Attempts to Import a Tamora to the USA
Discussion
just me said:
BTW, shipping via RORO is cheaper, but stevedores are not known for being sympathetic to cars. Their objective is to off-load as many as possible in the shortest possible time. You are safer going the container route, as nobody gets to drive the car on and off the boat. You get to put it in the container and you get to remove it. You can also ship other things in your car (they tell you not to, but it's going in a container and is perfectly safe). Look into the cost difference, it may not be as much and might be worth it since you can bung other stuff in the container as well. Also, things are generally much more expensive in the UK. See if you can arrange for shipping from the US end.
As for the temporary import route, if your visa allows, go for this to begin with. You will get to enjoy you car while the paperwork is being done.
Have you ever imported a car?As for the temporary import route, if your visa allows, go for this to begin with. You will get to enjoy you car while the paperwork is being done.
Edited by just me on Tuesday 10th July 09:55
First of all let me answer tamorarobs question over the porsche being on the registered.
All the register does is state if a petition has been filed, has been accepted or denied.If the car is elligable for import to the US, You will then have to apply to NHTSA (or your RI could do this for you) for permission to import, bond will have to be provided and the your RI will have to do either a detailed inspection confirming that the car is equal to a US spec and submit that detailed report for acceptance, or they will have to make some minor or major changes to the car, followed by a detailed report which will again require acceptance from nhtsa. Regardless if the cost of the inspection or inspection and changes, you could potentially be without your new car for some time and you will not be allowed to drive the car until such a time as the nhtsa approve what your RI has done.
Back to the TVR bit.
First thing to get straight is that the speed 6 engine is NOT a US epa compliant engine, never has been and never will be. The cost to bring it even close to 45 state legal would be huge. However, saying that in many states they dont have smog/emissions checks and in those states you can pretty much have any engine in your car you like, it does not make it legal, but then again in some states if you tune your car with non EPA cert parts, your car will be classed as unlawful from a EPA standpoint.
Also the basic TVR package does not meet basic roller/chassis fmvss.
What i do (not me personally, but ex TVR engineers) is remanufactur the car to a new standard that meets all fmvss for a roller, has all appropriate markings applied, changes to engine compartment to accept LS series of engines and tremec trans. Of course the car then comes with all new paperwork and MSO etc. Car is no longer a TVR but is a T-V-R. The end result is not a dissasembled reassembled car, but is a new roller with CORRECT fmvss compontents that meet ALL DOT reg for a roller. I am registered with SAE and all rollers have new US correct VIN.
This is the short version of whats required.
Before you ask "if i have done this before?", i am have exported alot of exotic machines to the US and nearly all of what i have done over the years has been for manufacturers directly.
Hope this answers your questions etc etc blah blah
All the register does is state if a petition has been filed, has been accepted or denied.If the car is elligable for import to the US, You will then have to apply to NHTSA (or your RI could do this for you) for permission to import, bond will have to be provided and the your RI will have to do either a detailed inspection confirming that the car is equal to a US spec and submit that detailed report for acceptance, or they will have to make some minor or major changes to the car, followed by a detailed report which will again require acceptance from nhtsa. Regardless if the cost of the inspection or inspection and changes, you could potentially be without your new car for some time and you will not be allowed to drive the car until such a time as the nhtsa approve what your RI has done.
Back to the TVR bit.
First thing to get straight is that the speed 6 engine is NOT a US epa compliant engine, never has been and never will be. The cost to bring it even close to 45 state legal would be huge. However, saying that in many states they dont have smog/emissions checks and in those states you can pretty much have any engine in your car you like, it does not make it legal, but then again in some states if you tune your car with non EPA cert parts, your car will be classed as unlawful from a EPA standpoint.
Also the basic TVR package does not meet basic roller/chassis fmvss.
What i do (not me personally, but ex TVR engineers) is remanufactur the car to a new standard that meets all fmvss for a roller, has all appropriate markings applied, changes to engine compartment to accept LS series of engines and tremec trans. Of course the car then comes with all new paperwork and MSO etc. Car is no longer a TVR but is a T-V-R. The end result is not a dissasembled reassembled car, but is a new roller with CORRECT fmvss compontents that meet ALL DOT reg for a roller. I am registered with SAE and all rollers have new US correct VIN.
This is the short version of whats required.
Before you ask "if i have done this before?", i am have exported alot of exotic machines to the US and nearly all of what i have done over the years has been for manufacturers directly.
Hope this answers your questions etc etc blah blah
just me said:
Thanks. I feel a lot more comfortable with your explanation. I am interested in bringing in a T-V-R Sagaris. Interested in how much it would cost to do that. You can PM me if you like.
I will PM all the info across tomorrow, been crazy past few days. I forgot to also mention i can provide the car in either LHD or RHD
anonymous said:
[redacted]
That will depend on how you ship it. on a RoRo it could start from £600/£700 or from £1500+ for container shipping (if you deliver car to port). Inland quotes vary so much depending if you use a small company or a large company like dependable, if its open trailer or enclosed.
Rjdm3- you seem to know exactly what you are talking about, I certainly appreciate the advice. Would it be possible to take the Porsche over on the temporary one year visa then transfer to the permanent one?
If my model has had the petition approved for import, I don't understand why my individual Porsche requires an inspection. Surely one model is the same as the next! What sort of waiting times/ costs are we talking about here? I'm waiting to hear back from an RI so still pretty much in the dark about the process and costs. If you could sex some more light on it I'd be grateful!
Cheers
Rob
If my model has had the petition approved for import, I don't understand why my individual Porsche requires an inspection. Surely one model is the same as the next! What sort of waiting times/ costs are we talking about here? I'm waiting to hear back from an RI so still pretty much in the dark about the process and costs. If you could sex some more light on it I'd be grateful!
Cheers
Rob
TamoraRob said:
Rjdm3- you seem to know exactly what you are talking about, I certainly appreciate the advice. Would it be possible to take the Porsche over on the temporary one year visa then transfer to the permanent one?
If my model has had the petition approved for import, I don't understand why my individual Porsche requires an inspection. Surely one model is the same as the next! What sort of waiting times/ costs are we talking about here? I'm waiting to hear back from an RI so still pretty much in the dark about the process and costs. If you could sex some more light on it I'd be grateful!
Cheers
Rob
Hi Rob,If my model has had the petition approved for import, I don't understand why my individual Porsche requires an inspection. Surely one model is the same as the next! What sort of waiting times/ costs are we talking about here? I'm waiting to hear back from an RI so still pretty much in the dark about the process and costs. If you could sex some more light on it I'd be grateful!
Cheers
Rob
The car will need some conversions which the RI will have to do. As for time waiting, that is down to nhtsa, it could be very quick couple of weeks or many weeks, there is no real answer.
You will need about 9 items changing. Most of which will be refelecting units, warning buzzers and simple glass markings etc. Look up "NHTSA-2002-12732 vol 67". Thankfully your car meets safety and bumper impact.
Dont bother wasting time trying to do a temp and then keep it permanant later. They are very strict on this and on a temp you would have to bond the car, which if not exported as agreed after the 12 month period they will bill you for the bond.
Just do a permanent import the first time.
If i was you though i would just buy one in the US. It will possibly be cheaper in the long run. But perhaps wait until the RI comes back with the cost.
Hope this makes sense..i am a little tired tonight and all these pdf's starting to look a blur to me
Here's a pic of the porsche. It's an 01' with full porsche history, 3.2s 6-speed 39k miles on the clock with £20K worth of factory upgrades including aero kit, brakes, suspension, exhaust, wheels etc. Also I've fitted it with a sports manifold, decat pipes, and performance filter. It really is a one off which would cost a fortune to replicate, hence why I would rather import then start again.
Cheers again for your assistance, I will keep this thread updated with progress including pricing, RI information and timescales for anyone interested. My intended import date is around Sept/Oct time, depending on when my US Visa comes through.
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