Radical Imports: Celica GT-4 ST-205 That’s USA Legal?!!!

"M.T. Blake" (autohabit)
12/20/2019 at 14:10 • Filed to: radical imports, toyota celica, st205, gt-four, gt-4, awd, turbo, rally, forbidden fruit, jdm, rare, 25 year rule, legal, grey market

This has got to be one of the few, if the only ST-205 that is legal in the US. Granted, we’re closing in on the 25 year rule so you’re going to be seeing a lot more soon! How in the world is this legal? It looks fairly simple.

I can polish my words, but I can’t polish the pictures posted by a seller. You won’t be getting the poster quality stuff I try to find in this posting.

This is a 1996 Toyota Celica GT-4. This isn’t any Celica. It is AWD and turbo with around 240hp. It’s right hand drive and luckily for those of us still off the metic system, it’s got a MPH cluster.

The quad headlights, hood, and bumper make this Celica look fast, with the rally car abilities to back it up!

That’s right, the Celica we all deserved. We in the US got the first two generations - ST-165 and ST-185 - but the ST-205 pictured was forbidden JDM fruit.

Those things we can’t have are always the juiciest fruit. This car is the FAMAS or the wormwood Absinthe, nay it’s the best forbidden Toyota we never got.

Jin-san thank you for bothering Toyota to build the car you wanted while abroad on assignment.

The seller has few words, poorly taken pictures, and yet I am intrigued. I want to know more! The seller states this vehicle was made for a Japanese Foreign Affairs Officer, and based on the sticker it appears this Celica began life in Alaska.

Getting a drive through Big Mac is going to be hard .

So we have a forbidden car, configured solely for one privileged government official stationed in AK. I can see this as a true story. The fact is this Celica in its clothing isn’t that different than any other of the vintage. It’s still going to crumple in the same way. It will pollute in a similar manner as the earlier cars and I believe the same way as a USDM MR2?!

I’m going to do a little digging on this one. Could this be as the owner advertises? Is it one of few true ST205 Celica on our shores? Or is it some VIN swapped or chassis and parts changed monstrosity? Either way it looks like it can be yours for $22,222.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (38)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 14:16

Or is it some VIN swapped or chassis and parts changed monstrosity?

Yes. The ad looks sketchy AF. The photos are not promising either, fart can muffler, not rear shots, aftermarket radio askew in the dash.

MonkeePuzzle > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 14:17

it’d be hard to strip it of its hella 90s body kit and wheels, but a little updating and these can look so hot

Textured Soy Protein > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 14:17

Early JDM ST205 GT-Fours are already past the 25 year rule and available thru importers.

https://www.japaneseclassics.com/vehicle/1994-toyota-celica-gt4-wrc/

facw > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 14:23

My guess is that it’s not actually legal, and the government could come crush it anytime if they felt like it. The original owner was probably allowed to bring it in as part of his job, but such cars are required to be exported when the owner leaves (or sells it). Obviously that didn’t happen here. Some states are sloppy about registering such things, and given that we got other Celica trims over here, it’s easy to imagine even a moderately careful DMV missing it.

M.T. Blake > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/20/2019 at 14:23

It’s pricier than other 25 year cars for sale too!

M.T. Blake > facw
12/20/2019 at 14:25

Maybe the seller will provide the VIN? That could shed some light on the subject.

M.T. Blake > Textured Soy Protein
12/20/2019 at 14:26

Fact. I’m not seeing as many RHD forbidden fruits running around as I’d have thought. The GTRs are big money, and everything is difficult and expensive to register in California (my home).

just-a-scratch > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 14:30

I saw a right hand drive Soarer last week. It didn’t look 25 years old, but I’m no expert on those.

M.T. Blake > just-a-scratch
12/20/2019 at 14:38

Not to mention those that have swapped in RHD components. Never quite understood it... I want a LHD Skyline, but I’ve seen one done in Europe... one!

Textured Soy Protein > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 14:39

Generally I don’t see too much JDM stuff around here in DC but actually, one of my coworkers drives a JDM ST185 GT-Four .

Kinja'd!!!

There are several R32 Skylines of various trims including GT-Rs running around my wife’s hometown of Burlington, WI for some reason.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > just-a-scratch
12/20/2019 at 14:42

One of the guys I drift with has a purple soarer. I want it so bad.

RPM esq. > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 14:48

It seems like this car came into the country legally but should not still be here--foreign service employees are allowed to bring cars in with them, but they have to re-export them when they leave.

M.T. Blake > Textured Soy Protein
12/20/2019 at 14:52

That’s a pretty one! Don’t see many that nice. Last one I saw was being used as a residence by stimulant addicted individuals.

Washington has always had a lot of JDM goodies. I’m guessing it’s because of the proximity to Canada and the car culture?

M.T. Blake > RPM esq.
12/20/2019 at 14:53

Sounds about right.

Unless Toyota made a one of one legal car? But t hat sounds more unlikely.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > facw
12/20/2019 at 14:53

It’s not legal, even if the story is completely true. There's a foreign official exemption in DOT import laws but resale is expressly forbidden.

Textured Soy Protein > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 14:58

WI = Wisconsin

M.T. Blake > Textured Soy Protein
12/20/2019 at 15:06

Lol. I read what you wrote, but apparently not for content. Maybe I got it right except for where I thought you were talking about?! I mean I wasn’t in far left field with my response. I just happen to be picking daisies instead of watching the game.

RPM esq. > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 16:13

You know, now that I look at the pictures, it might be ...the speedometer is in MPH and it has a U.S. emissions certification sticker.... but that sticker is fishy as all hell, as it appears to list both the 1FZ-FE and 2.0 3S-GTE, quite different engines, and notes OBII compliance...to my knowledge these engines weren’t available with OBDII till much later (I’ve looked at imported GT Fours , albeit of the 185 generation, and an MR2).

M.T. Blake > RPM esq.
12/20/2019 at 18:19

The seller sent me a picture of the VIN. It’s a JDM VIN starting with ST instead of J for Japan. It’s certainly questionable. Seller is firm at his price too :(

gin-san - shitpost specialist > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 19:13

I love all Celicas, even the last gen ones. That one is nice - I could do without the body kit but wouldn’t complain if it came with it anyway.

Personally, I want a JDM Caldina wagon - they had versions that used the same engine (or similar, I don’t remember) and had the same (or similar) 4WD system as well.

Flavien Vidal > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 22:07

Japanese VIN do not start with “J”, I’m not sure where you got that from... ST205 VIN start with, you guessed it, ST205-00xxxxx

Flavien Vidal > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 22:08

ST205 have started to be legal for 8 or 9 months now . There are quite a few in the states by now...

Flavien Vidal > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 22:17

Very weird car... I have doubt about its legality , but could have been imported somewhat legally anyway. If it was a consulate car or something similar its sale in the states was not allowed to begin with and it should have been sent back with that Mr Horoshi when he left the states.

M.T. Blake > Flavien Vidal
12/20/2019 at 22:18

In the USA they do. That’s what I was referring to.

M.T. Blake > Flavien Vidal
12/20/2019 at 22:19

Alaska probably doesn’t do inspections. They’ll probably register anything. Couple stickers consistent with the engine... and it’s ‘legal’.

Flavien Vidal > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 22:20

It’s a Japanese car, as in JDM car. It’s been privately imported and does not have a 17-digit VIN.

Flavien Vidal > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 22:22

Yeah “ state legal” just like all the R34 you can see in Florida... I wouldn’t kill or gravely injure someone with that car though, as you can bet that the insurance will look into the car a little deeply to do anything they can to drop the owner’s ass

M.T. Blake > Flavien Vidal
12/20/2019 at 22:22

Yes. I know that. If it had been specifically made for the US market it would be J and 17 digits. This has gotten lost in translation online.

M.T. Blake > Flavien Vidal
12/20/2019 at 22:24

No one reads the fine print on their insurance. What they can do never surprises me.

Flavien Vidal > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 22:30

Yeah, I have nothing against black market cars as long as they are owned by people who know wtf they are doing... in the states driving a car that could get you dropped by your insurance at anytime in case of a serious problem is a MASSIVE risk that can ruin your life.

M.T. Blake > Flavien Vidal
12/20/2019 at 22:34

Unless you’re rich and have 200k laying around to pay for that next injury collision! Lol.

Flavien Vidal > M.T. Blake
12/20/2019 at 22:37

It’s the US man... being at fault, driving an illegal car and killing someone will cost you a lot more than 200k$ :)

RPM esq. > M.T. Blake
12/21/2019 at 01:05

Here’re are two seemingly legally imported JDM ‘94 ST205 GT Fours for less money...if you’re tempted, buy one of these .

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/ferndale-rhd-1994-toyota-celica-gt-four/7040275715.html

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/d/ferndale-rhd-1994-toyota-celica-gt-four/7037490453.html

RPM esq. > Flavien Vidal
12/21/2019 at 01:18

True, but that’s a key piece of evidence: a Toyota built for export to the US should have a longer VIN starting with JT2 before the ST, I believe.

RPM esq. > M.T. Blake
12/21/2019 at 01:19

That’s definitely JDM then. USDM Toyotas of the era had 17-digit JT2 VINs, I believe.

Flavien Vidal > RPM esq.
12/21/2019 at 01:57

Yes, all of them since 1981

GrimmSMILES > M.T. Blake
12/21/2019 at 06:02

Oh my! Stimulant addicted individuals? Those pesky cigarette addicts driving their Toyotas.

M.T. Blake > RPM esq.
12/21/2019 at 12:32

Good find! A lot cheaper than $22,222.