Moving to Switzerland

[thirsty]

I am moving from the USA to Switzerland this summer and would love to get another TVR. I had to give mine up when I left the UK in 2003. Does anyone know if you can take them there? Importing problems etc?

I would love to take Cerbie or even a T350.

[97octane]

I thought the Griffith was banned in Switzerland when first produced because of the noise levels, not sure about other Tivs tho

[Johan G]

There is a company who sell TVR in Switzerland. I found them through the dealer locator in the official TVR website, so I guess they sell new TVRs.

www.tge.ch

\ Johan

[Andy_CH]

Hi Larry

Happy to hear that you will move to Switzerland… you will see, it’s a wonderful country to live. Unfortunately I have no clue about the import regulations of cars in Switzerland. But as I regularly check the TVR cars for sale I can confirm that there are some Griffs around. But they are very, very rare. I bought myself a V8S model some months ago and try to get to know the TVR scene in Switzerland. There is the dealer www.tge.ch but I’m not sure if he’s still doing business. At least the homepage appears a little “static”… On the other hand we do have a TVR Car Club (www.tvr-swiss.ch) but I’m not yet a member.

If ever you are settled in Switzerland give me a short message and it will be a pleasure to meet you. Of course as well if you need any other information about Switzerland or Swiss people….

Cheers
Andy

[Mustang Baz]

thirsty said:

I am moving from the USA to Switzerland this summer and would love to get another TVR. I had to give mine up when I left the UK in 2003. Does anyone know if you can take them there? Importing problems etc?

I looked into this when facing a similar Swiss relo last year. A couple of things in the early stages which put me off were the noise restrictions which I was led to believe were in place (92 db?), and also the proximity of the nearest servicing option - which would have been Nice for a TVR specialist. I also remember speaking to folk in Switzerland saying that one could import a UK plated car for a max of 12 mths, but this was uncorroborated.

Another couple of options - a PH member, Avalanche, lives in Switzerland if I remember rightly and has a Tuscan so would be perhaps the best port of call. In addition, I dug out this old post which may have some useful nuggets...

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=55529&f=5&h=0&hw=switzerland

A final idea; as you are in the US, buy a new Mustang, own it for the next 6 mths before you move back, and then import the LHD into Switzerland (via the UK) without import duties. Not a TVR at all...but still a lot more fun than a eurobox.

P.S Larry - where are you in CA? I moved back from San Francisco last yr after 6 yrs there and brought the Mustang back with me

>> Edited by Mustang Baz on Friday 27th January 12:43

[soapbox]

I was in Zurich this week and saw a Griff & a Chim, both with Swiss plates, left hand drive etc. Both parked so could not comment on the noise

[Notanutter]

Andy_CH said:

I regularly check the TVR cars for sale I can confirm that there are some Griffs around. But they are very, very rare. There is the dealer www.tge.ch but I’m not sure if he’s still doing business. At least the homepage appears a little “static”… On the other hand we do have a TVR Car Club (www.tvr-swiss.ch) but I’m not yet a member. Cheers Andy

Hi Andy:
I lived in Switzerland in the 70's/80's and imported a LHD Taimar, drove it with Swiss plates for about 6 years and I believe it's now in the Geneva area, Chassis # 4319FM, burgundy with oatmeal (beige) leather interior - any idea if a car of that description is still around ?

[brem]

there are possibilities to get a TVR in Switzerland. 1. Get a used one (Chimaera or Griffith) both available in LHD or a used Cerbera but they never were produced in LHD. Few were converted but hard to find and expensive. 2. Bring one with you as moving-good from UK. You have to drive the car half a year in UK and then it's no problem to bring it to Switzerland. 3. As TVR is working on Euro4 it will be possible to get a new one in the near future. T350 is not available in LHD. Tuscan MKII is build as LHD.
Peter

[gun metal]

Contact infinity, his brother lives there, he knew all about it.

[thirsty]

Thanks for the info. I have been trying to do some research (serious language issues !) over the past few days, and did find a Griff and Tuscan for sale. They were very expensive however.

After reading some of your threads, it looks like a TVR just may be too impractical. A shame really because I really did like my Chim. Getting something here (in Los Angeles) and shipping it over sounds like a good idea. A Mustang GT or Corvette may be the way to go.

Thanks for advice and links !!

[elisek]

TGE is not able to register no more TVR in swissland.

We are going to register the first TUSCAN S in these days.

An mk2 version.

We will be able to register all the models after that!

i'm from ukgarage in Milano
www.ukgarage.it

if you want we can help you.

[Guillotine]

there is quite a big TVR club north america.

buy one in the US and do a personal import??

[thirsty]

Guillotine said:

there is quite a big TVR club north america. buy one in the US and do a personal import??

I did try to bring my Chim over in 2003. When I contacted the car importers, they mostly laughed at me. There are some pre 80's TVRs around, but to my knowledge, no newer ones. I was told I could bring the car over for 364 days, but after that it would have to be on a boat headed back to the UK. I have spent the last two years looking for something to replace that car, but found that once you own a TVR, most other cars are just not the same.

Since my wife is a Brit, we still have an address, etc in the UK. Maybe I'll buy one there and take it over "for a few visits". The only problem is that it would be RHD, but maybe that's not such a big deal ......

[spalf]

I moved to switzerland and if you have owned the vechule for at least 6 months prior to the move they have to register it and you dont have to pay tax on the import