I went to pick up a "big package" today...

"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
02/04/2016 at 04:44 • Filed to: None

All 5 cars I bought and imported in Japan are now ready for pick up and we’re starting to bring them back! Fuck yeah! Too damn happy!

Have to fix the Renault 8 first as it broke down on me back in France, then, a little Oppo-review will be necessary haha :)

DISCUSSION (16)

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Flavien Vidal
02/04/2016 at 04:49

Wow man, that is a nice set of cars! Are you going to do reviews of all of them?

Flavien Vidal > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
02/04/2016 at 04:58

I already reviewed the DS a couple months ago and did another Panhard PL17 last september or so... The Ro80 photoshoot and video are done, only thing left is the article itself that I have to write. The Renault 8 died on me after 300km back in France so I couldn’t do neither a photoshoot nor an onboard video of it... I will do it in Japan once it’s fixed... I might just bring it to a local ractrack to do the video. Afterall it is a racecar so... But for now, potential head gasket failure, so it might take a few weeks before I start doing it...

Panahrd PL17: http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1963-panhard-p…

Citroen DS21ie: http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1973-citroen-d…

dailydoseofmindlessness > Flavien Vidal
02/04/2016 at 05:03

For private enjoyment or for profit? :D

Flavien Vidal > dailydoseofmindlessness
02/04/2016 at 05:07

That would be way too many cars for me to keep haha. The Ro80 is aspecial order andd is already sold, the white panhard will be sold quickly, the Renault 8 will be repaired, enjoyed for a few months, and then sold after... The DS and the blue panhard will be fully restored first then sold :)

dailydoseofmindlessness > Flavien Vidal
02/04/2016 at 05:22

Interesting endeavor to be upon in Japan, I do suppose it’d be a nightmare of paperwork bureaucracy and lost-in-translation moments?

I recall the pain in dealing with Japanese Customs officials when temporarily importing race cars for a F1 support series.

Flavien Vidal > dailydoseofmindlessness
02/04/2016 at 05:26

It’s actually not bad at all... fairly easy even. Declare the value of the cars, pay the taxes, pass through customs and there you go, cars are yours. Then time to get them inspected and licensed and you can drive them full time in Japan like any other car. Cars produced before 1975 are easier and cheaper to import as they don’t have to comply with certain security upgrades that newer cars are forced to have. Importing an 80's car would cost an extra 2500$ or so...

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Flavien Vidal
02/04/2016 at 05:27

I’ll be looking forward to those! Good luck with fixing the Renault 8, it looks like it should be a lot of fun at the track.

Flavien Vidal > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
02/04/2016 at 05:31

It is... Only hooned it in the french Pyrennean mountains, but it was a shitload of fun... It weights 750kg or so and produces 130hp with very short gearing. It’s very fast and very loud haha. It has a tuned Renault 5 Alpine engine instead of the original one.

Wheelerguy > Flavien Vidal
02/04/2016 at 05:53

*rummages for spare change*

*searches for Peugeots*

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Flavien Vidal
02/04/2016 at 05:53

Nice, I’m sure that will make a nice video!

Flavien Vidal > Wheelerguy
02/04/2016 at 06:09

I want a 205 GTI... But too damn broke now to even think of it haha... Have to get rid of a couple of these first :)

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Flavien Vidal
02/04/2016 at 08:46

Do you go through an importer or just do it yourself? Looking at bringing a Defender in from Europe and I’m weighing my options.

Edit: lol I’m an idiot, you are in Europe. Need to have my coffee... Super excited to hear how they drive.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Flavien Vidal
02/04/2016 at 08:53

Don’t think we don’t see that DS in the background.

Flavien Vidal > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
02/04/2016 at 09:44

I’m in Japan but I’m french. Married to a Japanese... I do everything myself. Fly back to France, go all over the country/europe to buy the cars, drive them to Southampton, ship them to Japan, import them...etc etc etc :)

Already reviewed the Panhard and the DS :)

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1973-citroen-d…

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1963-panhard-p…

Flavien Vidal > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
02/04/2016 at 09:45

haha, review of the car is here :)

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1973-citroen-d…

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Flavien Vidal
02/04/2016 at 09:57

Wow, double fail on my part lol.

Yeah I’ve been looking at guys who import Defenders from Europe but they’re mark up is borderline price gouging so I’m researching just doing it myself and having one of my buddies over seas take a look for me.