Conference terri::cars_uk

    
    If u can verify the #400, I'd be grateful for the contact.
    
    Two weeks ago I was quoted $1500 for 1 car, $2500 for 2 (actually
    a '64 Mk2 Jag & a '19 Ford TT pickup). I know it can be done cheaper
    - I haven't yet found where.
    
    Excise man hits u in different ways. Key variables are :
    	- car tax
    	- VAT (on purchase price & shipping)
    	- import duty
    
    Exact combination depends on age, whether vehicle has British regn,
    his opinion on value, his mood on day etc. You can ask in advance
    for the officialfigures to give you a worst-case figure - I have found
    u often do much better on the day.
    
    Several used-car importers have just been nicked for under-declaring
    - others are under investigation. Clampdown in progress at the moment.
     
                                           

US embassies and consulates produce a leaflet which explains how to
import a car into the US, the laws you need to comply with and the
taxes applicable. It would probably be worth contacting your nearest
British embassy or consulate and see if they produce a leaflet for going
the other way. The army bring a lot of cars over here, they might
provide some info on this too.

	Craig

    
    Not sure but I think one variable is if the car is crated or un
    crated. One of the magazines in Smiths has got a feature on this.
    
    Chris.
          

You can rent a 40' container for the crossing for around #3000.  And you can
fit 4 cars in there, plus some other bits!  (From recent article where someone
brought across three aeroplanes in one 40' container - for #3000; ie they don't
care what's in it!!)

    
    It sounds like the answer is to rent one of these containers and
    then advertise the available space (at a premium) in the Classic
    Car press. You might even get to pay for your own car that way!
    
    Mark

    Container rental is the way to go if you can fill the conmtainer.
    If not then contact some of the specialised shipping agents that
    you can no doubt find in the yellow thingy. When we came back fron the US
    we had a choice from Allied Van lines.... either pay on a volumetric
    basis or take a 40 footer at a fixed price. Our whole move (this
    is back in '79) packing loading taking to ship shipping unloading
    taking to UK house cost about $5000 so the price quoted in -1 (or
    was it -2?) seems about right. Funnily enough, there are restrictions
    on not putting cars into houisehold goods containers. We brought
    a Capri back with us and that cost $400 to ship it on one of the
    ships that do nothing but take European cars to the US. Seems that
    they mostly come bak empty so are willing to fill the space with
    anything. We had to take the car to New York and leave the car in
    a pound (thought we'd never see it again!) but 7 days later it arrived
    in Southampton docks. Even got it through customs and excise with
    no duty by committing to not sell it for two years (The registration
    doc was so marked). Had to get it MoT'd though as it wasd over 3
    years old. 

Lest we get carried away with the thought of hiring a 40' container: FCL (full
container load) freight is paid in terms of TEUs ("Twenty Foot Equivalent" loads)
and you can also rent twenty foot and twenty foot half height containers which 
will cost less both to hire and to ship.

/. Ian .\

    Hi,
    
    I've purchased an American MBGT this week from a company, where
    they nothing else than USA -> Netherlands import.
    Beware, that USA cars sometimes have typical things, which are not
    approved in Europe, like Sealed Beam headlamps, rear red reflectors
    etc. Those should be replaced with material with E approval marks.
    
    Hans

Sealed beam headlamps are, unless I am very mistaken, allowed in England.
The double use of front indicators as sidelights and rear brake lights as
indicators is also permitted in England, but I think it depends on the original
age of the car.

My brother has a '69 Karmann Ghia, imported 6 months ago, and it got an English
registration and MOT with the fittings listed above.  The only change necessary
was the headlamp aim.

Scott

       I think Hans was saying that the sealed-beams were not of an
       *approved* type (i.e. no (E) !). Certainly sealed beams themselves
       are OK in the UK - we invented the damned things.

       Ian. (Alliteration specialist).

	My 60's MGBs that I once owned had sealed beam headlamps.

	-John

I'm afraid that we're into the Construction and use regulations again.  These
apply to the date the car was registered (even Q plates for imports).  All
glass must be marked E to pass the TUV and type approval tests.  However, in
England, you are unlikely to have this checked, other countries are much more
strict.

Dave

    Scott,
    Whats your brother doing with my dream-car?  Seriously, what is the
    state of the car, ie now having been exposed to the British elements
    for 6 months! and how much did he pay for it(if thats not too rude a
    question), Oh yes, and what year is it?
    
    Carl.
    (Oh god, I've started drooling over K.Ghias again!)
    

    Unfortunately I seem to have mislaid my spare 5 grand!, (tut-tut, now
    what did I do with it?) But I may remain a dreamer!,
    
    Seriously, if your brother wants a hand with fixing the niggly bits, or
    even changing the engine, I would be glad to lend a hand!, I am on my
    4th air-cooled VW  at the moment,( 2 beetles, 1 camper, 1 Variant )
    and I seem to have replaced/serviced most things on this one,
    as I bought it as a non-runner/non mot/ trailer it home 300 quid job.
    which I now do 650 miles a week in. 
    
    Carl.

    What are the things to check if one buys a recent US import from a UK
    dealer?  I don't fancy being lumbered with a bill for unpaid taxes.
    
    Also, is it usual for cars in the US to have a booklet stamped with a
    service history, as in the UK?  I recently phoned one dealer to enquire
    about a particular car, and asked if it had this; he replied that this
    wasn't normal for cars in the US.   Bullshit? 
    

    re  .18
    
    It is true, there is NO requirement for keeping a service log.  Some of
    the instruction or service books that come with some cars have places
    to keep a history, but very few people use them.
    
    If you are lucky, the previous owner kept a file folder with the
    receipts.  Most times they are not available.
    
    The best you can hope for is a bunch of stickers, usually in the door
    jambs that show when oil was changed.  Those are not even being used
    much now.
    
    	-Barry_in_the_States-