Finding A Corvette In Europe

[Cuban]

Anyone able to offer an insight into sourcing Corvettes from mainland Europe to bring into the UK?

Pitfalls / recommendations / contacts etc or is it better to import from the USA?

Doubt there is anything like the excellent American site 'Corvette Locator'?

[cheeky]

Cuban said:

Anyone able to offer an insight into sourcing Corvettes from mainland Europe to bring into the UK?

Pitfalls / recommendations / contacts etc or is it better to import from the USA?

Doubt there is anything like the excellent American site 'Corvette Locator'?

Peter at the importer based in Gloucester (can't remember its name) ought to be able to help. You may find him through PH or Autotrader if you don't know who I mean.

American Carriage say they can get one in 4 weeks but at a premium.

[c5ragtop]

Depends on what you are looking for.

I bought mine new from Opel Durkop in Germany (with the help of Peter Truchan who is mentioned above). The salesman was Frank Glaser ([e-mail]) who was very helpful and spoke English. The advantages were:

Full GM warranty
Frank accepted a UK bankers draft which, apparantly, is unusual in Germany.
He understood about German VAT and UK VAT - he waived the 16% German Vat so I wouldn't have to claim it back later.
The car was run in by the time we got it home

For used cars try searching mobile.de which is their equivalent of our Autotrader.

I'm not saying that Germany is any better than say France where there are a lot of Vettes or that the price is better than in the US - the US is probably cheaper.

If I can be of any help send me a PM with your home phone number and I can ring you but not untill after the CCCUK nationals this weekend, unless you're going too, Graham, in which case a beer or two should loosen my tongue..

Edited by c5ragtop on Thursday 22 June 20:35

[Cuban]

Thanks for those details guys which have already proved very useful.

Richard, sadly I am in France this weekend and can't join you at the Nationals, but I'd be grateful to catch
up some time to find out more from you.

Going to try and make Shoreham on the 30th if I can get away from work long enough - will you be there?

Anyone else got any experience / tales of joy or woe about importing from mainland Europe?

[franv8]

Germany seems a popular location to import GM stuff from - soem of the UK traders source cars fromt here regularly. I suspect it's got something to do with the US airbases over there.

[godzilla]

c5ragtop said:

Depends on what you are looking for.

I bought mine new from Opel Durkop in Germany (with the help of Peter Truchan who is mentioned above). The salesman was Frank Glaser ([e-mail]) who was very helpful and spoke English. The advantages were:

Full GM warranty
Frank accepted a UK bankers draft which, apparantly, is unusual in Germany.
He understood about German VAT and UK VAT - he waived the 16% German Vat so I wouldn't have to claim it back later.
The car was run in by the time we got it home

For used cars try searching mobile.de which is their equivalent of our Autotrader.

I'm not saying that Germany is any better than say France where there are a lot of Vettes or that the price is better than in the US - the US is probably cheaper.

Would that work for buying a Z06? I.e. would it be significantly cheaper than buying one here?

What about buying a second hand one over in Germany? Do you have to do anything other than adjust the lights for driving on the left? I presume an EU car doesn't require SVA and the displays are all switchable between units, although what about the speedo and handbook?

[c5ragtop]

godzilla said:

c5ragtop said:

Depends on what you are looking for.

I bought mine new from Opel Durkop in Germany (with the help of Peter Truchan who is mentioned above). The salesman was Frank Glaser ([e-mail]) who was very helpful and spoke English. The advantages were:

Full GM warranty
Frank accepted a UK bankers draft which, apparantly, is unusual in Germany.
He understood about German VAT and UK VAT - he waived the 16% German Vat so I wouldn't have to claim it back later.
The car was run in by the time we got it home

For used cars try searching mobile.de which is their equivalent of our Autotrader.

I'm not saying that Germany is any better than say France where there are a lot of Vettes or that the price is better than in the US - the US is probably cheaper.

Would that work for buying a Z06? I.e. would it be significantly cheaper than buying one here?

What about buying a second hand one over in Germany? Do you have to do anything other than adjust the lights for driving on the left? I presume an EU car doesn't require SVA and the displays are all switchable between units, although what about the speedo and handbook?

Don't know about Z06 pricing.

Any Euro spec Corvette will be switchable between MPH/KPH so all the instruments are ok for the UK. You are correct - no SVA is required. All you need to do is to change the headlights to UK lenses for the MOT - I have a US contact and GM part number if you need any.

The handbook will be in German!! but you can download an enlish version.

[godzilla]

Found one for 81k euros. About £57k. It's done 4000kms.

Does that sound like a good deal?

I'm still not sure about the speedo as that is an analogue dial. Will it not have km/h as the primary units?
Not a big deal to change I hope, but it would be worth knowing. It may entail a complete instrument binnacle change for all I know...

[mark387mw]

godzilla said:

I'm still not sure about the speedo as that is an analogue dial. Will it not have km/h as the primary units?
Not a big deal to change I hope, but it would be worth knowing. It may entail a complete instrument binnacle change for all I know...

The speedo should go up to 300 for Euro models and when you switch between kms and mph its the needle that adjusts, very gucci. On the HUD the digits will change.
HTH

[godzilla]

Cool! How many other cars can boast a 300mph speedo?! I'm sure it makes judging 20mph a bit more difficult, but it's worth it just to say to gullible people, look the Enzo's speedo stops at a mere 250mph, this one goes to 300...

[LuS1fer]

The US spec Vettes also can switch between metric an imperial.

[godzilla]

LuS1fer said:

The US spec Vettes also can switch between metric an imperial.

Yeah, but I doubt their digits go up to 300! It's the ultimate Spinal Tap accessory.

[vetteheadracer]

I can confirm the US Spec C5 Z06 only goes to 200MPH which is a pathetic 124MPH when converted to KM/H. The HUD goes back to 00 once past 200 MPH and the speedo just sticks at 200 if on KM/H.

(Proved on a private test track before anyone asks).

[eurovettes]

I have sourced Vettes from Europe in the past and can advise / help - drop me an email for your specifi needs/ wants / desires (car related only!!!!)
be aware that European cars can have some HARD/ FAST miles on them - and the sellers are not always as honest as you might want.

cheers
Keith

[godzilla]

Picking up my new Z06 on Wednesday from near Hanover! Back in a black Vette after many years!

Any advice on what I need to do paperwork-wise on bringing it back Keith?

It will have German export plates and I've checked it will have a certificate of conformity.
But do I have to "declare" it on the Eurotunnel?
Are there any formalities that need to be completed before boarding the train, or is it just registering it at a local VRO within 14 days of bringing it in?

Also, who do you Z06 owners recommend for servicing? I will, in time, be modifying it and don't know any reputable LS6-experienced tuners out here.

Thanks in advance, David Yu

[GO55 USA]

godzilla said:

Picking up my new Z06 on Wednesday from near Hanover! Back in a black Vette after many years!

Any advice on what I need to do paperwork-wise on bringing it back Keith?

It will have German export plates and I've checked it will have a certificate of conformity.
But do I have to "declare" it on the Eurotunnel?
Are there any formalities that need to be completed before boarding the train, or is it just registering it at a local VRO within 14 days of bringing it in?

Also, who do you Z06 owners recommend for servicing? I will, in time, be modifying it and don't know any reputable LS6-experienced tuners out here.

Thanks in advance, David Yu

Congratulations David
I remember you from the ACC days when I was there!!!
In able to register your new ZO6 you will also need a certificate of mutual recognition
as the certificate of conformity only applies to driving on the right hand side of the road
(check out the small print on it)
Feel free to contact me if I can be of any assistance to you in this or any other matter.

Ian

[godzilla]

Thanks Ian, I may well give you a call tomorrow!

I know they recommend 500 miles run-in. I presume it is best to then change the oil before using it "properly"? I want to sample it on track as soon as possible and it will have done 500 miles by the time I get it home...

[godzilla]

Cuban said:

Anyone able to offer an insight into sourcing Corvettes from mainland Europe to bring into the UK?

Pitfalls / recommendations / contacts etc or is it better to import from the USA?

Doubt there is anything like the excellent American site 'Corvette Locator'?

BTW to answer your original question, I had a look on www.mobile.de which is the German auto-trader. It's fairly easy to use and anything you're not sure about you can try translating through Babelfish.

I will hold back on commenting on how easy the whole transaction is until I have safely returned the Z06, properly registered in the UK!

[c5ragtop]

godzilla said:

Picking up my new Z06 on Wednesday from near Hanover! Back in a black Vette after many years!

Any advice on what I need to do paperwork-wise on bringing it back Keith?

It will have German export plates and I've checked it will have a certificate of conformity.
But do I have to "declare" it on the Eurotunnel?
Are there any formalities that need to be completed before boarding the train, or is it just registering it at a local VRO within 14 days of bringing it in?

Also, who do you Z06 owners recommend for servicing? I will, in time, be modifying it and don't know any reputable LS6-experienced tuners out here.

Thanks in advance, David Yu

You shouldn't have a problem.

I put my UK registration plates on mine in Germany at the dealer and then drove it back. The plate was on retention so I figured the car could be traced back to me if needed. At Dover the car looked like a UK car (with no tax disc) so I had no problem.
All I needed to register it was a Certificate of Conformity but I recall that it was important it was stamped - I don't know by who, as American Dreams helped me out. I also had to prove I'd paid the UK VAT. I assume you are not paying any German tax - you cannot avoid UK VAT by paying German tax so be careful or you will pay both, until you can claim back the German tax - it can be avoided.
I don't know about the other form Ian Goss mentioned - this could be new or for US imports but he is the expert.

[godzilla]

c5ragtop said:

godzilla said:

Picking up my new Z06 on Wednesday from near Hanover! Back in a black Vette after many years!

Any advice on what I need to do paperwork-wise on bringing it back Keith?

It will have German export plates and I've checked it will have a certificate of conformity.
But do I have to "declare" it on the Eurotunnel?
Are there any formalities that need to be completed before boarding the train, or is it just registering it at a local VRO within 14 days of bringing it in?

Also, who do you Z06 owners recommend for servicing? I will, in time, be modifying it and don't know any reputable LS6-experienced tuners out here.

Thanks in advance, David Yu

You shouldn't have a problem.

I put my UK registration plates on mine in Germany at the dealer and then drove it back. The plate was on retention so I figured the car could be traced back to me if needed. At Dover the car looked like a UK car (with no tax disc) so I had no problem.
All I needed to register it was a Certificate of Conformity but I recall that it was important it was stamped - I don't know by who, as American Dreams helped me out. I also had to prove I'd paid the UK VAT. I assume you are not paying any German tax - you cannot avoid UK VAT by paying German tax so be careful or you will pay both, until you can claim back the German tax - it can be avoided.
I don't know about the other form Ian Goss mentioned - this could be new or for US imports but he is the expert.

Bugger! I've paid the German tax paid price. I mistakenly thought that as long as tax was paid in the EU it didn't matter where...

Any idea what forms I'll need to claim it back?

And where and when am I going to have to pay the UK VAT?