Chile Forum

I went through this in 1990, with an old junker Toyota (a beat up 2x4 version of yours), I drove down from Cali. Much better travels than using public transportion I might add.
Every Chilean I knew had an idea of how to get it legalized. Las "Movidas:. All bullshit, illegal. No AllChile.net back then either.
As I planned to stay in Chile for a long time, I didn't wan't to start off by doing something illegal.
I went through all the "Prorogas" (exrentions) they would give me. Several, all issued in Valpo.
The car was next to worthless by then so I just finally surrendered it to aduanas. After arranging the "surrender" I drove it to where I was renting and stripped it... of everything I possibly could. Shell, windows, seats...everything.
The next day I drove back to the airport, signed the surrender document, took out the battery, and the folding chair serving as a seat, and drove off with a buddy.
Customs agents were not amused, they had had other ideas, the dickheads.
That is an anecdote from 20 years ago. Yours has value. Good luck.
I would have driven mine back to Cali and avoided the hassles the long way, rediscovering the continent if I'd had the time.

So despite the odds, I found an American couple in Santiago who wanted a rugged vehicle like mine who wanted to make a similar trip in reverse. The California title and plates were an unexpected bonus for them, saving them countless complications at the borders and eliminating the need to import a vehicle once they arrive to the States.

There was however some confusion regarding the temporary importation paperwork, which eventually we got processed by a Señor Fuentes in the aduana in the Santiago airport. No need for any border runs to Argentina. It all worked out literally on our last day in Santiago before we flew home to California.

Thanks again for the advice (and the amusement).

so in the end, was it a 3.6 or 3.4 V6?

I just bought a 94 hilux, 4x4,
and had it completely rebuilt,
every part that was rotten, worn, or looked or smelled funny was replaced
and the nice thing was that it was all bloody cheap
all japanese spares, the labor
and I've found a new independent mechanic who actually answers his phone, shows up on time, and makes print outs of what he's done
when he delivers it to your house

360k km and not counting

regarding spares for grey market or non Chilean versions,
I once bought spares for my ex 4runner, and they came straight from the USA, via a brokering company that specializes in direct import of spares for 4x4s,
about 5 days from my order to the parts in my mechanics hands.