House, please there is this argument I have with one of my colleagues. He said that there was never a single 1997 to 2003 toyota camry that was ever sold as brand new (tear rubber) in Nigeria. He said that no car dealer in Nigeria ever sold any these year models as brand new (not even toyota, elizade, etc): that all of these years models driven in this country were all imported as used cars.

To me, this is not true. So please does any one have a proof that supports that some of the 1997 to 2003 models were actually bought brand new within the shores of this country: I would like to know

1997- 2003. This period covers two generations of camrys

1997-1999 : "Pencil light"; 2000-2001: "curve light" (facelift): To the best of my knowledge as a car enthusiast of many years, I am 98 percent sure that brand new of these models were NEVER sold in Nigeria. Some people however may have bought their's in US and shipped them to Nigeria, but believe me, in year 2000, 2001, the latest model camry that was MOST COMMON on the streets of Lagos and arguably, Nigeria, was the 1993, 1994 model (orobo), even the 1996 model was very very much a rarity (I never saw one till around 2003).

2002-2006: "Big for nothing" : I am 100 percent sure that brand new of these models were sold in Nigeria, from 2004, or maybe, possibly late 2003. Most of the units sold were of the XLE trim level I believe (many spokes alloy wheels, rear AC vent, digital AC controls, leather seats etc), although, like the 2007 upwards XLE trim models sold brand new in Nigeria, you'll HARDLY EVER, in short, arguably NEVER find the XLE emblem anywhere on the car, and also I think they all came with 4 cylinder 2.4 litre engines only (same as the 2007 model upwards sold in Nigeria too by Elizade and all the top notch dealers)

I stand to be corrected.

Can confirm to you that the 1997 to 2001 models (pencil light and big lights) were sold brand new in Nigeria

most people that i know bought them have sold it off

but two companys that I can remember bought them well were

1. Chevron
2. Glo, ETB, Conoil (some of the 2001 models still exist in their fleet today)