Interpretation ID: nht91-2.4

DATE: February 27, 1991

FROM: Charles A. Schue, Jr.

TO: Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, DOT/NHTSA

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 3-25-91 from Paul Jackson Rice to Charles A. Schue, Jr. (VSA Sec. 108; Regs. 591)

TEXT:

Reference is made to your Guide for Complying With Regulations On Imported Motor Vehicles, DOT HS 807 144, Effective January 31, 1990.

I just received this guide from your office and was previously unaware of the one provision regarding purchase of the vehicle prior to November 1, 1988.

I have been working in Turkey continuously sine June, 1986. This employment has been with two separate United States Companies who are contracted to the U.S. Air Force on the Turkey Base Maintenance Contract.

In addition, I retired from the U.S. Army as a Warrant Officer Grade Three in 1974 after 27 years honorable service. I have not imported any other non-conforming vehicle in the past.

I purchased my present foreign made automobile on 15 May 1969 from an American employee of my present company who had previously purchased it from another American employee of the same company many years before.

Statistics of this automobile are:

1979, Mercedes, 300D, 423 Four Door, Red, SN: 42313010127393.

Request waiver of purchase date requirement outlined in your referenced guide. I plan to import this vehicle prior to October 31, 1992.

In the event this waiver cannot be granted, please inform me of other provisions under which I may request approval to import this vehicle into the U.S.A.