importing a Cerbera to the USA - Sept/Oct 2022

importing a Cerbera to the USA - Sept/Oct 2022

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Discussion

Granturadriver

574 posts

260 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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Got luck with the transport and keep us updated!

goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Friday 7th October 2022
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Another quick update…

The dealership had picked up the Cerbera from the shop, but they found a small issue that they were not happy with, so they sent it back to the mechanic. Now, the issue has been sorted out. The dealership is going to pick the car up on Monday and then spend the week checking over the car, they will clean and detail it and all the other stuff that a dealership normally does, and then prepare the car for shipping. As long as everything is good it will hopefully be 100% ready this time.

As of right now, the car is tentatively scheduled for collection around October 19th! It will go to the shipping company’s warehouse and then get loaded into a container for shipping. Not sure of the exact ship or schedule yet, but I’m guessing the car will not arrive in Texas until at least mid-November.

While I am not happy about the delays, I mean the car turned 25 weeks ago and could have been on the boat by now, I am lucky that both the dealership and the mechanic are working together to make sure the car is 100% solid before it comes all the way here. They both understand that it’s coming a long way and we don’t have TVR specialists here, so the last thing they want is for me to get the car and find an issue. They both have reputations to protect, too, so I get the impression that they are being extra careful. I’m glad that the dealership is taking the extra time to thoroughly look over the car because we did have the mechanic perform a lot of servicing work just now, prior to shipping, which was the plan all along. This way I can hopefully have some time to enjoy the car prior to having any issues in the future.

I can’t tell you how stressful it is owning a car that is half way across the globe, though, and counting on others to take care of it!

I guess this is another “I’m still waiting” post, but I hope that very soon here I will be posting some photos of the car being loaded onto a transport truck/lorry! That’s going to be a big day for me!

As far as I know, this will still be the first Cerbera in Texas.

Marcq

72 posts

96 months

Tuesday 11th October 2022
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Indeed, please keep the thread updated. I will be moving to Texas (Austin) from the UK at the end of the year, and was tempted to buy a Cerbera to bring with me! As you note, shipping prices have gone a little wild, so I may hold off for a little while and try some 'domestic' cars for a while.

Granturadriver

574 posts

260 months

Tuesday 11th October 2022
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Sorry for the delay, I think we can follow how it feels if there is another postponement during an already long wait.

Do you now how they will prepare the battery for the ca. four weeks trip?

Some cars have battery issues after a few weeks without use. There was another guy waiting for his car at the US custom parking area with an electric window open (no battery) and heavy rain. Maybe there is a way to avoid this?!

dalecan

315 posts

250 months

Tuesday 11th October 2022
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Granturadriver said:
Sorry for the delay, I think we can follow how it feels if there is another postponement during an already long wait.

Do you now how they will prepare the battery for the ca. four weeks trip?

Some cars have battery issues after a few weeks without use. There was another guy waiting for his car at the US custom parking area with an electric window open (no battery) and heavy rain. Maybe there is a way to avoid this?!
This was me!!!!!!!!!

Make sure you leave some "how to" notes in the cockpit of the car, like how to open/close windows. The dealers did this for mine (like "where is the battery"), but they didn't do one for the windows (those switches are tucked away.
My car had about a month of travel and two weeks sitting in the dock for paperwork. It was flat when I went to get it, but they jump started it easily. The only downside was the window that was left open for the rainwater to get in.

I would expect your battery to be flat when the car arrives.

andrewbr

55 posts

42 months

Tuesday 11th October 2022
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When mine was sent over, the seller (Mark @ Amore Autos) taped a nice big note on the dash telling whoever was responsible for the car to disconnect the battery or they'd "be up st creek" when they came to start the car to get it off the ship. Don't think I have the note anymore, but it got the point across as the car started right up when I went to collect it.

goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Saturday 15th October 2022
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Good news! Everything is confirmed! I finally have some dates!

Oct 19th = transport truck will collect the car from the dealership
Oct 21st = car gets loaded into the shipping container
Oct 24th = ship departs London Gateway Port
Nov 22nd = ship arrives at Port of Houston, TX

Then I will pick up the car from the shipping warehouse in Houston and trailer it home. I’m not sure when I will be able to pick it up but I’m guessing it will be after Thanksgiving holiday.

Whoohoo! So happy. After more than 20 years of waiting, and a whole year waiting since I actually bought the car, communicating with the dealership, mechanic, then trying to understand all the logistics and the import process, and then the last minute shipping changes, it’s all coming together. I can’t believe it.


goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Saturday 15th October 2022
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Great comments. Ya, I thought about the same thing after getting similar advice.

We have a word document that says everything about how to operate the car, how to open the doors, the boot, the bonnet, how to roll down the windows, how to start it (that's like a whole paragraph), where the battery is, etc. Since the Cerbera's controls are really weird.
We also have another word document that basically says, in giant letters, to roll the windows down and leave the boot and bonnet popped open. That way if the battery dies they can at least open the bonnet to jump start it.

I don't know for certain but I think they might disconnect the battery for shipping. But either way, I'm sure the battery will be dead by the time it gets here. It will be container shipped, not RORO, as I originally was planning, so it won't be a big deal if it dies. The container will go to a warehouse where it will be unloaded. I'm sure they will either jump start it or they will pull it out and let it sit until I come to get it. My brother and I will show up with the trailer and tools to jump it and get it alive again.

goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Saturday 15th October 2022
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Sitting at the dealership waiting for the truck...


Granturadriver

574 posts

260 months

Saturday 15th October 2022
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I assume we are as excited as you are. Sorry it takes about a month to ship it over the ocean. You need to document your first meet with the car for us! smile

TVR-MADS

1,457 posts

283 months

Saturday 15th October 2022
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Have them turn the interior lights off and remove the bulb from the boot light - so if the doors or bootlid are ajar, the lights won't accelerate the battery drain.

Have had cars where the number plate lights come on when the bootlid is ajar.

Leave bonnet unlocked.

goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th October 2022
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My car got picked up today for shipping! The dealership, DT Performance Cars, did an amazing job on some light restoration. They cleaned the wheel arches, re-did the black wrap at the front grille, replaced a few bits, and treated some wear and tear on the leather interior and cleaned it so well it almost looks like a different color! Between the past maintenance on the car, and my own maintenance that I just had done at TVR Power, and now the detailing work at the dealer, I have a feeling the car is going to be amazing. I can’t wait to see this thing in person!

https://youtube.com/shorts/qKTMraXTXBY?feature=sha...



Edited by goo-goo-gjoob on Thursday 20th October 03:14

goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th October 2022
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goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th October 2022
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goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th October 2022
quotequote all

goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th October 2022
quotequote all

goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th October 2022
quotequote all

goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th October 2022
quotequote all

goo-goo-gjoob

Original Poster:

811 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th October 2022
quotequote all
I am hoping to put all the photos together soon and arrange them in order so I can document the history of the car. Might post a link soon if I get all the photos set up.

Granturadriver

574 posts

260 months

Thursday 20th October 2022
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goo-goo-gjoob said:
Oh, the car already had a body off chassis restoration?!