Moving back to the UK with my C6 Z06

Moving back to the UK with my C6 Z06

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norris_83

Original Poster:

40 posts

93 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
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Hi all,

Long story short, I moved to the USA with my wife so she can continue her education and we are finally moving back to the UK.

I bought an '08 Corvette Z06 and spent a pretty penny with 2" Headers, Heads, Clutch and Cam. So far I'm right around the 580-600whp depending on dyno.

Problem is selling the car here isn't feasible as no one will take into account the work I've done on my Z, so I really do want to bring it back to the UK with me. I'm not too sure how this happens, or what I might have to do.

I've been looking for a few sites that I can talk to in regard to this, hoping people here can point me in the right direction.

I really can't wait to let her rip when I'm there!

z06tim

558 posts

193 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
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Hi Norris,

Have a read of this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I definitely recommend importing your car. I did the same nearly 10yrs ago with my C5Z.

Also have a read of: https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/...

Key thing is you are relocating your home to the UK, so don't need to pay VAT/duty.

Another thing - if your car's build date was 2007, and you register it more than 10yrs after this, you only need an MoT. Otherwise you have to take it for an IVA test first. Kind of like an extended MoT, and is really just a formality for a Corvette, other then the lighting mods.

There's lots of support for Vettes in the UK. I would recommend signing up on www.corvetteclub.org.uk - you can ask more questions there. Also worth joining the club (annual membership only £35), as there's lots of stuff going on that you can do with your Vette once you are here.

Cheers,
Tim

C6NL

643 posts

267 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
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norris_83 said:
I bought an '08 Corvette Z06 and spent a pretty penny with 2" Headers
Those are very restrictive, for a base C6 they are 2.5" for a Z06 you should use 3"

BlackZeD

802 posts

215 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Thats 2" for the headers Fred, not the full system.

5ohmustang

2,755 posts

122 months

Monday 27th February 2017
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How do you go about moving all your belongings?

z06tim

558 posts

193 months

Monday 27th February 2017
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5ohmustang said:
How do you go about moving all your belongings?
I did it with one 20ft container. A 15 ft Corvette, plus 5ft of boxes stacked to the roof at the back. Then a double mattress against them and tied in place, and the Vette reversed up against it!

The only furniture we bought back was a bed and mattress tho, so you could easily fill a 40ft container if you had a reasonable amount of furniture with a car.

norris_83

Original Poster:

40 posts

93 months

Saturday 11th March 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for the info guys!

That's good news, my car is an '08 and I think a build date in '07.. So that should be a good saving of around 6000GBP!

I used to live in Kuwait and still partner in a garage over there that does deal with domestic vehicles. I am a professional tuner and deal with over 20 garages internationally with tuning consultation..

On a side note, are there any tuner shops in the UK that deal with domestic vehicles? I would love to open up a dyno shop in the UK and see what kind of market is around.


stevieturbo

17,528 posts

254 months

Wednesday 15th March 2017
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norris_83 said:
Thanks for the info guys!

That's good news, my car is an '08 and I think a build date in '07.. So that should be a good saving of around 6000GBP!

I used to live in Kuwait and still partner in a garage over there that does deal with domestic vehicles. I am a professional tuner and deal with over 20 garages internationally with tuning consultation..

On a side note, are there any tuner shops in the UK that deal with domestic vehicles? I would love to open up a dyno shop in the UK and see what kind of market is around.
It's a relatively small market for that sort of vehicle for obvious reasons. That said, if you can offer good service, who knows. But it would need to spread wider than Vettes of course to be viable

Soop Dogg

411 posts

242 months

Thursday 16th March 2017
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Not as small a market as you might think!

If you were to cater for the Japanese market, you'd get plenty of business. They all talk to each other too, so if your service is good, word spreads fast in the JDM community. (Although that is a two-edge sword too!)

stevieturbo

17,528 posts

254 months

Thursday 16th March 2017
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Soop Dogg said:
Not as small a market as you might think!

If you were to cater for the Japanese market, you'd get plenty of business. They all talk to each other too, so if your service is good, word spreads fast in the JDM community. (Although that is a two-edge sword too!)
He stated the "domestic" market, which means US vehicles and was more specifically suggesting or implying late model cars like his Vette.. That is a small market.

Soop Dogg

411 posts

242 months

Friday 17th March 2017
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I understand that, but I was just saying that "IF" he were to widen his market he could get a share in plenty of business.

I'm sure as a professional tuner with over 20 garages internationally he's well capable of working outside the area of USDM vehicles, so thought it was worth pointing out that he'd likely have access to plenty of business here.

stevieturbo

17,528 posts

254 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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Soop Dogg said:
I understand that, but I was just saying that "IF" he were to widen his market he could get a share in plenty of business.

I'm sure as a professional tuner with over 20 garages internationally he's well capable of working outside the area of USDM vehicles, so thought it was worth pointing out that he'd likely have access to plenty of business here.
Ultimately if you can give good service, then you can earn lots of business.

Sadly there are far far far too many cowboys here in this line of work. The amazing part is, even they often manage to stay in business ( far too long ), often at many customers expense and misery.

Hence starting a new business could be tough, as there is no reputation etc. But yes if you can cater to a very wide market that will help to get the ball rolling, then perhaps specialise later

spyker138

930 posts

231 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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If you need to store it in the US for a few months to get it truly over the ten year thing then let me know - I have space in a heated NJ garage. I used to have a C6 Z06 and really miss it!

norris_83

Original Poster:

40 posts

93 months

Wednesday 19th April 2017
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I tune for several JDM import cars, using Unichip for Toyota and Uprev for all Nissan/Infiniti vehicles.

Take a look at my instagram page for more info:

www.instagram.com/mep_q8

Soop Dogg

411 posts

242 months

Thursday 20th April 2017
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I'd be very tempted to come and see what you have to offer for my C7 Stingray. smile

norris_83

Original Poster:

40 posts

93 months

Monday 8th May 2017
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spyker138 said:
If you need to store it in the US for a few months to get it truly over the ten year thing then let me know - I have space in a heated NJ garage. I used to have a C6 Z06 and really miss it!
Thanks Spyker! I should be good to send if we finally move in July. Hope it doesn't take too long to get the car shipped over..

norris_83

Original Poster:

40 posts

93 months

Monday 8th May 2017
quotequote all
Soop Dogg said:
I'd be very tempted to come and see what you have to offer for my C7 Stingray. smile
I should be getting a 40ft container so if you need any parts over, I'd be more then glad to ship them with the Vette..

Let me know!