Importing a car - what will it cost?

[slf2012]

I am thinking about buying an old Lotus single seater racing car from the US, and wondered about the costs of importing it in to the UK.

I'm more worried about the import tax and VAT rather than the paperwork costs.

If I understand it correctly, I can import a used car free of VAT if it can be proved that VAT was paid on the original purchase price, but as the car has been built by, and then sold on by, Lotus, that might not be possible.

Can anyone offer an opinion on what costs might transpire at time of importation?

Many thanks in advance.