importing/sva blah blah blah!
Discussion
Hello all,
Is there anywhere a "pack" on "How To Import Your Corvette"? Perhaps someone has documented everything that should be considered and carried out?
My question specifically relate to what do i do after i see the corvette i want on a website? I'm not ready to buy really until early next year, but the following link is an example of something i would be interested in.
Let's say i wanted the one below....
www.usedcorvettesforsale.com/1987-corvette-19407.html
a) what do you think of it incidentally?
b) what would i do next? do i phone them?
c) how do i ensure that i'm buying what's described and pictured in that Ad? - and that i dont get sent a Chevy Nova instead or something.
d) using what method would i pay them
e) how do i get it over to britain, and what does that cost then?
f) for how long can i drive it around with american/no plates?
g) can i have a choice of how the lights are modified - i dislike the amber replacements - favouring the genuine american look far more - are there any cleverer modifications to 1) pass the sva, 2) retain that all-red american look? - what control do i have over the sva mods?
h) so how much is importing/vat/sva?
i) what else is there to do?
j) in fact, on a '87, do i still need an sva? seeing that is 20 years old?
h) how long does the whole process take, from dock to dock?
i) is there any benefits in doing all this yourself? or is it better to have someone do it for you? can any of you recommend anyone? how much extra would they charge - presumably they'd be out to make at leasta little cash out of me.
Phew! all help will be appreciated. Many thanks.
Steve
Is there anywhere a "pack" on "How To Import Your Corvette"? Perhaps someone has documented everything that should be considered and carried out?
My question specifically relate to what do i do after i see the corvette i want on a website? I'm not ready to buy really until early next year, but the following link is an example of something i would be interested in.
Let's say i wanted the one below....
www.usedcorvettesforsale.com/1987-corvette-19407.html
a) what do you think of it incidentally?
b) what would i do next? do i phone them?
c) how do i ensure that i'm buying what's described and pictured in that Ad? - and that i dont get sent a Chevy Nova instead or something.
d) using what method would i pay them
e) how do i get it over to britain, and what does that cost then?
f) for how long can i drive it around with american/no plates?
g) can i have a choice of how the lights are modified - i dislike the amber replacements - favouring the genuine american look far more - are there any cleverer modifications to 1) pass the sva, 2) retain that all-red american look? - what control do i have over the sva mods?
h) so how much is importing/vat/sva?
i) what else is there to do?
j) in fact, on a '87, do i still need an sva? seeing that is 20 years old?
h) how long does the whole process take, from dock to dock?
i) is there any benefits in doing all this yourself? or is it better to have someone do it for you? can any of you recommend anyone? how much extra would they charge - presumably they'd be out to make at leasta little cash out of me.
Phew! all help will be appreciated. Many thanks.
Steve
Edited by wheresmyvette on Sunday 24th June 16:39
Including agent fees you're talking £600 to £900 to ship the car over. Wallenius Wilhelmsen seem to be very popular. In order to save money you're best trying to source a car close to a port in the States. Add the shipping/insurance cost to the purchase price then add 10% duty and VAT onto the total. If you're handy with a screwdriver you can do the conversion work to the lights etc yourself for a few hundred £'s then put it through the SVA test which currently costs £158.
Also check out this previous thread,
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
Also check out this previous thread,
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
Edited by eldudereno on Sunday 24th June 22:38
Excellent thread posted above. thanks very much.
i agree about the above point, that it's not much more if anything to purchase an '87 locally. Though, really i was just using the car above as an example. Also there's more choice in the States.
Why do people favour Texas for finding a 'Vette? I presume there's a major exporting dock in Texas, what's it called?
How do i know whether i can get the car to Liverpool at all? Living in cheshire, Liverpool's is better bet than down south.
Thanks!
i agree about the above point, that it's not much more if anything to purchase an '87 locally. Though, really i was just using the car above as an example. Also there's more choice in the States.
Why do people favour Texas for finding a 'Vette? I presume there's a major exporting dock in Texas, what's it called?
How do i know whether i can get the car to Liverpool at all? Living in cheshire, Liverpool's is better bet than down south.
Thanks!
wheresmyvette said:
Why do people favour Texas for finding a 'Vette? I presume there's a major exporting dock in Texas, what's it called?
Some guys have got better deals on their cars in Texas but you've also got to look at the climate that the car has been used in as you certainly don't want a car that's been driven in the winter months with salt and grit on the roads.I have now imported 3 corvettes from the states and my experience has been good.
Its best to buy somewhere near the eastern seaboard so that internal transportation costs can be kept to a minimum, and ro-ro ferries operate from the eastern seaboard ports of Charlston, Norfolk, Baltimore and Newark.I have however bought from such farafield states as New Hampshire and Illinois with transporter costs were $600+/-, and used Wallenius shipping out of both Charlston and Baltimore.
Since most of these cars are "garage queens", I would not worry too much about salt etc.
If you want to reduce your paperwork involment to a minimum, then I can recommend Schumacher Cargo (Ian Jeffreys).
I doubt that there is currently any finnancial advantage in buying a C5 or earlier (other than choice), and even the C5 Z06 prices have recently hardened in the US.The most advantage can be made with a C6, and even given Stratsone's current discounting, you can still be at least £9,000+ in pocket.
The more one does it, the easier it becomes, its not rocket science.
Its best to buy somewhere near the eastern seaboard so that internal transportation costs can be kept to a minimum, and ro-ro ferries operate from the eastern seaboard ports of Charlston, Norfolk, Baltimore and Newark.I have however bought from such farafield states as New Hampshire and Illinois with transporter costs were $600+/-, and used Wallenius shipping out of both Charlston and Baltimore.
Since most of these cars are "garage queens", I would not worry too much about salt etc.
If you want to reduce your paperwork involment to a minimum, then I can recommend Schumacher Cargo (Ian Jeffreys).
I doubt that there is currently any finnancial advantage in buying a C5 or earlier (other than choice), and even the C5 Z06 prices have recently hardened in the US.The most advantage can be made with a C6, and even given Stratsone's current discounting, you can still be at least £9,000+ in pocket.
The more one does it, the easier it becomes, its not rocket science.
wheresmyvette said:
Excellent thread posted above. thanks very much.
i agree about the above point, that it's not much more if anything to purchase an '87 locally. Though, really i was just using the car above as an example. Also there's more choice in the States.
Why do people favour Texas for finding a 'Vette? I presume there's a major exporting dock in Texas, what's it called?
How do i know whether i can get the car to Liverpool at all? Living in cheshire, Liverpool's is better bet than down south.
Thanks!
,i agree about the above point, that it's not much more if anything to purchase an '87 locally. Though, really i was just using the car above as an example. Also there's more choice in the States.
Why do people favour Texas for finding a 'Vette? I presume there's a major exporting dock in Texas, what's it called?
How do i know whether i can get the car to Liverpool at all? Living in cheshire, Liverpool's is better bet than down south.
Thanks!
,
Houston Terminal
c4koh said:
I may be missing something, but if that 1987 your'e looking at for $8500 (which would be about £4500 local)... it's probably easier, and not much more expensive!! to buy a local 1987 C4 'vette... it won't be much more in price I don't think once import, shipping etc. is paid.
,,
No benefit buying such an old car in USA.
Only benefit is buying relativly newer ones.
owenemyr said:
I have now imported 3 corvettes from the states and my experience has been good.
Its best to buy somewhere near the eastern seaboard so that internal transportation costs can be kept to a minimum, and ro-ro ferries operate from the eastern seaboard ports of Charlston, Norfolk, Baltimore and Newark.I have however bought from such farafield states as New Hampshire and Illinois with transporter costs were $600+/-, and used Wallenius shipping out of both Charlston and Baltimore.
Since most of these cars are "garage queens", I would not worry too much about salt etc.
If you want to reduce your paperwork involment to a minimum, then I can recommend Schumacher Cargo (Ian Jeffreys).
I doubt that there is currently any finnancial advantage in buying a C5 or earlier (other than choice), and even the C5 Z06 prices have recently hardened in the US.The most advantage can be made with a C6, and even given Stratsone's current discounting, you can still be at least £9,000+ in pocket.
The more one does it, the easier it becomes, its not rocket science.
,Its best to buy somewhere near the eastern seaboard so that internal transportation costs can be kept to a minimum, and ro-ro ferries operate from the eastern seaboard ports of Charlston, Norfolk, Baltimore and Newark.I have however bought from such farafield states as New Hampshire and Illinois with transporter costs were $600+/-, and used Wallenius shipping out of both Charlston and Baltimore.
Since most of these cars are "garage queens", I would not worry too much about salt etc.
If you want to reduce your paperwork involment to a minimum, then I can recommend Schumacher Cargo (Ian Jeffreys).
I doubt that there is currently any finnancial advantage in buying a C5 or earlier (other than choice), and even the C5 Z06 prices have recently hardened in the US.The most advantage can be made with a C6, and even given Stratsone's current discounting, you can still be at least £9,000+ in pocket.
The more one does it, the easier it becomes, its not rocket science.
,
Ian Jeffries at Schumacher Cargo. = Great guys to work with. 01449 723576
I have used his services more than once, each time has been very quick in customs and release, and would highly reccommend him.
used Schumacher Cargo in Houston, Via Neptune International in paramount California.
Ian is very good in all his paperwork, and I feel no one could get your car through C&E faster than he could.
.
I'm intrigued by the SVA threshold, so if i went for any pre 1997 Corvette, i could keep the 4-red lights at the back?
[/quote]
You can keep all four red lights at rear! but must have amber turn signals,fitting amber bulbs into the reversing lamps after some rewireing ! even for the MOT.
I'm intrigued by the SVA threshold, so if i went for any pre 1997 Corvette, i could keep the 4-red lights at the back?
[/quote]
You can keep all four red lights at rear! but must have amber turn signals,fitting amber bulbs into the reversing lamps after some rewireing ! even for the MOT.
Okay so GO55_USA says it will pass mot and UK_WS6 says it won't, can anyone anyone confirm this?
I like the idea of re-using the reversing lights as turn signals, therefore retaining the all-four-reds. Must there be repeaters on the sides of the front fenders?
i must admit im sure i've seen uk-registered corvettes without repeaters AND all four red lights. In fact, i know this to be true, when i was 11 or 12 i had a ride in a 90 convertible G845 ETJ i think the reg was. and this was EXACTLY as i would want a vette. it was a convertible with hardtop, fx3, 6-speed, cd, light tan interior, power seats. perfect - complete with no euro-mods. though i know that from seeing it in certain classifieds, someone's put the '91 style rear end on it and it has euro lights now if i recall correctly.
Anyway, so how long would i have from picking my car up at the dock to having to have it registered and mot'd (and sva'd if it's 10 years old or younger)??? Or must i drive it straight to the garage before i get it home?
Thanks for the info all. it's being very useful.
I like the idea of re-using the reversing lights as turn signals, therefore retaining the all-four-reds. Must there be repeaters on the sides of the front fenders?
i must admit im sure i've seen uk-registered corvettes without repeaters AND all four red lights. In fact, i know this to be true, when i was 11 or 12 i had a ride in a 90 convertible G845 ETJ i think the reg was. and this was EXACTLY as i would want a vette. it was a convertible with hardtop, fx3, 6-speed, cd, light tan interior, power seats. perfect - complete with no euro-mods. though i know that from seeing it in certain classifieds, someone's put the '91 style rear end on it and it has euro lights now if i recall correctly.
Anyway, so how long would i have from picking my car up at the dock to having to have it registered and mot'd (and sva'd if it's 10 years old or younger)??? Or must i drive it straight to the garage before i get it home?
Thanks for the info all. it's being very useful.
Edited by wheresmyvette on Tuesday 26th June 08:04
UK_WS6 said:
c4koh said:
I may be missing something, but if that 1987 your'e looking at for $8500 (which would be about £4500 local)... it's probably easier, and not much more expensive!! to buy a local 1987 C4 'vette... it won't be much more in price I don't think once import, shipping etc. is paid.
,,
No benefit buying such an old car in USA.
Only benefit is buying relativly newer ones.
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