JDM Z20 Toyota Soarer Twin Turbo
JDM Z20 Toyota Soarer Twin Turbo
Rare JDM Z20 Toyota Soarer Twin Turbo. The Lexus SC300/400's Predecessor
To the untrained eye, at a first glance, it just looks like another ubiquitous and uninteresting boxy looking Japanese car from the late 1980s and early 1990s. It doesn't look like anything that is remotely high-performance. It looks like a Toyota Cressida in a coupe body style. However, a closer inspection reveals that there might something potent under the hood as there are Twin Turbo badges adorning both the driver and passenger doors.
This is no ordinary Toyota. It is a Toyota Soarer that was produced in 1986-1991 that was a predecessor to the Lexus SC300/SC400 and it was never released in the United States (Notice the Right-Hand-Drive configuration). It shared its platform and the same the 24 Valve Inline-6 Twin Turbo engine with the MKIII Toyota Supra and it had many other features that were technologically groundbreaking for its time.
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To the untrained eye, at a first glance, it just looks like another ubiquitous and uninteresting boxy looking Japanese car from the late 1980s and early 1990s. It doesn't look like anything that is remotely high-performance. It looks like a Toyota Cressida in a coupe body style. However, a closer inspection reveals that there might something potent under the hood as there are Twin Turbo badges adorning both the driver and passenger doors.
This is no ordinary Toyota. It is a Toyota Soarer that was produced in 1986-1991 that was a predecessor to the Lexus SC300/SC400 and it was never released in the United States (Notice the Right-Hand-Drive configuration). It shared its platform and the same the 24 Valve Inline-6 Twin Turbo engine with the MKIII Toyota Supra and it had many other features that were technologically groundbreaking for its time.
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New Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2
That is indeed a clean car <3 infact I want one, AND I live in california lol.
Question for ya,
how on earth would you make these legal in california? do they pass the smog regulations etc? how simple are they to bring over? I was thinking about taking a trip to canada to grab one maybe one of these days.
make it my daily and set my s14 aside :D
Question for ya,
how on earth would you make these legal in california? do they pass the smog regulations etc? how simple are they to bring over? I was thinking about taking a trip to canada to grab one maybe one of these days.
make it my daily and set my s14 aside :D
That is indeed a clean car <3 infact I want one, AND I live in california lol.
Question for ya,
how on earth would you make these legal in california? do they pass the smog regulations etc? how simple are they to bring over? I was thinking about taking a trip to canada to grab one maybe one of these days.
make it my daily and set my s14 aside :D
Question for ya,
how on earth would you make these legal in california? do they pass the smog regulations etc? how simple are they to bring over? I was thinking about taking a trip to canada to grab one maybe one of these days.
make it my daily and set my s14 aside :D
-= IMPORTING EDUCATION =-
For years, people have asked how to register a JDM vehicle, and people have always responded with "don't ask, don't tell", why? Because its an ILLEGAL hookup at the port, either through Customs, EPA or DOT itself. There is no other explanation people, PERIOD. Shit is difficult to fool these agencies.
I can break it down with the following ...
If the imported car (JDM) is:
A) Here in US, but not registered = Customs hookup
B) Here in US, with registration (under JDM VIN) = DOT hookup and OVERLOOKED or HOOKED UP by EPA.
C) Here in US, registered w/ US VIN = Might have been "VIN swapped" and masked as a US vehicle <-- Federal crime and you could be possibly jailed.
If the vehicle falls under B, you can call the Feds (i.e. Customs, or DOT or even EPA) and report it, car will be seized IMMEDIATELY.
If the vehicle falls under A, you're best bet and most legal way is part out and make out like a bandit.
If the vehicle falls under C, you're breaking the law, but if you did a good job, very difficult to prove its legality, especially if you get paperwork from police agencies like here CA by the CHP.
Don't even think about importing cars less than 25 years old, unless to sell it for parts (engine and tranny COMPLETELY removed). Make sure its disassembled. If you bring it to track it, make sure its gutted and ready for off-road racing (roll cage, gutted, etc).
State registration is seperate from DOT/EPA regulation and each state can practically register what they want, but it doesn't make it FEDERALLY LEGAL. If anything, DMV asks for an "Import Certificate" when registering the vehicle, if people registered it through DMV, there are TWO possiblities:
A) DMV has LAZY staff
B) DMV Insider helped you out
Quite frankly, most agencies DO NOT sync this information and hardly communicate with each other, so each department will tell you different things when trying to find out the legalities of importation.
Q: WHAT IF I FIND THE PERFECT RARE VEHICLE?
A: Make sure its 15 years of age and import it directly to Canada (have a friend receive it) and store it for the remainder (25 years), then import it to the USA. You're good.
Quite frankly, too long and costly if you ask me, but if you're rich, go for it.
Q: CAN I IMPORT IT AS A KIT CAR?
A: Gray area when importing it completely disassembled and re-assembling here in the US, GRAY AREA. That means that its a shot in the dark and most likely, will be seized and AUCTIONED OFF by Customs. DON'T DO IT.
For years, people have asked how to register a JDM vehicle, and people have always responded with "don't ask, don't tell", why? Because its an ILLEGAL hookup at the port, either through Customs, EPA or DOT itself. There is no other explanation people, PERIOD. Shit is difficult to fool these agencies.
I can break it down with the following ...
If the imported car (JDM) is:
A) Here in US, but not registered = Customs hookup
B) Here in US, with registration (under JDM VIN) = DOT hookup and OVERLOOKED or HOOKED UP by EPA.
C) Here in US, registered w/ US VIN = Might have been "VIN swapped" and masked as a US vehicle <-- Federal crime and you could be possibly jailed.
If the vehicle falls under B, you can call the Feds (i.e. Customs, or DOT or even EPA) and report it, car will be seized IMMEDIATELY.
If the vehicle falls under A, you're best bet and most legal way is part out and make out like a bandit.
If the vehicle falls under C, you're breaking the law, but if you did a good job, very difficult to prove its legality, especially if you get paperwork from police agencies like here CA by the CHP.
Don't even think about importing cars less than 25 years old, unless to sell it for parts (engine and tranny COMPLETELY removed). Make sure its disassembled. If you bring it to track it, make sure its gutted and ready for off-road racing (roll cage, gutted, etc).
State registration is seperate from DOT/EPA regulation and each state can practically register what they want, but it doesn't make it FEDERALLY LEGAL. If anything, DMV asks for an "Import Certificate" when registering the vehicle, if people registered it through DMV, there are TWO possiblities:
A) DMV has LAZY staff
B) DMV Insider helped you out
Quite frankly, most agencies DO NOT sync this information and hardly communicate with each other, so each department will tell you different things when trying to find out the legalities of importation.
Q: WHAT IF I FIND THE PERFECT RARE VEHICLE?
A: Make sure its 15 years of age and import it directly to Canada (have a friend receive it) and store it for the remainder (25 years), then import it to the USA. You're good.
Quite frankly, too long and costly if you ask me, but if you're rich, go for it.
Q: CAN I IMPORT IT AS A KIT CAR?
A: Gray area when importing it completely disassembled and re-assembling here in the US, GRAY AREA. That means that its a shot in the dark and most likely, will be seized and AUCTIONED OFF by Customs. DON'T DO IT.
back on topic. there doesn't seem to be a single speck of dust on that soarer. hahah, fantastic.
Last edited by GD3_Wagoon; Sep 23, 2010 at 12:42 PM.
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,888
From: Parañaque City, Philippines
To the untrained eye, at a first glance, it just looks like another ubiquitous and uninteresting boxy looking Japanese car from the late 1980s and early 1990s. It doesn't look like anything that is remotely high-performance. It looks like a Toyota Cressida in a coupe body style. 
Nice link Sid. That Soarer looks immaculate, and with the five-speed self-shifter too.
New Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2
Im not too educated about this vehicle, but if the engine in it is the same as the supras sold in the united states, what would be so hard about importing the vehicle? Customs agents basically care about polution and environmental issues so if the vehicle literally produces the same numbers as one that was already sold in the US what is the big deal?
I would think it would be as hard as getting the engine to pass smog regulations bada bing.
Just looking to further educate myself is all.
I would think it would be as hard as getting the engine to pass smog regulations bada bing.
Just looking to further educate myself is all.
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,888
From: Parañaque City, Philippines
Im not too educated about this vehicle, but if the engine in it is the same as the supras sold in the united states, what would be so hard about importing the vehicle? Customs agents basically care about polution and environmental issues so if the vehicle literally produces the same numbers as one that was already sold in the US what is the big deal?
I would think it would be as hard as getting the engine to pass smog regulations bada bing.
Just looking to further educate myself is all.
I would think it would be as hard as getting the engine to pass smog regulations bada bing.
Just looking to further educate myself is all.
I'm looking at US and JDM AE86s (roughly the same era as this Soarer) and the US ones have noticeably longer bumpers.
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