Purchasing an imported car that's unregistered

[DMB.Works]

Hi all,

So after much consideration i have my heart set on an s30 for my next restoration project. Having not dealt with unregistered cars before I'm just after a bit of advice. Mainly wanting to know how i can check everything is genuine and I wont have any issues registering the car once restored. The car in question is a 77 Fairlady Z originally imported from Japan to the US. Then subsequently to here. The owner states he has the US title which is the main thing, as i understand, that you need for registering from what i have read on here. I'm just curious if i need anything else. Apparently, it has all the nova paperwork and import duties have been paid. I have also attached some images of the chassis numbers and plates from the owner. The car is right hand drive and manual which is why I'm so keen about this one even if the car is rotten. Its up for 16k but as someone who has only recently been looking at these cars I'm not sure if that's way to much for a car in need of this calibre of work.

Any help and opinions are appreciated and if the post is in the wrong section please let me know.

https://imgur.com/a/Unk5okc

Many Thanks
Dan

 

[jonbills]

pedant alert: it's an S31, not an S30!
the chassis number on the bulkhead by the brake booster should match that S31 sticker number.
I think title is all you need to register it, but others will confirm I'm sure.
got more photos? it may be only floors and supports are rotten, which would be unusual.

 

[DMB.Works]

pedant alert: it's an S31, not an S30!
the chassis number on the bulkhead by the brake booster should match that S31 sticker number.
I think title is all you need to register it, but others will confirm I'm sure.
got more photos? it may be only floors and supports are rotten, which would be unusual.

Hi, yes i forgot to mention that it is actually an s31. It doesn't have the original l20 either, there's an l28 in it currently. As for photos i have attached the best ones as all others are just outside pics from a distance. Front wings look rotten at the bottom though so I'm assuming sills will need attention as well.

 

[Albrecht]

The car is right hand drive and manual which is why I'm so keen about this one even if the car is rotten. Its up for 16k but as someone who has only recently been looking at these cars I'm not sure if that's way to much for a car in need of this calibre of work.

As you say, it does look pretty "rotten". In fact it looks like it is rusting in all the welded seams - even around the toolboxes in the interior - so it might have have spent a lot of time in a very salt-laden air environment.

I've looked at a lot of S30-series Zs over the years (and an S31-prefixed car qualifies as part of the S30-series) and this one is making me think it is far worse than you think. It needs taking down to a bare shell - literally a bare shell - and it will probably need a lot of spotwelds unpicked in order to address the rust that it festering between the seams. Massive job...

It is also scruffy just about everywhere. Very typical of a car that has spent time in unsympathetic hands in the USA.

16K? I'd say that's way high. You could probably find a far more sound base S31 Fairlady Z in Japan for not much more than that, and you would be ahead of the game.

 

[DMB.Works]

As you say, it does look pretty "rotten". In fact it looks like it is rusting in all the welded seams - even around the toolboxes in the interior - so it might have have spent a lot of time in a very salt-laden air environment.

I've looked at a lot of S30-series Zs over the years (and an S31-prefixed car qualifies as part of the S30-series) and this one is making me think it is far worse than you think. It needs taking down to a bare shell - literally a bare shell - and it will probably need a lot of spotwelds unpicked in order to address the rust that it festering between the seams. Massive job...

It is also scruffy just about everywhere. Very typical of a car that has spent time in unsympathetic hands in the USA.

16K? I'd say that's way high. You could probably find a far more sound base S31 Fairlady Z in Japan for not much more than that, and you would be ahead of the game.

As you say, it does look pretty "rotten". In fact it looks like it is rusting in all the welded seams - even around the toolboxes in the interior - so it might have have spent a lot of time in a very salt-laden air environment.

I've looked at a lot of S30-series Zs over the years (and an S31-prefixed car qualifies as part of the S30-series) and this one is making me think it is far worse than you think. It needs taking down to a bare shell - literally a bare shell - and it will probably need a lot of spotwelds unpicked in order to address the rust that it festering between the seams. Massive job...

It is also scruffy just about everywhere. Very typical of a car that has spent time in unsympathetic hands in the USA.

16K? I'd say that's way high. You could probably find a far more sound base S31 Fairlady Z in Japan for not much more than that, and you would be ahead of the game.

Thankyou for the reply. With regards to how much work there is my plan is to strip any car i get to the bare shell and put it on a rotisserie/frame for full restoration. Its not so much a case of too much work rather, as you say, too much work for the money id be paying when i could get something cleaner. Paint is poor as well but of course this wont matter as the shell will be completely stripped. My main attraction to this car was it being RHD and manual. I dont know what your opinion on a fair price would be but i was thinking closer to 10k.

 

[DMB.Works]

I have added an extra photo to the album of the vin on the bulkhead.