I'm a small car fanatic and ever since I've been going to Italy I've wanted a Fiat 500. I've finally gotten around to getting serious about it and all the 500's I'm seeing in the US are IMO way overpriced. I'm familiar with the import laws regarding cars and was wondering if anyone out there has experience with doing such a thing or if they can recommend companies to deal with...mille grazie

I've shipped my car back and forth to NL. Since you are familiar with the import laws, basically all you need do is make arrangements with a freight forwarder and then drive your car to the dock the day before the ship leaves. There are some details that your freight forwarder will advise you on. Search the internet for first hand anecdotal stories in addition to reading all the official stuff.

If you're familiar with the import laws I assume you know how different european versions of cars often are from the US import version.

Are you planning on buying a car already adapted to US standards? Or will you do that here? A friend of a friend tried to do the former - and the dealer did not comply with all the regs - making a mess when he went to have the car inspected/registered here.

If you are as familiar with the import laws as well as the costs of ensuring you get a vehicle that meets US emissions and other standards you may find that those cars you've seen for sale in the Us aren't as "overpriced" as they would otherwise seem.

As an alternative you might try using the internet to find the car you want for sale in the US at some other location than the ones nearest you. Sometimes the prices elsewhere are cheaper enough to make going to pick up the car worthwhile...and a lot less hassle than shipping one from Italy might otherwise be.

As a follow-on..what with the Euro-Dollar exchange rate being what it is..have you even priced the car you want in Italy yet?

Fiat 500s are awesome little cars.

Since you are familiar with the laws this may be restating what you know but:
Here is what I remember
#1) You will need the services of a Registered Auto Importer (The government has a list of approved registered importers (either the D.O.T. or EPA, I don't remember). This would be in addition to the services of a freight forwarder .
#2) What you can import:
EPA requirement on imports drop a certain number of years after manufacture (20, maybe 15). Any local emmission checks for your tags are of course still in effect based on age.
D.O.T. requirements (and age exemptions) are murky. I have heard that the big dollar risks with the DOT are the bumpers and steering column. 5 MPH bumpers became law in the mid 70's (I believe October 1974).

Your first goal will be to PROVE the date of manufacture of the vehicle (I have heard of people spending several hundred dollars for certified/ notarized (whatever) translations of ownership documents).

Once you prove the date of manufacture, the registered importer fills out import forms (the same forms as to bring in a new Mercedes). There are locations on the form for claiming the appropriate exemptions.

I have a 1976 Fiat and have thought about importing a Innocenti (mini cooper), Fiat 130 or something else (there are Morettis, Fissores, Siatas and on ....)

My recommendation: do some homework and start with a 1973 or earlier. There is a rear engine Fiat specialist named Chris Obert (C. Obert and Co. on the web, California). He might be able to give you a phone number or some other info.
Also look at mirafiori.com (mirafiori means something special to us Fiat nuts).

I hope that this info dump is helpful.

Mention of DOT brings to mond the question of the windshield and maybe the other windows, and seatbelts.

Auto insurance may be another issue once the car is landed and buongiorno tries to register it.