By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 04:34 am: Edit

I've been looking at importing one of these recently, as I have a fellow in England who found one for me and will sell it to me provided I can take it. But folks I've talked to here say it may be impossible (or extremely expensive) to conform. Why? Is not the Stage I essentially what the Defender imported to the US was? No airbags, steel bumpers, etc. Has anybody on this board imported one, or know somebody who has? I'd really like to get this truck, because it's in great condition. But if I'm gonna get my pants pulled-down over conforming it, I'll just have to let it go I guess...

By Ron on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 04:50 am: Edit

You cannot import it until it hits 25 years old. Luckily this is SOON for the stage I V8. In fact some of the prototypes already qualify and have been imported. So wait until it reaches 25 years old and bring it in.

There are MANY differences between NAS (US and Canada) spec defenders and UK spec. So many that conversion to legal specs is $$$$$ (yes 5 $) at least. I can list them if you are interested but suffice it to say wait 25 years or fudging something is the only way.

Ron

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 06:41 am: Edit

Ron's pegged it.....

Now, you 'could' take it apart, ship it over as parts, then reassemble and register it as a kit-car. But if, say, it was a '77, it would be simpler to wait until next year and then bring it over. (What year did the Stage-Is begin, '79?)

Anyway....
Got a feeling a lot of people will be shipping trucks over come 2008 (1983 was the year that the first Defenders came out, replacing the leaf-springs with the coils). (Note: Stage-Is are leaf-sprung).

-L

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 07:21 am: Edit

Don't forget state smog issues. Here in the Republic of California, you'll have to pass smog. 1973 is the cut off for smog (it's not a rolling 25 year program here).

Probably cheaper & easier to buy a donor Series, a donor Disco/Classic for the drive train, and mate both to a Series coil frame.

By Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 08:10 am: Edit

Jeff,

IMHO, modify the chassis from the donor Disco/RRC to fit the Series body. Saves a bit of cash.

Now, if you find a donor Disco/RR that has a good drivetrain but the frame is bad, then definitely go with the new chassis.

Again, IMHO, YMMV....

-L

By Jeff Bieler (Mrbieler) on Friday, September 21, 2001 - 08:28 am: Edit

True. Either, IMHO, will be easier then bringing in a Stage 1.

By Jon Williams (Jonw) on Saturday, September 22, 2001 - 05:37 am: Edit

Thanks for all the responses. I guess I don't need it THAT bad. It's a 1980 model, and I was just gonna get it for more of a collector's thing, since I've done all the most work to my SIIa 109 and it's pretty much the same thing as a Stage 1, of course, minus the V8.

Oh well, until 2005 then...