what car to export to USA from UK that is 25 years old plus
what car to export to USA from UK that is 25 years old plus
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Discussion

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th June
quotequote all
Hi, Emigrated to the USA, I have some UK items left, not sure whether to abandon them or get a 20ft container and add a car, plus my stuff.................with the rather ambitious hope of the car that i import covers most or even all of the container cost ................. so it needs to be something that wasnt sold over there that will be interesting enough to command a premium...................I was thinking Rare land rover, Lotus, TVR, Noble.............2001 and before only (yes 2001 was 25 years ago lol).
Yep this is a 2008 so no good.
Budget also about 15k pounds.
Any ideas please? A few years ago I might have had a clue myself, but six kids later, I'm out of the loop on prices and what the cousins might want.
Maybe a cheaper Aston Martin Vantage?

Trev450

6,718 posts

199 months

Wednesday 24th June
quotequote all
I was going to suggest an Evo 6 RS or Makinen until I saw your budget.

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th June
quotequote all

not interesting!
The smart roadster coupe was never sold there, could get a couple in!

_Rodders_

2,778 posts

46 months

Wednesday 24th June
quotequote all
Were Nobles not sold over there as Rossions?

TVR Sagaris was the first thing that came to mind although you'd be waiting a couple of years. Can they be imported and then stored before being registered over there.

Edited by _Rodders_ on Thursday 25th June 12:36

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th June
quotequote all
Sagaris would be good, over budget i assume, but would definitely sell, I could push the budget if necessary.

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th June
quotequote all

in budget, but doubtful its gonna sell on with margin

anyway.....over to you.
Lotus Elise seems most likely ATM

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th June
quotequote all

no margin here

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th June
quotequote all
A couple of MGFs would be well within budget, one on an angle ramps. trophy models maybe.
Have bid on a Lotus Elise, but expectation it will go up much higher.
https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/buying-guides/b...


These have aged very nicely IMO.
I need to buy in the next three days.

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Wednesday 24th June
quotequote all
Hmmmm this does tick a lot of boxes, get a couple well within budget, fairly despised over here, lot of love for MG over there, actually very good cars, plentiful and nearby to me. dont rust much, I like them.

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Thursday 25th June
quotequote all
Still open to other ideas.
Still high bidder on the Elise, but i know how these things work, that is meaningless until the end (tomorrow).
The MGF was never homologated for the US market, corporate madness, would have sold like hotcakes over there, especially with the hydragas suspension on the F.

_Rodders_

2,778 posts

46 months

Thursday 25th June
quotequote all
They never got the RS6 Avant. The oldest ones are 25 next year.

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Thursday 25th June
quotequote all
thanks for suggestions.
I like the 200ZX, i drove in one as passenger when they first came out, as Nissan did a design study using the same platform but for a retro concept car where I was working in Leamington Spa. I cant see a margin there. My red haired Mrs will kill me for the sixth time if this scheme backfires.
Had a look at old school minis, but again, not seeing a margin.

The Audi does not appeal, I doubt Americans are nostalgic about such money pits, although this opinion is not based on any facts lol.
Maybe land rovers, but they are likely also margin-less. A Kenya safari style long wheelbase with loads of seats would quite appeal to me as well. (70s>80s era.

bangerhoarder

776 posts

95 months

Thursday 25th June
quotequote all
Send a PT Cruiser back.

No margin at all, but they then have it and we don’t. Bonus points if it has had chrome trim stuck on.

More seriously, MGB?

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Thursday 25th June
quotequote all
bangerhoarder said:
Send a PT Cruiser back.

No margin at all, but they then have it and we don t. Bonus points if it has had chrome trim stuck on.

More seriously, MGB?
MGBs are ten a penny over there, so no margin.
I found a nice kit car. and some quite juicy other candidates.















Super Sonic

13,520 posts

81 months

Thursday 25th June
quotequote all
Civic type R (ep3)

geeman237

1,350 posts

212 months

Saturday 27th June
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To stand a good chance of any sort of profit it needs to be LHD. Try searching Bring A Trailer results for RHD cars to get a feel for the market. My thoughts are the market ignores what you paid to get the car imported, that’s on you but don’t expect to factor recouping it all.
I don’t see anything being worthwhile in your budget.
But good luck.

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

geeman237 said:
To stand a good chance of any sort of profit it needs to be LHD. Try searching Bring A Trailer results for RHD cars to get a feel for the market. My thoughts are the market ignores what you paid to get the car imported, that s on you but don t expect to factor recouping it all.
I don t see anything being worthwhile in your budget.
But good luck.
This sums up the equation perfectly.
I did begin with a LHD search string then drifted away when the results were poor.
I believe that only things that are cool as RHD can work.
Have shortlisted, obscure Japanese stuff, British stuff inc. kit cars, MGFs and Land Rovers.
I've chucked my stuff (mostly low value) in the double garages, and will solve the next step on a another visit, or maybe cut my losses.
Nissan Figaro, microvans, Daihatsu Copen looks good too.
So, in summary, I need to research both sides of deal (i.e. selling) to see what meets the gearing. Also there are funny rules about selling cars and being a dealer so that's also a risk.

Edited by Hugh Jarse on Monday 29th June 15:29

Hugh Jarse

Original Poster:

3,574 posts

232 months

Thanks for all replies, will update in due course.