I wasn't saying you had, Kurt, I was talking about the morons that call/email you with accusations, veiled threats, etc...
To answer your question, Dave, I've gotten most of them. Thankfully, my Cruiser was legally imported in 1996 (although I haven't followed up with all the paperwork and need to get my ass in gear before they change the requirements), so there's nothing they can do to me, but I still get a lot of questions, from obnoxious to threatening.
For the most part, I get asked *specific* details about the importation, which I'm glad to share with people I know but NOT with strangers. I also get a lot of accusatory questions, as in "I looked into importations and it's not possible so yours is illegal"...my personal favorite was a random guy that came out of the blue and told me if I didn't sell it to him he'd "tell the authorities". My response was "come pick it up, then, and as soon as you drive away, *I'M* calling the authorities"...
There's even a TLCA member who's notorious for doing this, he's been involved in several veiled threats about gray market importations. He's never come to me about it, but I really wouldn't care because I would rather torch it front of my house that let anyone threaten me...if I can't have it, you better believe nobody else is getting it, either.
I try my best to help *anyone* who contacts me about an importation, I've helped a couple dozen people bring trucks in from 8 different countries and I am very proud of that. That said, I'm not going to suggest anything illegal, I just point you in the right direction, it's *your business* what you do, and more power to you. What I don't like is when people email me and say "I want to import a <insert exotic Land Cruiser designation here> from <insert country here> and I need to know EXACTLY how to do it. Please explain it with details"...yeah, right! If you're willing to pay a consultation fee, then great, if not, do your research like everyone else.
Back to the original thread, it's *clearly obvious* to any Cruiserhead that said troopie is a gray market (I'd say mid-shade) and that the 1971 title allows it to be registered in California without much fanfare and no emmissions testing. The absence of a NA-spec VIN tag makes this a very easy process. I don't see what the big deal, if I had the money and those troopies were LHD I'd buy one in a second and never give it another thought.
DISCLAIMER: to those Cruiserheads interested in the importation of an exotic Land Cruiser, I would be happy to assist with specific questions and I can discuss everything from 100% legal importations to "let's pray we don't get pulled over" near-black market importations. Just don't ask me for a recommendation on what to do, I am a law-abiding permanent resident who wants to be a US citizen and I don't want anything to jeopardize that.
very cool wronge hand drive and all
