Japan’s compact kei cars receive retro body conversions that transform them into various models such as classic Chevy trucks or vintage Ford panel vans. These conversions are executed with great taste, garnering interest from many Americans eager to import a miniaturized replica. However, caution is advised: Purchasing a tribute vehicle that bears a striking resemblance to its inspiration could result in interception and destruction by U.S. Customs.
A 1996 Subaru Sambar van, modified to mimic a classic Type 1 VW bus, recently faced this unfortunate fate. The account was shared with The Drive by American importer Tyler Barg. He elaborated on his endeavors to save the van from destruction after it was apprehended and serves as a cautionary tale for others. Attempts to contact VW for their perspective remain unanswered.
Under his company Tiki Bunny Imports, Barg assists individuals in shipping their dream kei cars to the U.S. The chain of events for the Subaru commenced in early 2021 when a friend sought help in locating a VW bus replica. After a brief search, Barg discovered the ideal van: a ‘96 Sambar with merely 53,000 miles, a rare multi-panel sunroof, and a genuine VW Type 1 body conversion—complete with a prominent VW emblem. Moreover, it was adorned in the client’s preferred color scheme.
Barg and his wife pooled resources to acquire the van, a risky move on his part. Despite successfully exporting it from Japan, trouble brewed upon arrival at the Port of Baltimore. The following events took a tragic turn.
Barg then located a more cooperative contact from the car manufacturer. They recommended he submit a bond proposal with legal consequences. The bond proposal suggested Barg would obliterate the VW emblem, present evidence of doing so, and then restore the Subaru with its original bodywork while still at the customs facility.
“I realized from the start that this would be a challenging endeavor,” Barg shared with us. However, he believed this logical approach might succeed. As he emphasized, “The only tangible alteration to the van is the lone front panel. The rest has been repainted and reupholstered, yes, but none of it impacts VW’s trademark.” By reversing the prominent branding, he thought he would be addressing the automaker’s concerns. Unfortunately, this plan did not yield any results. He received no response from VW’s legal team, and U.S. Customs ultimately rejected his petition in July 2022, stating that unless a costly legal battle ensued, the van would be “disposed of as per governing protocols.”
Following the cessation of communications, Barg’s optimism faded. The Subaru was never returned to him. To his knowledge, it has departed to the celestial stars. He is unsure if it was crushed outright or rendered inoperable and dismantled, but it is no longer in his possession. He and his spouse have lost nearly $9,500, and he has decided not to invest more time or money dwelling on it.
Berg expressed remorse for disappointing the friend for whom he had sourced the van, although he has successfully brought in a similarly retro Nissan Pao as a replacement. “Naturally, my unfortunate friend for whom this van was intended was patiently waiting, anticipating the opportunity to own something charming, eccentric, and remarkable, as it suits her perfectly,” he added. “I am still haunted by the fact that it didn’t work out and we had to abandon the kei van route.”
The replacement Nissan Pao, which arrived without a hitch.
After conversing with others in the import industry, Barg mentioned he had heard of several instances of confiscation of “tribute kit” like this. Evidently, the most effective way to avoid interception at customs or more severe legal issues is to have body conversions stripped of badges before shipping. Despite VW’s argument that the van’s design violated their trademark, customs might not have flagged it without the conspicuous, recognizable badge. However, this is far from guaranteed, and Barg has been informed by at least one other importer whose de-badged vehicle was seized. He later discovered that VW could have also pursued damages up to half the van’s value; almost $5,000 in his case.
Despite all the challenges, Barg is simply grateful that it’s all behind him. He incurred financial losses and did not acquire the van, but the situation could have been worse. “I have made peace with it,” he remarked. “The sacrifice may hopefully prevent others from facing a similar fate. If it benefits even one person? It was worth it.”
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