over $50,000 landed, but this one would have been approx. $82,500 landed. View more pictures and auction sh...

Please note that we don’t source the Toyota Camroad (or any other motorhomes), the following is provided for information only. The Toyota Camroad motor home is a very well-equipped mid size motorhome which can be driven on a standard car license. Construction materials ensure they don’t suffer from rust or corrosion like some other brands. SEVS allows the import of the 1997 to 2013 (...

We don’t source the Camroad to order, the following is provided for information only. Toyota Camroad Motor Home Import and SEVS Eligibility The Toyota Camroad motor home is a very well-equipped mid size motorhome which can be driven on a standard car license. Construction materials ensure they don’t suffer from rust or corrosion like some other brands. SEVS allows the import of the ...

This 2000 model Mazda RX-7 turbo had full aftermarket body panels fitted by VEILSIDE in Japan to make it look like a Supercar. In Japan this is called the VEILSIDE Fortune RX-7. With past repair history, it was unlikely to be SEVS eligible (before even considering Australian compliance issues due to the different lights etc.). So no good for road use import to Australia but a stunning car none...

The current model 30 Series Toyota Alphard & Vellfire LUXURY people movers will soon be available for import. Compliance for 2015+ models is expected by Dec 2016 with sample vehicles just arriving now for the required SEVS testing process. These are fitted with all sorts of luxury features and are a very popular high end vehicle in many Asian countries. Watch videos of Alphard and Vellfir...

Toyota Alphard and Vellfire 30 Series Welcab / Welfare (2015 to 2023) Model Information and SEVS eligibility for import to Australia Several models of the 2002 to current Toyota Alphard and Vellfire are eligible for import to Australia under SEVS, based on being either a Hybrid or a Welcab / Welfare vehicle with disabled access features. Please note we only source regular Alphard and Vellfire hyb...

  2022 Update – Please note that auction tours are no longer available. Planning on visiting Japan and want to see how the vehicle auctions work while you’re there ? Perhaps you’d like to see the natural sights of Kyoto, Himeji and Osaka. Worried about getting around Japan on your own ? No problem ! One of our Australian contacts has lived in Japan for 27 years and can take ...

Classic Porsche prices have been increasing for some years with no sign of this slowing. A good example is this LHD 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe with 57,000 km which sold today for the Japanese Yen equivalent of over $128,000 landed in Australia once import costs are allowed for. It was eligible for import to Australia under the existing 1988 and older rule. To research past prices, you can brows...

Toyota may be taking its time, but a reborn Supra now looks more likely than ever thanks to some news from the trademarks office in Europe. The Japanese carmaker has again grabbed the rights to the name “Supra” through the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), more than two years after it resecured the rights in the US. Enthusiast site SupraMKV has been watching the trademark ap...

This RARE and CLASSIC 1971 Nissan Skyline KPCG10 GT R Hakosuka (Hakosuka — “box Skyline”) was sold at USS Tokyo on 16 June 2016 for 12,670,000 YEN FOB. This model had very limited production numbers and prices are rapidly increasing with each example auctioned. 3 years ago a similar example sold for 4.4 million Yen which seemed expensive at the time. We expect prices to excee...

Many people have been shocked by the surge in GTR prices this year. For most, a GTR has always been their dream car and they thought they had a few more years to work towards it. The sudden price rises have spurred many in this situation to bring forward their plans and buy a GTR now before they are no longer affordable. This in turn is increasing demand and putting further pressure on prices. C...

We came across this special R32 GTR yesterday with a 2009 NISMO Fine Spec engine fitted. The ‘Fine Spec’ engine was one of a special limited production run of 70 units offered by NISMO in 2009 at a cost of 1,375,000 yen (approx. $17,400 AUD at 79 Yen to the dollar, plus fitting), and was the culmination of all Nissan’s technical improvements on the already famous RB26, up to that ...

Prestige Motorsport was founded in 1999 to help enthusiasts like us avoid poor quality and falsified imports. As such we are very much against odometer tampering on Japanese vehicles and are committed to ensuring that as a valued client, you fully understand what you’re buying and you get what you pay for. Our specialty is sourcing vehicles in very nice condition and with genuine low kms. T...

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Considering buying a Japanese classic import car and looking to Japan itself for more choice, better condition or a lower price ? Well, if you’ve not already heard, collector car prices have exploded in the last 6 to 12 months. 1970’s models in particular such as Skylines, Sprinters, Crowns, Celicas and others have in some cases quadrupled in value in this time.   1971 Nissan...

It has been possible to import the petrol Mitsubishi Delica D:5 for the last couple of years but compliance for the Diesel D5 has only recently become available, making it possible for Diesel Delica D5 import to Australia. A 2WD version was also sold in Japan but only the 4WD D5 made it onto the SEVS list for import to Australia, with a choice of either petrol or diesel engines. The petrol wa...