Saw a HILUX VIGO

Full floating axles, 8-bolt hubs, pull handles on the doors. That's a SOCOM Hilux with Michigan manufacturer's plates.

You can't easily import anything they don't sell (like Hilux) here until it's 25 years old and that's under a collectors exemption. Military personnel don't get anything special in that regard.

Customs does care, too.

https://www.roverparts.com/News/archive/IllegalLandRoverDefendersGetCrushed.cfm

 

https://jalopnik.com/check-out-this-militarized-toyota-hilux-and-its-weird-d-1827895909

 

Federally, it must be 25 years old but certain states have certain restrictions.

 

The reason for the manufacturer plates is likely because a competitor, Ford or Chevrolet purchased it.
They do buy the competition's motor vehicle to have there engineers drive them.
This way they can take ideas and make better, or more user friendly or more desirable products.
The 2018 Chevrolet Colorado is now sold equipped with a 3" lift, Why?
Prolly cause that's what the customers want!

 

Not to high jack a thread, but thought you'd all like this photo of a Hilux Trans. I do work for a company called AWTEC out of Michigan and they have all the transmissions they work on in the lobby.

 

Manufacture Plate, common in these parts on vehicles from all over the world.

 

True military is not exempt. Had a Mazda miata enos roadster purchased in Japan. Tried bringing it home when got stationed states side. CA crushed it.

 

CA...the land of tolerance...

 

I have seen quite a few Luxes around San Diego along with a few 85-95 doublecabs (never sold in the USA).
Along with the little FWD Chevy and Nissan trucklets.
Couple of years ago I saw a Nissan Tsaru (old square Sentra that they built forever down there) with Mexican cab livery on it. It was in La Jolla, about 30 miles north of the border.
And I keep seeing this weird midsized Nissan van that is for sure not a US model with MX plates on it. I think the guy is an uber driver or something because I have seen that same one 3-4 times.

 

Yeah I have a friend who has a hilux


Lives in palos verdes and keeps his truck on USA side but registered it in Mexico

Years ago San Diego was the hotspot due to the proximity

These days you see tons of Baja plates vehicles all over CA

 

They still use the A340H? I thought that transmission was obsolete. When I did my 4WD conversion I was attempting to get a transfer case from a 1995 4Runner with the A340H and I assumed it would work since the A340F is in the same family. But it couldn’t because the driveshaft flange is on the wrong side.

Didn’t realize it was still a thing.

 

Might just be an old display...?