Buying at US classic auction and shipping back to UK: advice

[swindler]

So I'm thinking of a little 2018 adventure. Buying an old classic at one of the Big US auction houses like Mecum, something like a 50s ford thunderbird, driving down the Pacific coast highway for a bit then dropping it at long beach docks to ship it back to Southampton. The aim isn't to make money, but equally I wouldn't want to lose a bomb.

Anyone any advice? Especially regards:

Temporary registration and insurance in the US
Shipping within a one/two week notice period (any recommendations?)
State of the American classic car market a) in America and b) here

[SantaBarbara]

May be better to ship it from a east coast port which as a egular run to Liverpool

I go past Seaforth terminal at Liverpool regularly and there is quite a two way trade in vehicles
Range Rover products, London buses all sorts

[swindler]

I heard west coast is cheaper? I've not got quotes yet though

[SantaBarbara]

Maybe a regular trip for the big container ships which also have roll on roll off vehicle facilities

[SantaBarbara]

Look for Seaforth docks on Google street view, just off from the A565 and you may be able to see al the vehicles in the vehicle yard

[anonymous-user]

Prior to the pound taking a dive against the dollar, the general rule seemed to be that by the time you had the car in the UK, you'd pay the same figure in GBP that you do in USD.

E.g, if you buy a car for $10,000, you'll have paid £10,000 by the time it's here.

I suspect it's considerably more than that now!

[Saleen836]

For a decent classic in the US prices have risen massively, you will struggle to register a vehicle and IF you can insurance will also be astronomical