Elise S1 - Month of Manufacture

[CDNStig]

Good afternoon, I'm looking to import an S1 in to Canada. It has to be 15 years old or older to the month. Finding a 1996 is tough, let alone one at a dealer who can export one ... 1997's seem much more common. Does anyone know if the Month in which it was manufactured is stamped anywhere on the vehicle? ... needed to get through Canadian customs.
Thanks

[Scuffers]

Vin has the model year data (although that's technically not the build date)

[chieflief]

Be really careful. Whatever you do, make sure your "i"s are dotted and "t"s are crossed. And don't wear the wrong coloured shirt when you are at customs - they make the final decision. They will kindly ship the car back to the UK at your cost if something's not as it should be. I did an exhaustive amount of research, lucked out and found a very good 1996 example, and viewed it in person to check it out. Only after it cleared customs did I find out that it could have failed on a couple points.

[CDNStig]

Thanks Scuffers .. It's finding out the month of manufacture that's the issue. I suppose Lotus might be able to determine with the VIN.

Chief .. what problems do you think there were with your car getting through customs? I've bought cars out of Japan before, and it's been really quite simple as long as you have a bill of sale, the vehicle registration and proof that it is 15 years old or older to the month.

I was going to buy that customized '96 from Pure Lotus but they tell me it is sold.

[chieflief]

CDNStig said:

I've bought cars out of Japan before

You might know all there is to know if you already have some experience, although I don't know if the rules are different for cars from different markets.

Did you get my PM?

[srob]

OP, YHM

[truckassurus]

Not to Hijack the thread but I have the same question and would like to get the scoop on month of manufacture too. I'm after something that can hit the road in the spring so anything built prior to spring '98 seems doable. I've never imported a car before just Airstreams so any tips welcome. :-)

[chieflief]

truckassurus said:

I'm after something that can hit the road in the spring so anything built prior to spring '98 seems doable.

Do you mean spring 1997? 2012-15=1997?

[yonexsp]

Good luck finding a car. I have family and friends in the UK, some in the car trade. Finding a 96/97 any month is extremely difficult.

The thought of buying one sight unseen and trying to organise transport etc from across the pond will be a nightmare. If anyone says otherwise they have not tried it themselves with no assistance.

Legally a car needs to be registered to a UK address etc, even if sorn'ed. Insurance is required etc etc.

Best O'luck

[thegreenhell]

The only place I've ever seen a specific date of manufacture relating to an individual vehicle is on the certificate of conformity.

There is currently an S1 for sale in BC which claims to be the first and only road-legal S1 in Canada.

EDIT, I'm guessing the one in BC must belong to you, Chieflief?

Edited by thegreenhell on Wednesday 21st March 21:52

[BiffNotZeem]

You can request a 'Certificate of Vehicle Provenance' from Lotus. On the plus side, it contains a lot of information about the production of the car, including its date of manufacture. On the minus side, it costs GBP 35. I asked for additional research be done on my car for another GBP 10. If you are interested in this, contact Andy Graham at Lotus Cars.

This is the only way that I know of to determine the month of production for a given Elise S1.

Does Canada require the month to determine whether a car meets the 15 year rule? I hope to be importing a Lancia Delta HF4WD/Integrale* under the 25 year rule that we have in the US and was surprised to read (in US Customs and Border Patrol documents) that it is based on just the year of manufacture.

As far as shipping cars across the pond and the ease of doing so, I have not yet done it myself, but I know people with no shipping experience or UK contacts who have successfully brought cars into the US with no hassle. Canada can't be that much harder.

alan

• If anyone here knows anyone in the UK selling a Delta HF4WD or may be considering selling a 1988 model year Delta Integrale 8V next year, let me know.

[thegreenhell]

Canada is definitely by the month. More detailed info here:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safevehicles-im...

[BiffNotZeem]

That's too bad. At least you only have to wait 15 years up there!

alan

[yonexsp]

I had a family friend help me, who has been in the car trade 40 years. He has all the dealer insurance to go get the car, so wa able to drive it, inspect it, pay in cash to the seller. He is also converting to to LHD, as in QC you can't register a RHD car anymore.

The Brits are also super paranoid about Internet sales of cars now due to a rash of fraud there in the last year. There has been lots of TV news coverage about it recently over there. The old 'sell me your car, here is 25k for a $15k car' etc. None of the sellers I spoke to would deal unless it was in cash. That really woudl have been a bummer without local support. I know I woudl not be sending $20+k to the UK by Western Union etc.

Dealers maybe different, but the prices start get expensive for all the extra service you want.

My parents still live there, so I was able to register the car in my name at my family home, which is super useful. In addition my best friend owns one so was able to help with specifics for what to look for etc.

Also, my sister and her husband help scour the country to find a car along with the usual channels.

If I did not have this help I would not have attempted it. It's not like buying in the US, if only!

Good luck, lets u know how you get on. I'll be posting pics of my baby in May when she is on the road.

Congrats Chief, having an S1 is totally unique, and it is still a better handling car than the S2, and a real talking point. Your British racing green is sweet.

[yonexsp]

Shame this is a 99, perfect for export to Canada:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3757139.htm

[truckassurus]

Thanks for the great info, especially about the Certificate of Provenance, I'll give Lotus a call and see what the scoop is. I do have a bit of a leg up in that I have owned an S1 before (a 2000 registered as a 2001) in the UK so understand what I am dealing with and have family in the UK to help. I'm unclear whether I can import a car just less than 15 years and wait until it's 15th Birthday which would be ideal as I could strip and rebuild over the winter but I suspect the authorities won't be cool with the that. I'll keep gathering tips and see what works. I have found a couple of shipping companies and the quotes aren't terrible especially if I go in with a friend and bring 3 cars back in a 40' container. Alberta seems OK with RHD but I'll definitely switch my car to LHD which adds a bit of cost too. We're after the 6500 GBP to 9000 GBP cars as with access to full composite, welding, machine shop along with a paint bay we're hoping to get most of the refresh work taken car of ourselves and end up with some nice summer cars...

[chieflief]

truckassurus said:

I'm unclear whether I can import a car just less than 15 years

bring 3 cars back in a 40' container.

Thanks yonexsp. A few days of sun here has certainly made it all worthwhile! And there have been no disputes about it being the only one in Canada - at least so far...

Truckassurus, it absolutely MUST be 15 years old by the month. Fortunately mine left the factory on October 31st, 1996; it was officially imported October 5th (or so), 2011, no questions asked; they just looked at the paperwork. DO NOT make any mistakes in the importation process! They will send it back at your cost without you ever having laid eyes on it!

Finding cars is the trick. I know of several chaps here in Canada who 'have a plan'... although the market isn't huge, it probably will push prices up, even if it's just a little bit. I go back and forth on trying to assess value of mine here in the Canadian market. It's in such good shape, and a 1996 which qualifies it for collector plates and other benefits - I reckon $150K at least... :0

BTW I don't know which shipping company you spoke to about 3 cars in a 40' container. The company I spoke to said they won't do it as it wouldn't meet the minimum spacing requirements. Let us know how you get on!

[dustbuster]

Hi everyone,

I am currently living in London, UK and would like to bring an Elise back to Canada with me. I'll probably be heading back around the end of 2016.

CDNStig, how did your import go?

If you guys have any other tips or advice, it would be much appreciated!

Thanks.