Who can help me import a 944 from UK?

[PomBstard]

Melvynr said:

No worries dealing with Peter Vardy, they are great to deal with and have their fingers in lots of fires.Bought my GT3 with them who own Porsche Perth .

Thanks - that’s good to hear, although they’re not keen on providing info by email, which is tricky with an 11-hour time difference.

I’ve also been given a contact for inspections up that way too.

[PomBstard]

InitialDave said:

As well as the sourcing/inspection of the car, how are you set up for the importation on the Australian side of things? I understand they can be quite aggressive on things like having the car thoroughly cleaned/decontaminated, and guaranteeing there's no asbestos in any components etc.

There are many established players for this - I’m talking with a company called Iron Lady Imports, set up specifically to manage car movements between UK and Aus, and fitting in with their other companies - Iron Chef for Japan, and Iron Horse for US. Which amused me!

Quote has already been sourced and considering the work involved, it’s v reasonable.

[PomBstard]

LemonTart said:

I have used these guys just once but found them to be really on the ball.

https://www.porscheinspections.com/

The report allowed me to have a conversation about a few bits that the seller fully rectified so it probably paid for itself 5 times over.

Good luck

Thanks for the info. Have been in touch with these - v v helpful! Will definitely use them if a car is in their patch, and have provided a contact for Scotland too.

[Mikebentley]

Nothing to add Pom other than good luck and there is no better 944 colour than Zyclam.

[PomBstard]

Mikebentley said:

Nothing to add Pom other than good luck and there is no better 944 colour than Zyclam.

Its also a fairly rare colour over here. I just want something thats not white, grey or black. I missed out on an immaculate S2 a few years ago that was Guards Red with full black leather interior. I'd buy that car, if I could find it!

[Penguinracer]

Don't place a premium on an OPC 111-point inspection...

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-techni...

NZ authorities have zero tolerance for structural corrosion as above.

I'd narrow the search to turbo's only.

[garypotter]

FWIW before plunging into 911 ownership i had a pre purchase inspection by an independent specialist 9excellence but the vehicle had to be taken to them and left with them for the day. Worth every penny so i knew what i was getting into and what was required and thanks to the previous owner who took it there for me !!

[PomBstard]

Yep, inspection by independent, transaxle specialist only for me. Structural repairs are silly money anywhere in the world. My local specialist knows exactly where to look and how to get there, but they’re this side of the planet.

I’ll keep in mind all referred companies, though have been in touch with Porsche Inspections and they seem to know the cars well.

And yes, I think I need a Turbo!

Just looking at this one on AT - looks v clean with promise of lots of work done, interior is one off…

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110198...

[julian987R]

PomBstard said:

Yep, inspection by independent, transaxle specialist only for me. Structural repairs are silly money anywhere in the world. My local specialist knows exactly where to look and how to get there, but they’re this side of the planet.

I’ll keep in mind all referred companies, though have been in touch with Porsche Inspections and they seem to know the cars well.

And yes, I think I need a Turbo!

Just looking at this one on AT - looks v clean with promise of lots of work done, interior is one off…

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110198...

was that two tone interior a factory option? I am not convinced it was. could be a one off in terms of subsequent customisation, but not necessarily an original one off.

[PomBstard]

julian987R said:

could be a one off in terms of subsequent customisation

That would be my take on it - I know Porsche have some wacky colour schemes out there for interiors, but I don’t remember any being as strikingly two-tone as this. Can’t decide if I (a) like it (b) think it will grow on me (c) like it now but hate it later, or (d) think it looks crap with Guards Red.

It might look awesome or totally sh!te in the flesh and that’s an eye of the beholder thing… Challenging.

Looking at it more, I think its the two tone seats that jar the most - maybe if recovered in plain black, the dash and doors would look OK. Instruments need to go back to black too.

Porsche actually do know how to do this properly...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109247...

But at that price, it can stay in Glasgow.

Edited by PomBstard on Tuesday 1st February 23:30

[julian987R]

PomBstard said:

julian987R said:

could be a one off in terms of subsequent customisation

That would be my take on it - I know Porsche have some wacky colour schemes out there for interiors, but I don’t remember any being as strikingly two-tone as this. Can’t decide if I (a) like it (b) think it will grow on me (c) like it now but hate it later, or (d) think it looks crap with Guards Red.

It might look awesome or totally sh!te in the flesh and that’s an eye of the beholder thing… Challenging.

Looking at it more, I think its the two tone seats that jar the most - maybe if recovered in plain black, the dash and doors would look OK. Instruments need to go back to black too.

Porsche actually do know how to do this properly...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109247...

But at that price, it can stay in Glasgow.

Edited by PomBstard on Tuesday 1st February 23:30

yep that one is a punchy price but lovely looking....and that type of two tone i like, and is obviously original whereas the customised one i am not a fan of. You are going to all this trouble, at least get something bang on original i'd say.

[PomBstard]

julian987R said:

.and that type of two tone i like, and is obviously original

Yep, I'm a fan too - there's a 944S2 local to me that's got the same interior as the Glasgow 944T, albeit with the mid-blue metallic - looks fantastic. Helped by the fact its possibly the cleanest S2 on the planet...

[julian987R]

PomBstard said:

That would be my take on it - I know Porsche have some wacky colour schemes out there for interiors, but I don’t remember any being as strikingly two-tone as this. Can’t decide if I (a) like it (b) think it will grow on me (c) like it now but hate it later, or (d) think it looks crap with Guards Red.

It might look awesome or totally sh!te in the flesh and that’s an eye of the beholder thing… Challenging.

Looking at it more, I think its the two tone seats that jar the most - maybe if recovered in plain black, the dash and doors would look OK. Instruments need to go back to black too.

Porsche actually do know how to do this properly...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109247...

But at that price, it can stay in Glasgow.

Edited by PomBstard on Tuesday 1st February 23:30

Maybe keep an eye on this auction

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1990-porsch...

or whats wrong with these ones?
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1365601

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1240085

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1342941

[julian987R]

PomBstard said:

Yep, I'm a fan too - there's a 944S2 local to me that's got the same interior as the Glasgow 944T, albeit with the mid-blue metallic - looks fantastic. Helped by the fact its possibly the cleanest S2 on the planet...

or these... just down the road from you by comparison.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1990-pors...

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1986-pors...

[Penguinracer]

I don't think £30K is too bad for a clean late-model RHD turbo, especially when you consider the production numbers (25, 245 of which 13,982 went to the U.S.) & the number remaining:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_944

[Penguinracer]

With 166 Turbo's licenced & on the road in the UK in 2021, even if we triple that number to include SORN'ed & non-roadworthy cars - you're looking at about 600 survivors in the UK in total.

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=✓&q...

Tim

[Voxy]

PomBstard said:

sgrimshaw said:

PomBstard said:

If I could live with LHD then the US and Japan would be hunting grounds. But I don’t want LHD, so my markets are limited.

Were RHD cars not supplied directly to / imported into Japan, given the country is natively RHD then ?

The Japanese market is a bit odd in that, whilst it is RHD, it’s a sign of wealth to afford an imported car, and LHD is how you demonstrate that it’s imported. There are RHD transaxles to be found in Japan but there are a lot of LHD to look through first.

The Japanese do spec some great colour combos though - one of my fave local 928s is a RHD GTS in Amazon Green with full magenta leather interior - it looks ace! Can’t imagine that ever being specced in a UK or Aus showroom.

RHD 928GTS currently for sale here in Tokyo…

https://www.espacio-c.com/vcsMember/stockdetail/81...

Edited by Voxy on Wednesday 2nd February 13:07

[PomBstard]

Voxy said:

RHD 928GTS currently for sale here in Tokyo…

https://www.espacio-c.com/vcsMember/stockdetail/81...

Edited by Voxy on Wednesday 2nd February 13:07

That is awesome, thanks for finding it! And full magenta leather interior too - love it. My problem with it is that, as a GTS, its an auto and I want a manual. Also, the price is "ASK" which is a slightly shorter way of saying "LOTS"...

[PomBstard]

julian987R said:

Maybe keep an eye on this auction

https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1990-porsch...

or whats wrong with these ones?
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1365601

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1240085

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1342941

I had forgotten about looking at C&C - thanks for the reminder - and thanks for all the links

I will keep an eye on that auction - my S4 was white with black leather and I was never really a fan of the body colour so don't want another white car. But that one looks clean - will be interesting to see how it goes.

Of the others, that first one, in Knaresborough is getting some follow up. Not sure how it might work, buying a car from a private individual for export - I did have a preference for buying from a dealer as I thought it would make the associated process of international transfers and arranging transportation easier, but will get over that.

The last one looks great but is another Peter Vardy car. One of the cars I linked in my OP was a Zyclam Turbo at PV, and I am still, nearly two weeks later, trying to find out more about that car. The sales dudes don't seem to want to take my call, or call me back at a time that accounts for 11 hour time difference, or provide any info by email, so I'm not sure what to do. Look elsewhere, will be the answer, which is a shame as their two cars seem to be generating the most 'want' in me.

Oh well.

As for the two local Turbos Julian linked, the grey one is, well, grey. Some like discrete and stealth, but I can't be arsed with that. The family holdall is silver and stealthy, with the engine to back it up, but this is meant to be a fun car. I want some colour. Also, to that asking price I would need to add NSW rego, and transportation from VIC. Even with a bit of haggling, its still no cheaper than getting a car from Edinburgh shipped over and registered on my driveway.

The burgundy car is a curio, and I'm trying to find out more. I'd prefer as late a model as poss, but this one is soooo much cheaper, and seems to be conspicuously good value if all that work has been done.

[Voxy]

PomBstard said:

Voxy said:

RHD 928GTS currently for sale here in Tokyo…

https://www.espacio-c.com/vcsMember/stockdetail/81...

Edited by Voxy on Wednesday 2nd February 13:07

That is awesome, thanks for finding it! And full magenta leather interior too - love it. My problem with it is that, as a GTS, its an auto and I want a manual. Also, the price is "ASK" which is a slightly shorter way of saying "LOTS"...

Yes, unfortunately I suspect it will be quite pricey…