Importing a classic yank
Discussion
Hi, I'm starting to look into importing a classic yank some time near spring next year.
The weak $ is making some old cars look really good value and I'm thinking that I'd get a better deal and better choice by importing.
At the moment I've been looking at early 70's Camaro's, I'm assuming the UK tax exeption rules apply the same to imported cars? so I need a car earlier than Aug '72 to avoid road tax?
I've been looking at Ebay and links to dealers for some price ideas but there seems to be a huge difference from what looks good for $20K to show winners for $45K, thats a big gap and I don't really know how to tell the difference without taking a flight over, which I would probably do when it comes to purchase time but not yet for browsing.
A dealer has told me he can ship in a crate to Tilbury for just under $1,500 which seems a bargain but I guess the customs and VAT on this side will kill me, I need to go and hunt about on the government web sites but any advice or pointers to web sites would be really helpful.
Do cars of this age also need to go through the SVA? I could do with some advice or links to any good forums or places that I'm sure this question has been asked millions of times.
I've been googling but not really finding too much that's helping thats up to date.
I also need to do some homework on the differnt models of Camaro so I don't get caught out with one that has all the wrong parts.
I'm not importing for an investment, I've always loved Muscle cars and I'm looking to sell my BMW to get the cash for this. I'm fed up with stupid bills for a car that just confuses me with electrickery, at least I can look after a 70's myself.
The car will get used regularly in all weathers (max 4-5000 miles a year) so I'd also like to know if I'm being stupid assuming I can use a '70s Camaro for this? I realise they are pretty big but this shouldn't stop me from using it as a normal car should it? (apart from scary petrol costs)
Luckily I've got backup in an old VW camper that I also use regularly so I can afford for the yank to be off the road if it needs fixing etc.
Cheers for any help, I'm really looking forward to fulfilling a childhood dream, every time I go to Santa Pod I come home thinking I really need to get myself a yank.
Mags
The weak $ is making some old cars look really good value and I'm thinking that I'd get a better deal and better choice by importing.
At the moment I've been looking at early 70's Camaro's, I'm assuming the UK tax exeption rules apply the same to imported cars? so I need a car earlier than Aug '72 to avoid road tax?
I've been looking at Ebay and links to dealers for some price ideas but there seems to be a huge difference from what looks good for $20K to show winners for $45K, thats a big gap and I don't really know how to tell the difference without taking a flight over, which I would probably do when it comes to purchase time but not yet for browsing.
A dealer has told me he can ship in a crate to Tilbury for just under $1,500 which seems a bargain but I guess the customs and VAT on this side will kill me, I need to go and hunt about on the government web sites but any advice or pointers to web sites would be really helpful.
Do cars of this age also need to go through the SVA? I could do with some advice or links to any good forums or places that I'm sure this question has been asked millions of times.
I've been googling but not really finding too much that's helping thats up to date.
I also need to do some homework on the differnt models of Camaro so I don't get caught out with one that has all the wrong parts.
I'm not importing for an investment, I've always loved Muscle cars and I'm looking to sell my BMW to get the cash for this. I'm fed up with stupid bills for a car that just confuses me with electrickery, at least I can look after a 70's myself.
The car will get used regularly in all weathers (max 4-5000 miles a year) so I'd also like to know if I'm being stupid assuming I can use a '70s Camaro for this? I realise they are pretty big but this shouldn't stop me from using it as a normal car should it? (apart from scary petrol costs)
Luckily I've got backup in an old VW camper that I also use regularly so I can afford for the yank to be off the road if it needs fixing etc.
Cheers for any help, I'm really looking forward to fulfilling a childhood dream, every time I go to Santa Pod I come home thinking I really need to get myself a yank.
Mags
You really need to swot up on what type of Camaro you want and what reasonable to pay. Check out www.nastyz28.com the main 2 gen (70' - 81') camaro site for specs and few cars for sale.
It's an easy car to live with if it isn't too heavily modified, and hardly any are totally original anymore. Fuel isn't too bad bad, if you're light-footed, also the prices on pre 80's muscle has gone up in the states, so you may get a better deal on a well looked after example already in the uk.
As already said, shipping costs + import tax at 10% of purchase price + VAT on all that.
Buy the best condition car you can afford, the mechanical bits are cheap to replace.
Good luck luck you'll love it !!
It's an easy car to live with if it isn't too heavily modified, and hardly any are totally original anymore. Fuel isn't too bad bad, if you're light-footed, also the prices on pre 80's muscle has gone up in the states, so you may get a better deal on a well looked after example already in the uk.
As already said, shipping costs + import tax at 10% of purchase price + VAT on all that.
Buy the best condition car you can afford, the mechanical bits are cheap to replace.
Good luck luck you'll love it !!
Thanks guy's, Customs are thieving barstewards! charging tax on the tax, who would have thought it....
I'll check out that link when I get the chance, much appreciated.
I was making assumptions that I would have more choice from the US, a quick scan in the back of America Classic doesn't have any early 70's Camaro's but then I apreciate old yanks aren't exactly Ford Escorts when it comes to looking for one.
A neighbour/friend of mine imported a very rare Mercury Station wagon a while ago and he's a keen rodder (I think he's pretty active in Surrey Street Rods) so I need to go speak to him, but he works shifts and I can never catch up with him!
Time to get reading I guess.
Mags
I'll check out that link when I get the chance, much appreciated.
I was making assumptions that I would have more choice from the US, a quick scan in the back of America Classic doesn't have any early 70's Camaro's but then I apreciate old yanks aren't exactly Ford Escorts when it comes to looking for one.
A neighbour/friend of mine imported a very rare Mercury Station wagon a while ago and he's a keen rodder (I think he's pretty active in Surrey Street Rods) so I need to go speak to him, but he works shifts and I can never catch up with him!
Time to get reading I guess.
Mags
Mags said:
At the moment I've been looking at early 70's Camaro's, I'm assuming the UK tax exeption rules apply the same to imported cars? so I need a car earlier than Aug '72 to avoid road tax?
The cut-off date for VED exemption is Dec 31st 1972, not Aug '72.However, as the true muscle car era effectively died after 1971/72 this is OK, but, this also does mean that the up to '72/73 cars are more expensive in the USA than a later 73-on car for this reason.
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