| Japan Car Direct | JDM Export Import Pros

Import your dream used Porsche 911 from Japan (Part 2)

2002-Porsche-996-Turbo-c

In Part 1 of our two-part series, we introduced air-cooled Porsche 911s from the 70s and 80s. This second article leaps forward to the water-cooled 2000s before concluding with a pair of air-cooled models from the 90s that Japan Car Direct sourced at Japanese used car auctions and exported to enthusiasts abroad at highly reasonable prices. 2002 Porsche 996 Turbo

2002 Porsche 996 Turbo

Incredible value and performance For those who aspire to own a used Porsche 911 Turbo, but refuse to spend an arm and a leg for a classic air-cooled model, there’s the 2002 Porsche 996 Turbo. It’s more reasonably priced than many other 911 turbos, and its parts are also cheaper because they were mass produced and largely shared with the contemporary Boxer. At today’s prices, the Porsche 996 Turbo is probably still a solid investment for enthu [...]

The Classic Air-Cooled 911 2.4 Liter

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 The Classic Air-Cooled 911 2.4 Liter White JDM 1972 Porsche 911 with naturally aspirated, air-cooled 2.4-liter flat-six engine

White JDM 1972 Porsche 911 with naturally aspirated, air-cooled 2.4-liter flat-six engine

What a beauty! The purity of the air-cooled 911 with the 2.4 liter N/A engine. You can find them in beautiful shape at surprisingly reasonable prices in Japan. The classic curves, exhilaratin [...]

Import your dream used Porsche 911 from Japan (Part 1)

importa-your-dream-porshe-from-japan-1-2-1024x724

Used Porsche 911s are always in demand! In Japan, almost any model dating back to the 1960s can be found at lower prices than just about anywhere else in the world. They are also in better condition because Japanese treasure their JDM foreign cars like babies. In Japan, almost any model dating back to the 1960s can be found at lower prices than just about anywhere else in the world. They are also in better condition because Japanese treasure their JDM foreign cars like babies. Here are some examples of great Porsche 911 models periodically available through used car auctions and used car dealers in Japan. The first model is now beyond the reach of most enthusiasts, but others have been exported by Japan Car Direct to satisfied customers around the globe. 1972 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7

1972 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7

One of Japan’s favorite supercars In Japan, the Porsche Carrera RS 2.7 h [...]

Air-cooled Porsche 911 perfection

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

Air-cooled Porsche 911 perfection

The fantasy of every air-cooled Porsche 911 fanatic became reality with production of the Gunther Werks 400R, which was recently exhibited at the 2017 SEMA show.

Gunther Werks 400R

1988 Porsche 911 Turbo 930

Classic. Sexy. One of the all-time favorites of experienced drivers.

Porsche 911 Turbo 930 air cooled luxury sports car excellent condition

Everyone recognizes the Porsche 911 Turbo with its iconic round headlights, wide rear track and massive spoiler. Although this 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo is almost 30 years old, it still conjures up images of prestige and thrilling performance. Japanese used car auctions and dealers offer an incredible range of used 911s, in great condition at fantastic prices.

The air-cooled flat six 3.3-liter engine on the 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo 930 delivers exciting performance with powerful turbo boost that propels you from zero to 60 in about five seconds flat. Horsepower and torque are a solid 282 hp at 5,500 rpm and 278 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm.

This performance may not be phenomenal by today’s standards, but many 911 fans will assure you that older air-cooled models like this Turbo 911 are more satisfying to drive because they test your limits and connect you with the driving experience at a deeper level. They also produce an [...]

Porsche unveils the fastest, most expensive Porsche 911 ever

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 Porsche unveils the fastest, most expensive Porsche 911 ever The 2018 911 GT2 RS introduced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England will be the fastest street-legal Porsche 911 ever produced. Rocketing from 0 to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and hitting a top speed of 211 mph, it’s insanely fast for a factory-built vehicle. This astonishing performanc [...]

2004 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (996)

Affordable Supercardom, The 2004 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (996)!!

The Porsche 996 is renowned for being the 911 model that left air-cooled engines and classic styling behind. While many enthusiasts and collectors prefer older 911 models, there is no denying the 996 delivers higher levels of comfort and performance at a lower price.

Manufactured between 1999 and 2004, it is lighter and stiffer than earlier 911s and features an excellent suspension that contributes to surer handling without oversteer. The turbo version launched in 2000 was the first vehicle designed using Computer Aided Styling, and the Turbo cabriolet released in 2004 was the first 911 Turbo cabriolet in nearly two decades.

The turbo cabriolet’s 3.6-liter, twin-turbocharged flat-six engine generates 420 PS (309 kW) of horsepower for instant acceleration, a top speed of 187 mph (301 km/h) and an impressive 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 4.2 seconds. Four wheel drive helps ensure great traction around curves and the ride is comfortable enough for [...]

1987 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera

Porsche’s best selling 911 ever, the Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera!

1987 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera

Between 1984 and 1989, when the global economy was booming, Porsche had the right performance car to steal people’s hearts and wallets — the 911 3.2 Carrera.

The 911 3.2 Carrera featured the stunning aesthetics of a 911 Turbo, one of the largest displacement air-cooled engines in Porsche 911 history, renowned reliability and a relatively affordable price tag. No wonder a record 76,473 of these dream machines were sold!

Powered by an air-cooled 3.2-liter horizontally opposed flat-six engine that produces 231 bhp and 284 Nm of torque, the 911 3.2 Carrera accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (100 km/h) in about 5.7 seconds and delivers a top speed of 150 mph (242 km/h). It roars at a somewhat lower pitch than 911s of the past and delivers more linear power throughout the rpm range in place of whiplash inducing peakiness. Fuel efficiency is surprisingly good, thanks to a Bosch Motronic 2 engine management system that [...]

1997 Porsche 911 Turbo (993)

The pinnacle of air-cooled Porsches. The obsession of hardcore purists. The Porsche 911 Turbo (933).

Porsche 911 Turbo

If you ask Porsche purists what model they dream of owning, many will passionately tell you “the 911 Turbo from the 933 series”. Melding beautiful curves with exhilarating performance, it was the last of the air-cooled Porsches and the last of the handbuilt 911s, making it the last of the true Porsches as far as purists are concerned.

Porsche put special effort into making the 933 series as irresistible as possible because only higher sales would save the carmaker from an impending financial crisis in the early 1990s. Fortunately, Porsche succeeded spectacularly, creating its most celebrated series ever with models of phenomenal quality and performance that sold exceptionally well.

The turbocharged models with all-wheel drive are especially desirable. Their powerful, 3.6-liter horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engines produce 408 (PS) horses that sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds — fast even by today’s heady standards.

Performance figures rival those of the 959 supercar. [...]

Porsche 911 (930) Turbo 1989

Style. Status. Performance. The Porsche 911 Turbo has it all. Many motorsports enthusiasts agree this iconic sports car is one of the greatest of all time.

Japan Car Direct

The 911 Turbo is one of history’s most recognizable sports cars. From raised round headlights to dramatically extended rear wheels and big rear spoiler, it’s distinctive personality attracts the opposite sex like a magnet and generates envy from every turning head.

The iconic rear styling, with muscular wheel arches, was largely the result of having a turbocharged rear engine. In non-turbo versions of the 911, the light weight of the air-cooled engine with magnesium crankcase tended to minimize the oversteer caused by a rear engine configuration. But the additional weight of the turbo convinced Porsche to dramatically widen the rear wheels for further compensation.

Between 1975 and 1989, the 911 Turbo was Porsche’s flagship model and Germany’s fastest production car. The larger displacement 3.3-liter engine with intercooler was introduced in 1978 to reduce the infamous turbo lag, and Porsche began offering Cabriolet and Targa versions in addition to the coupe version in 1986.

The beautiful [...]

Porsche 911 (933) 4S 1996

One of the world’s most sought after limited production vehicles, the stunning Porsche 911 Carrera is just about everyone’s dream car. This particular 4S was lovingly cared for as most luxury cars are in Japan.

Japan Car Direct

Other:

Gorgeous doesn’t begin to describe the Porsche 911 (933) 4S supercar. Its low and wide body with flared wheel arches and bold rear wing delivers coveted 993 Turbo looks without the turbo price tag. This is one of our favorite cars to export from Japan to car aficionados overseas and we have found that its value is actually rising. So you can satisfy your dreams while making a solid investment, too.

The rear-mounted engine may be naturally aspirated, but it generates an impressive 285 hp that takes you from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds and sounds great at high rpm. You’ll also enjoy phenomenally sure-footed roadhandling courtesy of all wheel drive, wide 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with low-profile Pirellis, and large power-assisted disc brakes with iconic red calipers. Try saying “911 Carrera” without salivating. I’ll bet you can’t.

Now Porsche lovers everywhere are purchasing their dream cars from Japan, where used vehicles are [...]

Porsche 911

Porsche 911 from Japan

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

What is it about the Porsche 911? Why is it the ultimate dream car for so many people? Certainly it is the top end German sports car. And certainly it's a blast to drive. But there is more to it than that. There is a magic. A magic like you see in so clearly in the lines and proportions of the early Carreras like this one:

911-1987 exterior

911-1987 interior

And when you buy a used Porsche 911 you benefit from and eternal truth of car buying: You get the car, but the oth [...]

Porsche 911 1996

The Final Air Cooled Porsche 911. Imported from Japan by a True Winnerman.

Japan Car Direct

A Clean Porsche 911 from Japan. Aspire to It. Win It. I remember how happy my uncle was when he bought his used Porsche 911. He'd finally begun to make it in business and wanted to reward himself with something he had always aspired to: An exotic German sports car. He didn't want to splurge on a new 911 (couldn't afford it, anyway), but he wanted a clean Porsche, low miles if possible. And that's exactly what our customers who want to import a used Porsche from Japan are looking for: a clean car in good condition, with low mileage, well cared for by the previous owner, and selling for a reasonable price. And that's what our customer who bought this very nice blue 911 (993 type) got for himself by doing a direct import from Japan. So it's not only my uncle who became a happy secondhand Porsche 911 owner, our customer is, too. (By the way, you can read more about my uncle and his Porsche 911 here on our blog. It's all a true story.) This lovely 911 that we are looking at now is a pretty typical example of the good used European sports cars, supercars, and classics that we are scoring at the Japanese used car [...]

Porsche 911 Carrera 2 1993

An in-demand classic: the air-cooled Porsche 911 (964) Carrera 2.

Japan Car Direct

An all time classic member of the Porsche 911 family and a fine example of the good 911s available in Japan from the Japanese used car auctions, or found at the dealers here or bought from private sellers. This 1993 air-cooled 3.6 liter automatic 911 shows the sweet clean and simple lines of the 964 Series that ran from 1989 to 1993.

We were very pleased to score this clean, low mileage Porsche 911 for a customer in Europe and it is now on its way to its new, and very happy, owner.

This 911 is really a typical example of the condition of the high-end German sports and luxury cars that you can import from Japan these days. We see again and again how the original Japanese owners of these cars took such good care of their machines, how they treasured them, maintained them, drove them moderately and never put excessive kilometers on them.

[...]

Exported JDM Vehicles 2020

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

Toyota Land Cruiser VX Limited
Exported on: 2020/12/31

Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon Exceed
Exported on: 2020/12/29

Nissan Elgrand Highway Star
Exported on: 2020/12/29

Suz [...]

Exported JDM Vehicles 2019

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

Mitsubishi Minicab Fire Truck
Exported on: 2019/12/29

Toyota Crown Majesta
Exported on: 2019/12/29

Daihatsu Hijet (Mini Fire Truck)
Exported on: 2019/12/29

Isuzu Fargo Ca [...]

The Best Toyota Luxury Cars, Part 3

Best-Toyota-Luxury-Cars-Part-3

The Car I Was Not Supposed To Have So I told you at the end of our previous post on the Best Toyota Luxury Cars to import from Japan here how one day the design team leader for my 1997 S150 series, fender mirror, Crown came over to me in the company parking lot one day and asked to look inside my car. He looked closely at the dash, and under the dash, at the rear door inner panels, and then moved to the outside of the car where he checked especially under the wheel wells and looked for a while at the suspension. His conclusion was: "You're not supposed to have this car. Where did you get it?" My brilliant reply was: "Huh?" A Lesson from a Professor of Car Design "Who sold it to you?" "A used car dealer in Shizuoka City. I don't get it. Why?" And then he gave me a nice little lesson: "Look at the steering wheel. What do you see?" "A steering wheel." I was getting more and more brilliant. 2 You can ge [...]

<div class=

2 You can ge [...]

<div class=

European Supercars from Japan – Part 3

european-supercars-from-japan-header

Why is the Porsche 911 so cool? What is it that gives this car its undeniable special charm? Do you have a rich uncle? How are the above three questions related? O.K. Let’s start. I do have a rich uncle. Built his business right from the bottom up, he did. Lots of grinding and seven-day work weeks; lots of stress and worry; lots of inspiration and brilliance. But mostly just working day after day at it…..and then more days working. A 911 Means Success But then a day came when my uncle said to himself: “Now, I’m successful.” In fact, in future years he would become much more successful, but on this first “successful” day, as he told the story, he decided to reward himself. He went out and bought a used Porsche 911. Then, over the next few days, he called all the extended family to have a look, and more importantly for me, to have a ride in his German wundercar. European Supercars from Japan, Part 3

European Supercars from Japan, Part 3

I remember my first sight of that white 911: It was tight, compact, small even ( [...]

European Supercars from Japan – Part 1

Supercars-for-Blog-Part-1-01b-e1589395528125-1024x515

I’ve had such great access to supercars since I came to Japan. Generous friends and acquaintances in the “car scene” here have let me spend time with their treasured, magic machines. And they are magic; pure mechanical magic. Even their names are magic: Lamborghini, Lotus, Ferrari, Mclaren; Countach, 348, 355, Modena, Esprit, Elise, Exege, 570S. Because of their owners’ generosity, I’ve driven, or been driven in, all these supercars here in Japan. And I’m not counting the Japanese supercars in this post, only the European supercars. Spectacular and Scary The times I’ve been given rides were usually more spectacular than the times I drove myself; the owners knew their cars and knew how far to push when showing off. When I was behind the wheel I wanted to be careful, partly I was not the owner, of course, but mostly because I was just terrified. Ever floored it on a Supercharged Lotus Exige? Yep. Scary.

Or your hands are in the ten and two position in a Lamborghini Countach and t [...]

Four great JDM cars you can finally import to Canada

blog-four-great-jdm-cars-top-e1587969889951

Many More 15 year old models available today! Every year, more JDM vehicles become 15 years old, making them legally importable to Canada from Japan. In this article, we present four great JDM models that finally come of age. They range from an exhilarating sports car to an exceptionally practical van and we think all are worth getting excited about. Four great JDM cars you can finally import to Canada

Four great JDM cars you can finally import to Canada

JDM 2006 Porsche Cayman S (987c) (released in August 2005) Why choose a used Porsche 911 when you can get a Porsche Cayman S with better handling and comparable power at a significantly lower price? It’s a question many Canadian enthusiasts should be asking themselves now that the celebrated Porsche Cayman S is nearly old enough to be legally imported from Japan. Released to much fanfare in late 2005 as the first of the Porsche Caymans, this mid-engine two seater is based on the second-generation

Five great JDM European cars that are 25 in 2020

EU-headquarters-in-Brussels-1024x577

Many great JDM European cars are reaching their 25th birthday in 2020 — which means you can legally import them to your home country even if you live in the United States. Japan may not be the first market that comes to mind when searching for a used European car. But there are many advantages to importing one from Japan including: - Japanese revere European cars and keep them in outstanding condition. - European car makers often raise vehicle specs for the Japanese market. - Japan’s used car market is huge, with diverse choices and great prices. - There are no autobahns encouraging excessive driving at high speeds. - Japanese roads have fewer potholes and less road salt to cause problems. - Many elderly Japanese are selling their European cars from the 1990s. In this article, we present five 1995 JDM European cars that our Japan Car Direct team can heartily recommend and would greatly enjoy sourcing for export to your nearest port. JDM 1995 Porsche 928 GTS

What is the Best Kei Truck to Export from Japan? (Part 3)

hat-is-the-best-kei-truck-to-export-from-japan-part-01-001b

Now let’s climb into that little Sambar truck that came to us as a courtesy car and have a feel of what it’s like to drive on and off road. Sitting in the cab of the Sambar, you’ll note the big front picture window that seems like a mini version of what you get on a big highway bus. It gives great forward visibility. The interior layout is simple and unsurprising, with all the controls where you want them; and the convenient little pockets on the dash are an excellent extra.

Sixth Gen Sambar Truck. Subaru Sambar 4wd from Japan. Over 25 years old and easy to import

The mini truck I tested had no power steering and no air conditioning, and I will admit that the cabin heater on the Sambar takes a bit of time to warm up since the warm engine coolant has a long way to travel from the engine at the rear to the heater at the front. Steering is not overly heavy and the turning circle is nice and tight. On this road here in the middle of nowhere I could turn the truck 180 degrees with n [...]

Mercedes Benz G-Class

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 Mercedes Benz G-Class

Mercedes Benz G-Class

The Mercedes Benz G-Class, short for Gelandewagen, is a 4wd luxury SUV produced by Mercedes Benz since 1979. Although the vehicle has been in production for over 40 years, it is very similar to the Porsche 911, in that very few design changes have been made over the extremely [...]

2003 Porsche Boxster

Tantalizing and Investment Worthy. The 2003 Porsche Boxster.

Porsche Boxster Cayman mid-engined two-seater sports cars jdm luxury

The car that saved Porsche
Porsche was in deep financial trouble in the 1990s. Then the Boxster came along and changed everything by capturing the automotive public’s heart and rocketing Porsche sales into the stratosphere.

Combining sleek roadster styling with 911-level performance and a surprisingly affordable price, the Boxster was instantly loved by everyone from sports car enthusiasts to critics. Even its name derived from the “boxer” engine and “roadster” styling was a hit. For a while, it was the best-selling model in Porsche history and the industry showered it with praise and awards.

Affordable, but not for long
Used Boxster models are still available at reasonable prices around the world, but enthusiasts have been snatching them up like crazy in recent months. Remember how quickly air-cooled 911 prices rose a few years ago? Boxsters may be next in line.

Better cared for in Japan
Used Boxsters are typically in better condition [...]

Self-healing electric Lamborghini supercar

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

Self-healing electric Lamborghini supercar

Self-healing electric Lamborghini supercar: Lamborghini Terzo Millennio concept car

Lamborghini Terzo Millennio concept car The outrageously bold Terzo Millennio electric concept car was unveiled by Italian supercar maker Automobili Lamborghini at the EmTech conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts early this November. Co-developed [...]

Japan Car News

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 Japan Car News has exclusive articles and links to the latest worldwide and Japanese car news on topics such as: current JDM and worldwide automobile launches, new technologies, upcoming auction cars and reports, auto shows, speed and track records, photos, and Japanese car culture from Japan Car Direct’s team of Car News writers.

1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S Limited Edition

More tantalizing every day. The 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo.

1988 Porsche 944 Turbo

The Porsche 944 Turbo is looking better than ever to Porsche aficionados because it outhandles classic 911s and nearly matches their acceleration — at a mere fraction of their current prices.

Widely regarded as the best handling supercar of the 1980s, the Porsche 944 is exhilarating to drive on racetracks and mountain switchbacks. But it is also quite practical for everyday use thanks to ample interior space and handling ease. This unrivaled combination of supercar performance and everyday practicality makes it one of the best selling Porsches ever.

The 944 handles aggressive moves much better than the 924 and offers more civilized cornering than the rear-heavy 911 thanks in part to a nearly perfect 50/50 weight distribution. Steering is light and accurate, and braking is highly controlled courtesy of 12-inch ventilated discs, 4-piston Brembo calipers and ABS.

Porsche’s powerful 2.5-liter inline-four SOHC engine is basically the right-hand cylinder bank of a V8 5-liter [...]

2003 Renault Clio V6 Renault Sport

Crazy and tantalizing! The Phase 2 Clio V6 Renault Sport.

midship renault clio 2003

Handbuilt by Renault Sport. Performance-enhanced by Porsche. The Phase 2 Clio V6 Renault Sport was the world’s most powerful mass-produced hot hatch when released in 2003.

Tom Walkinshaw Racing built the first version (Phase 1) in 2001 by reinforcing the chassis of a Renault Clio, removing its front-mounted engine and mounting a high-performance 3.0-liter V6 engine in the middle of the vehicle in place of the rear seats! This radical departure from convention increased acceleration, raised maximum speed and generated a 911esque roar from behind the front seats that is truly exhilarating.

But Renault wasn’t satisfied. In 2003, Renault Sport teamed with Porsche to further boost performance. This included modifying the 3.0-liter, 24-valve DOHC RS V6 engine to produce an additional 25 horses for a total of 255 PS at 7,150 rpm — a whole lot of muscle for a compact 3-door hatchback. The resulting Phase 2 version accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in [...]

1992 Porsche 964 Turbo

Gorgeous from integrated bumpers to tea-tray spoiler! The 964 Turbo.

1992 Porsche 911 964 Turbo

The 964 Turbo is considered one of the most beautiful 911s ever. All the classic 911 supercar styling cues are clearly there, from raised round headlights to dramatically flared wheel arches and fixed tea-tray rear spoiler with raised black border. Every curve is impeccably refined to improve aerodynamics and the bumpers are more integrated than on earlier 911s. These sporty looks are further accented by handsome aluminum 17″ wheels with five-spoke 964 Carrera Cup car design, two oval side tailpipes, aerodynamic door mirrors that became standard on all Porsche models, and black Brembo brake calipers. It’s easy to see why this model was so popular in Japan and throughout the world, selling a total of 3,660 units.

Porsche launched the 964 as a completely new 911 series in 1989. While borrowing heavily from the design of earlier 911s, it fully renewed the chassis and well over 80% of the vehicle’s components. The Turbo version was [...]

1988 BMW E30 M3

Racing machine meets four-seater in one of the greatest cars of all time. The legendary BMW E30 M3.

Japan Car Direct

For many car enthusiasts, one series comes to mind when they see the renowned slogan “The Ultimate Driving Machine” — the E30 M3. Developed to meet homologation standards for competition in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC), the E30 M3 so vastly exceeded expectations in both racing success and worldwide sales that BMW built five M3 generations and continues to sell them today.

The first generation of the M3, the E30 M3 (1986-1991) blew away targeted competitors Mercedes-Benz and Audi from the very beginning and became the most successful touring car in racing history, earning more titles than even the Porsche 911. Its seemingly endless list of victories (over 1,500 by some counts) includes one title in the World Touring Car Championship, two titles in the European Touring Car Championship, four titles in the Italia Superturismo Championship and five wins at 24 Hours Nürburgring.

Used E30 M3’s can still be found in great condition in [...]

JDM Cars Over 25 Years Old!

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

Big savings for Americans, Australians, Europeans, Qubecois and Beyond! Car lovers everywhere are discovering the many advantages of importing older JDM vehicles. In America, JDM vehicles over 25 years old are easy to import and register. They are also exempt from all expensive safety, emissions and other import standards. In Australia, import taxes are much lower for vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1989. And in Europe, there are 12% lower taxes with no import duty on vehicles at least 30 years old. For a 1974 Mercedes C Class sedan valued at $10,000, for example, the savings are a whopping $2,390! Other advantages to importing older vehicles: Old cars are more pleasurable to drive. They test your skills instead of pampering you with computer assistance, so you feel challenged [...]

Performance Vehicles

JTNDcCUyMHN0eWxlJTNEJTIydGV4dC1hbGlnbiUzQSUyMGNlbnRlciUzQiUyMiUzRSUzQ3N0cm9uZyUzRSUzQ3NwYW4lMjBzdHlsZSUzRCUyMmNvbG9yJTNBJTIwJTIzMzMzMzMzJTNCJTIyJTNFV2UlMjBhcmUlMjBwYXNzaW9uYXRlJTIwYWJvdXQlMjBvdXIlMjB3b3JrJTIwYW5kJTIwaGFwcHklMjB5b3UlMjBmb3VuZCUyMHVzJTIxJTNDJTJGYnIlM0VXZSUyN3JlJTIwaGVyZSUyMHRvJTIwZ2V0JTIweW91JTIwdGhlJTIwYmVzdCUyMEpETSUyMHZlaGljbGUlMjB0byUyMG1lZXQlMjB5b3VyJTIwcmVxdWlyZW1lbnRzJTIxJTNDYnIlM0UlM0NzcGFuJTIwc3R5bGUlM0QlMjJ0ZXh0LWRlY29yYXRpb24lM0ElMjB1bmRlcmxpbmUlM0IlMjIlM0UlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGamFwYW5jYXJkaXJlY3QuY29tJTJGaG93LXRvLWJ1eSUyRnZlaGljbGUtc2VhcmNoLWVuZ2luZS1yZWdpc3RyYXRpb24lMkYlMjIlM0VQbGVhc2UlMjByZWdpc3RlciUyMGFuZCUyMGxldCVFMiU4MCU5OXMlMjBnZXQlMjBzdGFydGVkJTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRnN0cm9uZyUzRSUzQyUyRnNwYW4lM0UlM0MlMkZwJTNF When you’re looking for a used performance car, there’s no better market than Japan — and no better source than Japan Car Direct. We’ve been exporting used performance cars from Japan to customers abroad for over 12 years and continue to be impressed by the incredible variety of secondhand Japanese and European models available in the market at the lowest prices and in the best condition you can find anywhere in the world. German sports sedans, French rally [...]

Vehicles Available In Japan

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 Value hunters, passionate enthusiasts and serious collectors turn to the Japanese used car market for the best deals on used vehicles. Every conceivable make and model is available in excellent condition through Japanese dealer auctions and on dealers’ lots across Japan. The following is a small sample of some of the vehicles available. If you see what you’re looking for here or have another model in mind, give us a shout and it will be our pleasure to help yo [...]

USA

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

Import regulations for used vehicles from Japan to The United States of America Quick Reference: ・25 years or older ・ Cheap and easy DIY import ・Legal in all 50 states ・Shipping to all major ports ・ Great resale market Timeline The entire process takes 1.5 – 2 months. Register to see auction vehicles - Search - Send links for translation - Send deposit - Pre bid inspection – Bid - Win - Pay Invoice while vehicle is transported to nearest export yard - Payment confirmation - Photos taken at port - Booking requested - Booking details confirmed - Vehicle loaded - ISF filed – Wait and track boat - Get arrival [...]

Left Hand Drive Cars

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

Who ever thinks to buy a Left Hand Drive (LHD) car from Japan? Cars made in Japan for the Japanese market have the steering wheel on the right, right? Right. And you certainly can’t have both.

Cars Import from Japan LHD RHD

But Right Hand Drive (RHD) cars are not the only thing we drive here in Japan. There are plenty of LHD cars on the road here, too. Why? Well, for many people in Japan there is a certain specialness, and certain element of posh attached to having a foreign car with that is LHD. I’ve even seen more classic British sports cars with the wheel on the left (likely re-imported from the USA) on the roads here than with the wheel on the right; and ye [...]

European JDM

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 German Up Market Cars both Left Hand Drive (LHD) & Right Hand Drive (RHD) Where is the best place to buy a second hand up market German car from sports sedans to supercars? Where is the best place to shop if you want to buy a used Porsche 911, or BMW Alpina or M3, or a Mercedes Benz luxury sedan? In Germany? In Europe? No, I don’t think so. The best place to buy a good used German up market car is in Japan. Whether you are looking [...]

JDM Vehicles

Vehicle Search Engine: Over 150,000 vehicles at auction weekly, plus thousands more on dealer lots. Let's find the ideal car for you today!!

Japanese Domestic Market Vehicles (JDM Vehicles)

What does the JDM Vehicle Market offer you, the overseas buyer looking for a good second hand car? Everyone knows that Japanese make fantastic cars. But did you know they make even better cars for the Japanese market? The competition in Japan is insanely fierce because makers battle for the wallets of the world’s most demanding consumers who always want the latest, greatest model with the most advanced technology — whether Japanese or luxury import. This makes Japan the absolute best market for buying used cars. Not only do Japanese market models offer higher quality and technology, but Japanese diligently keep their cars in the best possible condition through attentive maintenance and tender loving care. Over 150,000 of thes [...]

Mitsubishi Evo vs. Subaru Impreza

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 Mitsubishi Evo vs. Subaru Impreza The Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru Impreza have been battling it out for the hearts and minds of motorsports fans since the early 1990s. Both are remarkably fun to drive, thanks to handling and acceleration that rival some of the world’s fastest production cars. And both offer the sporty looks of serious performance machines. So how does a car lover in the market for a used sports car confidently choose b [...]

Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione

The most successful model in rally car history. The phenomenally fun-to-drive Lancia Delta Integrale.

Lancia Delta Integrale

Even supercar owners love driving the Lancia Delta Integrale because it grips the road like glue and handles challenging road conditions with ease. You can confidently push it harder than you ever thought possible and always come out smiling.

Released in 1987 to meet the homologation requirements of Group A rally racing, the Lancia Delta Integrale outperformed everything in its price range. It also became the most successful model in rally car history by winning six consecutive WRC titles (1987-92), four drivers’ championships (1987-89, 1991) and 46 victories overall.

The secret to its success was a winning combination of legendary handling and high power-to-weight ratio. By virtually eliminating wheelspin, its three-differential 4WD system with 47:53 front-to-rear torque distribution and maximum 70% rear lockup delivers unbelievable traction, especially around curves. Where you point, the Delta Integrale goes!

The fuel-injected, 2.0-liter, 16-valve inline-four engine in the Evoluzione II generates 212 bhp at 5750 rpm to propel you [...]

Nissan Skyline 1999

So seriously, brutally, powerful that it blows most other performance cars away with a breath of hot exhaust gas, it

Japan Car Direct

When Nissan came out with their C10 series Skyline in 1969, the famous Hakosuka (box shaped Skyline) the performance car world sat up and took notice and Nissan started a long line of fantastic performance cars.

When they brought out the All-Wheel-Drive, Turbo-Charged, Intercooled R32 and then R33 Skylines the world drew breath, and when they released the R34 Skyline with its nearly 40kg/m of torque, the world gasped. This car was beyond quick. 0-60mph blown away in mid four seconds; handling that could only be described as fantastic, and the strong braking needed to bring this Warp Speed capable starship to a confident halt in double quick time. All this with the immensely strong chassis required to deal with Premiere League performance.

The Nissan R34 Skyline is one of Japan’s, and the world’s, top performance cars. And compared to the top of the Lamborghini, Ferrari, or Porsche lines (and only their top grade cars [...]

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution 1997

This has got to be the hottest SUV ever. We are still finding good examples of this rally legend here in Japan.

There are SUVs here and SUVs there on the roads worldwide these days. It’s a very successful class of vehicle that didn’t even exist when I was first in the market for a car, but now they are everywhere. And here in Japan, too, the SUV has really caught on because of its higher driver’s seat position and better view, because of its good load capacity, and, because in the snow county areas and for those people who need some 4wd capability but don’t need a full-on off-road brute like a Toyota Land Cruiser or a Suzuki Jimny, the SUV is the perfect choice.

But in this now very popular class of vehicle, there is nothing quite like the Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution: This SUV is really a homologation special that was originally purpose built for the Paris Dakar Rally. The engine is a special tuned version of Mitsubishi’s 3.5 liter V6 with the addition of [...]

Japan Car Direct [email protected] All Rights Reserved.