JDM cars imported into Canada article

[mikeyb]

At first glance, Japan and the city of Winkler, Manitoba have about as much in common as sushi and Mennonite sausage. The relaxed country pace seems more attuned to coffee shop conversations about agri-business or the latest RV, but at the local Timmy's, the gossip is all about Hilux, Skyline GT-R and steering wheels on the wrong side. And that's fine with Karl Krebs of Garage Auto Sales, who has handled over a dozen Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) import sales in a little over six months' time.


While JDM vehicles are increasing in number throughout Manitoba, Krebs is unique in that he maintains a regular inventory of right-hand drivers. The JDM bug bit Krebs while at a family reunion in Edmonton last year. His second cousin, Clayton Kernaghan, is a full-time Japan resident with a passion for cars. He had already sent a few vehicles over to Canada for sale when Krebs got wind of his hobby. The resulting partnership has several advantages over simply rolling your dice on the Internet. Kernaghan makes the bulk of the purchases through Japanese dealer auctions, which operate much like those in North America. "He physically sees the car before we buy it," Krebs says. "He does sometimes buy from end users. We get the nicest stuff that way."

Karl Krebs, General Manager of Garage Auto Sales in Winkler, Manitoba, poses with a 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R in his indoor showroom. Transport Canada strictly enforces JDM vehicle entry. "They have to be fifteen years old to the month," says Krebs. The fifteen-year rule gets around issues such as lighting, seatbelts, and where the steering wheel is. In some cases, Kernaghan will purchase a vehicle a few months before its fifteenth birthday, storing it until it is ready to ship.

Check the link for the remaining article and pics:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/mc/jdm.htm

 

[Stormtrooper77]

Yeah, this guy's about an hour away from me.

 

[eting_pro5]

Wish it was that easy to make money like that here in the states

 

[drumsbeloud]

I see a lot of Skylines here in Vancouver...they're actually pretty common it seems.

 

[meGrimlock]

what is it, 25 years in the US to import cars? that extra 10 years is a godsend. i went to BC a few months ago and drove past an average car audio shop and saw 3 r32s in the the parking lot -- 1st time seeing them in person, quite a site.

 

[Leppy]

I think it's 35 years for US, but don't quote me on that...

I told my wife, "Let's move to Canada so I can buy a Skyline R32 GT-R." She said "Ok, let's do it."

The weird part, I was joking and she was totally serious...

 

[99 Pro]

There is a company here in my province that does the same thing as well:

www.platinumshift.com

 

[Newf]

we don't have any strict import rules? I honestly do not know