Who can help me import a 944 from UK?

[roca1976]

Buying from a dealer they will keep it insured until it is with the transporter and covered by them. If you buy privately as soon it becomes your property you need to insure it unless you can time it so you pay for it in full as it is loaded?

[PomBstard]

This one’s just appeared at Specialist Cars in York…

https://www.specialistcars.net/cars/porsche/944/re...

Looks good, but anyone know anything of these guys? Bit of an oddball selection of vehicles - lots of LR and MB stuff with a few motorbikes and an occasional something different. Not terribly specialist…

[julian987R]

PomBstard said:

This one’s just appeared at Specialist Cars in York…

https://www.specialistcars.net/cars/porsche/944/re...

Looks good, but anyone know anything of these guys? Bit of an oddball selection of vehicles - lots of LR and MB stuff with a few motorbikes and an occasional something different. Not terribly specialist…

those seats and carpet, I reckon in real life, will look a bit eggy and aged in not a nice way.

[PomBstard]

blade7 said:

julian987R said:

those seats and carpet, I reckon in real life, will look a bit eggy and aged in not a nice way.

It's not "a genuine factory S", so that's BS for starters. And no pic of the engine bay?

I think you’re both onto something - there’s something not quite in place with this one.

[Penguinracer]

Have you looked at the NZ market through Trade Me?

Here's a manual 928S4 up for auction:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/porsche/92...

My brother took his '89 944 turbo home to NZ after living in the UK for 11 years and sold it in NZ after a couple of years.

At the time (2009) with all the European cars imported from Japan, 928's, 968's & to a lesser extent 944's were relatively cheap & plentiful.

You'll have the bonus that they had to pass NZ compliance.

[PomBstard]

PomBstard said:

julian987R said:

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

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.

Have had a v positive response with this one so far, now trying to find someone to look at it for me. Porsche Inspections might but it’s a fair way out of their usual area - anyone know any good independents in The Peoples Republic of Yorkshire?

[soxboy]

PomBstard said:

Have had a v positive response with this one so far, now trying to find someone to look at it for me. Porsche Inspections might but it’s a fair way out of their usual area - anyone know any good independents in The Peoples Republic of Yorkshire?

I note the car has SH from RPM, who are also in Knaresborough like the car is. I don't know if there would be a conflict of interest if you asked them to take a look? Might be worth a call with them first for their knowledge of it?

Otherwise there's Strasse in Leeds.

[soxboy]

PomBstard said:

This one’s just appeared at Specialist Cars in York…

https://www.specialistcars.net/cars/porsche/944/re...

Looks good, but anyone know anything of these guys? Bit of an oddball selection of vehicles - lots of LR and MB stuff with a few motorbikes and an occasional something different. Not terribly specialist…

A mixed reputation

[PomBstard]

soxboy said:

PomBstard said:

This one’s just appeared at Specialist Cars in York…

https://www.specialistcars.net/cars/porsche/944/re...

Looks good, but anyone know anything of these guys? Bit of an oddball selection of vehicles - lots of LR and MB stuff with a few motorbikes and an occasional something different. Not terribly specialist…

A mixed reputation

I think that's the conclusion I've come to as well - giving it a miss.

[PomBstard]

soxboy said:

PomBstard said:

Have had a v positive response with this one so far, now trying to find someone to look at it for me. Porsche Inspections might but it’s a fair way out of their usual area - anyone know any good independents in The Peoples Republic of Yorkshire?

I note the car has SH from RPM, who are also in Knaresborough like the car is. I don't know if there would be a conflict of interest if you asked them to take a look? Might be worth a call with them first for their knowledge of it?

Otherwise there's Strasse in Leeds.

Anthony at Porsche Inspections (who has been a fantastic help with my random queries, btw - definitely worth contacting if you need Porsche info and inspections) has also recommended RPM as well as Redline. Hopefully chatting with the owner of the car tomorrow, and will then give RPM a call.

I need to get enough info to validate that the car is structurally and mechanically sound. It looks like its had inner and outer sills done, and the lower wings too. If that's got the rust covered and it runs well, then we're a significant way forward - my local specialist knows these cars inside out and carries many spares - and I'm happy to get grubby too. This one ticks a lots of boxes for me - colour, interior trim, 250bhp engine, recent work on body.

[PomBstard]

Yep, on the surface not worth looking at, however invoices and photos suggest otherwise. Also chatting to the owner, he’s had a few Porsches and is known to RPM. He thought it was just a few crusty patches - but was a bit more - I doubt he’ll recoup overall ownership expenditure on the sale price.

Which should mean I don’t have to do it. And, let’s face it, any transaxle Porsche that’s spent it’s life in the UK will need some body work done - it’s just a case of how much and when.

[PomBstard]

blade7 said:

PomBstard said:

Yep, on the surface not worth looking at, however invoices and photos suggest otherwise. Also chatting to the owner, he’s had a few Porsches and is known to RPM. He thought it was just a few crusty patches - but was a bit more - I doubt he’ll recoup overall ownership expenditure on the sale price.

Which should mean I don’t have to do it. And, let’s face it, any transaxle Porsche that’s spent it’s life in the UK will need some body work done - it’s just a case of how much and when.

It's why I bought one of those 'garage queens' nearly 15 years ago, it's been on a wet road about 5 times since. I've done 20k miles on dry twisty roads, going nowhere in particular. The alternative is probably a car that's had it's inner/outer sills/ wing bottoms/rear suspension mounts attended to properly, by someone that knows what they're doing. I'd want to see plenty of pictures of the work in progress. And a big bill for that too.

Edited by blade7 on Thursday 10th February 12:53

Whatever I buy won’t be a garage queen - it’ll be used all year round in all weathers, just like I did with the 928 before. It’ll be properly looked after, but won’t be sat there waiting for the roads to dry out - life’s too short.

Which is why I’m OK with a car that’s had the work done, as shown in lots of photos, with a big bill to go with it. Apparently it was in the body shop for a couple of months…

[PomBstard]

blade7 said:

PomBstard said:

Whatever I buy won’t be a garage queen - it’ll be used all year round in all weathers, just like I did with the 928 before. It’ll be properly looked after, but won’t be sat there waiting for the roads to dry out - life’s too short.

I've got an A4 quattro for the wet/ice, so maybe your life will be shorter than mine. I'd rather have a 944 turbo that hasn't been welded too.

It’s almost like we’re different people with differing priorities who enjoy different things….

[Penguinracer]

If you're living somewhere where the roads are never salted - then year round driving is a no-brainer.

[braddo]

blade7 said:

And one of us has the ownership experience to know what we're talking about...

Tell us about your ownership experience in Australia.

[PomBstard]

blade7 said:

PomBstard said:

It’s almost like we’re different people with differing priorities who enjoy different things….

And one of us has the ownership experience to know what we're talking about...

Indeed, you do have an advantage on me there. However the summary of your help on this thread so far seems to be:
Don’t buy a rusty one
Don’t buy one that’s had the rust fixed
Buy a garage queen
Only drive it when the roads are dry

The first I’ll agree with, the second I can live with. The third and fourth don’t match what I want.

My S4 was a UK car that was pretty sound underneath but still had a few pockets that needed sorting. My transaxle specialist has seen lots of UK 944/68/28 and has come to the conclusion that there will rust on all of them - it’s just a matter of how much, even the garage queens.

In fact even local Aus-delivered transaxles develop rust - it’s an age thing, the youngest is around 26 years old.

I’d rather one that has evidence of having been cleared of rust, with plenty of evidence, by a reputable body work company than take a chance on one that kinda looks good.

But, hey, that’s just me and in this instance it’s my money too!

[julian987R]

New auction one popped up
https://themarket.bonhams.com/en/listings/porsche/...

[PomBstard]

julian987R said:

New auction one popped up
https://themarket.bonhams.com/en/listings/porsche/...

Thanks for that. I won't be organised in time for that one, but it has got me looking at transportation and storage options.

One of the bits of red tape fun I'll need to pass through is getting a Vehicle Import Approval. This is specific to the car, so I can't apply for it until I know which car, and can take 4-6 weeks to come through - so knowing a decent place to use for short term storage is handy. Have looked at Acorn in Oxon, and will drop a note to Alex at Lizard too.

As an aside, I've also just seen that the Zyclam Red 944T in Edinburgh has now been reduced to 28k - if my experience with them is anything to go by, they're probably sat there wondering why noone has got in touch with any interest...

[PomBstard]

julian987R said:

Maybe keep an eye on this auction

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

Sold for GBP19,500 - looks like a good price for someone if it’s as clean as stated.

[julian987R]

PomBstard said:

julian987R said:

Maybe keep an eye on this auction

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

Sold for GBP19,500 - looks like a good price for someone if it’s as clean as stated.

Indeed, quite a fair price. Another one has gone up on the same site
https://themarket.bonhams.com/en/listings/porsche/...

I reckon its a nicer example.