The Toyota Soarer was solely produced for the Japanese market, but models older than 25 years can be imported per the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act.
Soarer quickly became one of the most popular domestic models in the Japanese market.
Americans can legally import, own, and drive any foreign car they want so long as it is more than 25 years old, meaning enthusiasts of the Soarer can import any model made before 1997 per the
subdivision Lexus, but what exactly about the Soarer made it so special?
How did the Soarer get so popular?
Much of the Soarer’s popularity came from its relatively powerful engine while still being sleek and compact in design.
Japanese automobile manufacturers were beholden to strict size and emissions standards, and the Soarer was created as a compromise for well-to-do consumers who wanted a car that also delivered in terms of performance and style. The Soarer even outsold its rivals, such as the Nissan Leopard and the Mazda HB Cosmo, by a large margin.
After a decade of sales and two successive generations of the Soarer, Toyota launched the Soarer Z30, which was exported to the U.S. as the Lexus SC 300/400. The two models were nearly identical in body style and key components but had different interior features, performance enhancements, and powertrain configurations.
For collectors and enthusiasts looking to get their hands on a model similar to the Soarer, but would like something slightly newer, The Lexus SC series is your best bet.
Unlike previous iterations of the Soarer and Lexus SC, the SC430 and the Soarer 40 series were developed with a single shared design configuration. The Z40 Soarer and Lexus SC430 debuted in tandem in 2001 as a retractable hardtop convertible, a deviation from previous Soarer models.
The cars also came equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and electronic enhancements including GPS navigation and wireless internet connection capabilities.
As the popularity of Lexus rose overseas, Toyota eventually introduced the 2006 Lexus SC 430 TSOOH to Japan, marking the end of the Soarer’s production.
MORE: How to Buy Your First Collector Car
How to get a Toyota Soarer now
While importing a car certainly takes more work than getting a domestically-made collector vehicle, it can be worthwhile to enthusiasts of cars like the Soarer.
The 25-year import law was put in place to protect drivers from importing cars that could be potentially hazardous on American roads.
With some exemptions due to historical or technological significance, foreign cars also must abide by the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (1972), the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1966), the Importing Vehicle Safety Compliance Act (1988), and the Clean Air Act (1990).
Because of the distance needed to ship a Japanese-market car to the U.S., buyers also should calculate an extra few thousand dollars on top of the market price to bring the car overseas.
How to insure an imported car
Imported and collector cars generally come at a higher risk to insurers due to their specialized nature, so getting the right
can help. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding the cheapest quotes from the top name-brand insurance providers and buying new car insurance.
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