The Toyota Chaser is Finally Enter The US

Car enthusiasts, rejoice! The JDM Toyota Chaser finally hit American land. If you are a fan of the Chaser, now you don’t need to wait,  you can legally import and drive the Toyota Chaser in the US with no fear!

The Story Of Toyota Chaser

The Toyota Chaser is a mid-size car produced by the renowned Japanese automaker – Toyota. The Chaser had a rich history dating back to 1977, although its production ended in 2001, the Chaser models still left the last impression on the JDM community. Because the Chaser shared the same chassis with the Mark II, Cresta, and Cressida, it also had another name called “triplet sedan” 

Over its six generations, the Chaser earned a reputation for its style, reliability, and powerful engine, especially it has become very famous in drifting events thanks to its rear-wheel-drive layout, and traditional front engine. Not only known in the drift community, the Chaser also appeared in games and TV series such as Gran Turismo 5, Gran Turismo 6, and Congo Flight… So why is Toyota Chaser so popular: 

• Powerful engine: When it comes to the Chaser, car enthusiasts will immediately think of the legendary engine 1G-GTEU or 1JZ-GTE which can easily handle much more power than 276hp. These engines provided an ideal platform for drift enthusiasts looking for a modifiable base car.
• Best-handling car: Owning responsive steering and a well-balanced chassis helped Chaser to provide an engaging driving experience and boasted excellent handling. 
• Drivetrain: The Toyota Chaser offered both all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive configurations, making it a versatile vehicle for all driving conditions. Additionally, the RWD helps drivers control during spirited driving or track days. 

That’s why the Toyota Chaser was one of the most sought-after 90s JDM cars among the car community worldwide. However, it’s not easy to get the Chaser If you don’t live in Japan. Not about its price but because of import rules in some countries. For example, if you want to get a Toyota Chaser JZX100 in the US in 2020, you can’t import it so why? 

Why Wasn’t The Toyota Chaser Available In The US Before? 

Before 2020, some Chaser models like X90 or X100 were never been brought outside of South East Asia and were never sold in the US for some reasons: 

• Like other JDM cars, the Toyota Chaser didn’t meet the Federal Motor Car Safety Standards (FMVSS), which are required to register a car on U.S. roads, and met stricter US emissions regulations without modifications that could have compromised performance or inflated the cost. 
• The second reason could be that Toyota already had its tactics. Back in the day, Toyota already had successful performance offerings in the US market, like the iconic Supra.  The Chaser, with some feature overlap, might have competed with the Supra for sales. 

These reasons have prevented the Toyota Chaser from the US garages for decades.

The Chaser is Finally Enter The US

If you are a gearhead, you know the Toyota Chaser was legally imported into the US in 2021 for all the models, particularly the sixth generation X100 (1996-2001). As we said most JDM cars do not meet the FMVSS to register a car on the US roads.

However, there is an exemption from this rule for any car that is 25 years old or older ( 25-year import rule), regardless of its origin. So, thanks to this rule, some specific versions of the Chaser became eligible for import into the US in September 2021. It means that now any Chaser fan in the US can experience driving this legendary car. 

The arrival of the Chaser in America was not simply to add another model to the car market, but it did enrich the JDM car culture in this market as well as satisfy the passion of American enthusiasts. While the initial wave of Chaser’s imports will likely be limited due to its availability and age, we can’t deny its impact on the JDM community in the US.

It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of well-engineered, driver-focused cars, and its presence is sure to inspire a new generation in American car culture. We can see that the Toyota Chaser’s arrival in the US is sure to be an exciting chapter in American automotive history.

Some Notes Before Importing A Toyota Chaser In The US

If you are going to import the Toyota Chaser to the US, there are several important considerations you need to know:

• Finding the suitable supplier: You have three different options you can execute. The first one is gonna be working directly with an exporter. The second method is to find the Chaser at a local dealership in Japan and the third one is going to be filtering through various auction pages. Remember that finding a suitable way to import your Chaser is very important and make sure you find trusted dealers to get the best quality Chaser. You can visit our website to learn more about the importing process and also refer to the variety of the Toyota Chaser in our stock. 
• Choose the right Toyota Chaser: The process of importing the Chaser can be complex due to its legalities. Make sure that your importer can navigate the process and help you find a Chaser that can meet US regulations. 
• Parts availability: As a non-US market car, finding replacement parts for the Chaser might be more challenging and potentially more expensive.

While importing a Toyota Chaser might be a little challenging, for those who pick one, it promises to be a thrilling addition to your garage and give you an exciting driving experience.

Hopefully, with all that information, you will get a Toyota Chaser for sale easily in the US this year!