Category: Classic cars

Thank you for your interest. This vehicle has been sold. This unique Cappuccino turbo was imported by the owner of Prestige Motorsport in 2020 as one of his personal vehicles. Professionally restored and modified in 2020 by a specialist Cappuccino workshop in Japan, fully garaged & only driven 1,900 km since import to Aust. Fitted with Monster Sports F111 turbo kit – the largest turbo k...

The world has been a wild ride since 2019, with uncertainty, transport delays, supply shortages and rapid market changes now things we accept as normal. The secondhand car market has been affected in significant ways, most notably the large price rises on classic cars – particularly anything with a petrol turbocharged engine and manual transmission. What does this mean for importing cars to ...

Whew, we’ve hardly had a chance to catch our breath the last 12 months. We have been so busy sourcing cars it has simply left no time for Blogging or FB. Time then perhaps for a quick catch up in between the avalanche of auction inspections, bidding, emails, phone calls and SMS ! Here are our quick thoughts on the last year and what we expect in the next year… The global pandemic triggered...

WHEW !! 2020 was obviously a HUGE year in general and very busy for imports, so we are taking some extended time off over Christmas and New Year to catch our breath ! Our office is now closed for the year and we will be back to normal hours on Monday 11th January 2021. This year has been a real turning point in worldwide prices for many items including cars – you’ll find more detail a...

We are in the middle of a massive market shift right now, the car import market and prices are changing faster than at any time in the last 20 years and things will never be the same. Demand for vehicles is like nothing we have ever seen before, and we are absolutely flat out sourcing cars and answering enquiries. There are a range of reasons for all this but one main factor is the global Covid-1...

Well, it was nice while it lasted… Sadly, 2020 marks the viable end for many models that have been much loved imports for the last 20 years. From September 2020 we stopped taking orders for R34 Skylines, Supras, RX-7’s, Silvias, 300ZX’s, 180SX’s, Stageas, R32 and R33 Gts-t’s, as well as early 90’s Porsches and 4WD’s such as Landcruisers, Pajeros and Patro...

Classified by many as the “Ultimate Subaru”, just 400 of the 2.2L 22B STi were produced for the domestic Japanese market and a 25 additional (un-numbered) cars for the export market. This rare and sought after 22B STi (#200 of 400) was auctioned on 23 July 2020 at USS Tokyo – the largest vehicle auction in the world – ensuring maximum exposure to collector eyes… and ...

Regardless of everything else that’s going on in the world, 2020 is proving to be the Year of the Collector Car. It is, in fact, the busiest time we have known for importing vehicles of all types in over 15 years. While the shock and uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic caused a noticeable reduction in Japan car auction prices between February and April 2020, a surge in demand that started i...

Supra prices are out to lunch ! After rapidly increasing in price for the last 5 years, as of 2020 Supras are virtually impossible to buy without a serious collector car budget. If you wanted to import one for a daily driver, forget it, as even poor condition examples are selling for megabucks. Models like aerotops, SZ 6 speeds, and RZ TT 6 speeds are leading the way and have in some cases more th...

8 July 2020 – in a further update to our original post from 26 June 2020, this Supra is now listed by a Japanese car dealer for 3.79 million Yen (including 10% GST): Looking for a genuine collector car ? Well, make sure to do your homework first so you know what you’re buying. Collector car prices are going stratospheric in 2020 – don’t get caught out paying top dollar wit...

Better get in QUICK if you want to import Forester STi 2.5L turbo 4WD like this example. Australians have been wanting to import the Forester STi for many years and this pent up demand has now been unleashed on the auctions in Japan. Demand is high and numbers at auction are limited. So you know what that means. At the time of this post a good Subaru Forester STi would cost between $20,000 to $30,...

With full compliance estimated to be just 3 to 4 weeks away for Subaru Forester STi import to Australia, we are now taking orders ! Forester STi import has been one of the most common requests we have received for any model over the years and now it is finally possible. The Forester was only sold in STi specification for the Japanese domestic market. It was produced in relatively limited numbers...

We keep being asked about what’s going on at the Japan car auctions, are prices cheaper ? Is it a good time to buy ? YES, overall it is a GREAT time to buy if you have cash available. It is after all, about as strong as a buyer’s market gets, and we’ve not seen a situation like this since the GFC 11 years ago – way before Japanese cars jumped in value. So if you thought pri...

This rare 2007 Honda Civic Mugen RR with 18,270 km was auctioned in Tokyo on 9 April 2020. 1 of only 300 Mugen RR’s made for the Japanese market, all exclusively in Milano Red. Auction grade 4.5 B. VIN: FD2-1203437. This rare 2007 Honda Civic Mugen RR sold for over 11,000,000 Yen FOB, or about $220,000 landed and complied in Australia, plus on road costs (@ 67.5 Yen to the dollar). Try o...

Import Honda Civic Type R FD2 to Australia – just added to the list of approved models under transitional SEVS arrangements on 2 April 2020. The ruling covers the October 2006 to December 2011 Honda Civic Type R FD2 4 door sedan. Browse the last 3 months of Honda Civic Type R FD2 auction sales in Japan Free trial our auction alerts system for the Honda Civic Type R FD2 View example Honda C...

If you’re thinking of importing a Supra under the 25 Year Rule (March 1995 and older are OK at the time of this post), just note that a Supra widebody like this modified example today may not be eligible for import – based on major body modifications. Read more about allowed modifications under the 25 Year Rule here This 1993 Toyota Supra with 120,021 km, Supra widebody kit and other m...

This 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR in TV2 Bayside Blue with 163,575 km and NISMO S1 engine fitted by Omori Factory (serial number #122) was auctioned at USS Tokyo in Japan on 27 February 2020. It sold for 6,860,000 JPY, which at the time would have been equivalent to approx. $130,000 AUD complied (including LCT and calculated @72.5 Yen to the dollar), plus on road costs. Grade 3.5 B. BNR34-001428...

It is a good time to buy a collector car if you are fortunate to have cash on hand. Consumer confidence has taken a big hit in recent weeks as panic selling grips stock markets thanks to global concerns over the spread of the corona virus and the resulting financial impact on businesses affected by measures implemented in China and other countries to minimise its spread. The Japanese auctions are ...

If you have always wanted to import a 1997 to 2000 classic Honda Civic Type R EK9 to Australia then you’re in luck ! It is now technically possible to import the Honda Civic Type R EK9 as this model was approved by the Govt. on 10 Feb 2020 under new import regulations. Yes, the Honda Civic Type R FD2 will also be eligible for import soon (application pending approval) and the Honda Acco...

This 2002 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR VSPEC2 in Bayside Blue with 5,721 original km was auctioned at USS Tokyo on 13 February 2020 and sold for a phenomenal price… 20,395,000 JPY. Factoring in all costs, that would be equivalent to an eye-watering $394,000 AUD complied (including LCT and calculated @74 Yen to the dollar), plus on road costs. Grade 5 A. BNR34-402867. VSPEC2 #1541/1855. Low km c...

Looking for a classic car from Japan under the new 25 Year Rule, perhaps something like this 1994 MG RV8 with just 49,970 km auctioned in December 2019 ? A large proportion of the limited MG RV8 production was exported and sold new in Japan (1,579 of the 1,983 produced), but many since then have been exported out of Japan back to the UK, and to other countries such as Australia. That makes the M...

Looking for a classic car under the new 25 Year Rule, perhaps something like this 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Collezione 4WD auctioned in Tokyo on 21 November 2019 ? Good News ! We can source it for you from Japan. Vehicles are inspected in person just for you on auction day – we check running condition as well as inside, outside and underneath – with more pictures provided and detai...

Looking for a quirky 600cc kei car like this cute 1997 Mazda Autozam Carol that looks like a Bentley compact ? Good News ! Any kei car is now possible to import to Australia – right up to new models currently on sale in Japan – under the new import regulations. The only conditions are that the same model was not sold new in Australia and the Micro-car (kei-class car) criteria are met...

This rare 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6.5 TME in red was inspected for a client in November 2019. 69,047 km with service records. Grade 4.5 B. Original factory sticker package. View full inspection pics for this 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6.5 TME in red At the time of this post, EVO 6 TME prices were generally on the rise with clean and original examples selling for between $35,000 to $60,000 c...

Please note that the information below was current at the time of posting. Regulations may change over time so please check directly for the latest requirements with the registration authority in your State or Territory. With the new 25 Year Rule for car imports to Australia comes the next issue – what about left hand drive car registration in Australia ? Well, this is handled differently b...

Some important points to bear in mind when selecting vehicles to import under the new 25 Year Rule for car imports to Australia which STARTS on 10 Dec 2019: – Prices are rising fast on all classic vehicles The USA has their own 25 Year Rule which allows the import of RHD vehicles. Unlike Australia, American buyers have no reference point for pricing of Japanese imports so are prepared to sp...

This rare 2001 Mazda RX-7 RZ was sold on 8 August 2019 at USS Tokyo auction for approx. 5,000,000 Yen FOB ($85,000 AUD complied @ 72 Yen to the dollar), plus tyres and on road costs. Type RZ build #273 / 325. VIN: FD3S-601459. 280HP; 5 speed manual; 2 Seats; Seat style: STC; Interior: FF2; 17 inch wheels; Bilstein dampers; Normal suspension. 66,230 km with service records. Grade 4.5 B. ...

This RARE 1993 Nissan Skyline R32 Gts-4 AUTECH 2.6L 4WD – sold today at USS Tokyo auction for 2,700,000 Yen FOB which would be approx. $45,000 complied in Australia plus tyres and on road costs (@ 75 Yen to the dollar). 80,300 km. Graded 4 B with records, books, NISMO documentation and spare keys. VIN: HNR32-034842. ...

This RARE 1996 R33 GTR VSpec N1 (V-Spec Series 2 N1 #20/21) – sold today at USS Tokyo auction for 4,005,000 JPY (approx. $66,000 landed in Australia @ 75 Yen to the dollar). Graded 3 most likely due to general corrosion in various places and the rust holes in the right side step and right rear wheel arch… VIN: BCNR33-024522. ...

Here’s another car that stood out on our recent visit to USS Tokyo auction in Japan. This heavily modified 1990 Nissan Skyline R32 GTR by “Garage-34” was sold at USS Tokyo auction on 9 May 2019. VIN: BNR32-005346. 18,532 km on the odometer and not questioned by auction, but on a car like this we would say total km unknown. Repainted in original black. Modifications included 2...