Illegally imported: This US imported Volkswagen Crossfox is the strangest thing i’ve seen all week
Importing cars into the United States that were never sold here is a tricky business. Numerous pieces of legislation regulate what can and cannot be registered here. The 25 year old rule, the most commonly used, allows for the importation of cars never sold here as long as they are over 25 years old. Other rules exist such as the “show and display” law and the similarity law, amongst others. These do allow for the legal importation of a lot of interesting older vehicles, but none of them allow the importation of the Latin America only Volkswagen Crossfox SUV. So how is this one here registered in the state of Texas?
Let’s start with a little overview. The Crossfox was introduced in 2005 and produced through the present day. It is based on the normal Volkswagen Fox hatchback but has been given a makeover by Volkswagen Do Brasil to be a mini SUV with a slightly higher ride height and more rugged looking exterior trim, although it still retains the standard Fox engine choices and front wheel drive. Of course, most importantly, the Crossfox is sold exclusively in Latin American markets and is not available in the U.S. or Europe. This presents an interesting situation for the Crossfox enthusiasts in these parts of the world. This Crossfox owner, however, hatched an idea to get their Crossfox fix in the States. They simply mistitled it.
After running a quick license plate scan it came back as a “1985 Volkswagen” and a further Vin scan revealed that it’s actually titled as a Golf 25th Anniversary Edition. This is, quite obviously, mistitled and is almost definitely illegal. I’m not sure what the consequences for this particular type of infraction would be, but i’ve seen illegally imported cars crushed in the past, so it likely would not be pretty. Whoever owns this Crossfox must really want it here to have gone through all this trouble.
On a side note, the 25 year import law is a bogus rule and should be reduced to 15 years, as is the case in Canada, but that’s a topic for another day.
So what do you guys think? Was it worth it? Put your hot takes in the comments below.
Comments
Not worth it.
Imagine getting caught with a parking violation that gives away the true identity of the car.
A simple plate check by an officer would automatically be a red flag because nothing comes up in their database. Then the owner would be in a world of hurt suffering the consequences.
Its really hoaky and wrong honestly. But I do agree that the import laws should lower the years to 15 like Canada.
Interesting find, although they weren’t exclusively sold in South America, I’ve seen Cross Foxes in Albania and Lebanon
Hello again lol
Huh, interesting, i’ll have to look into that. I was just going off the Wikipedia page.
25 year ban is bogus
Please mind your own business
Honestly, why is he trying to screw this guy?
I see these things everyday. The VIN is not illegal, that’s because some South American Cars aren’t identify in some VIN Decoders. The same happens with my Suran, which has the same chasis as this CrossFox.
Maybe bought it down in Mexico
Exactly.
That probably is the case
Yeah well the other thing is its not like any of these cars imported are much different emissions wise at all and if their not safe whatever, you think old american cars are safe at all?