Discussion
I must say, I've been browsing tones of cars lately and came across a program on TV where people are racing old, desirable, expensive sports-cars. One team was racing a String ray and I was loved it. I was wondering...could I get one??
I'm still living at home in a stable reasonably payed job. I have no commitments. So here come the questions. I like the older style corvette, the c3. The older the better, proper retro. Late sixties. How much bother and cost is it in importing a car to the UK? I'd expect 2k at the most. How are left hand drive cars over here?? Especially manuals, because I'd like a manual to auto. How are they for parts? Does everything need to be shipped from the states? And reliability? I'm from the UK by the way. Thanks!
I'm still living at home in a stable reasonably payed job. I have no commitments. So here come the questions. I like the older style corvette, the c3. The older the better, proper retro. Late sixties. How much bother and cost is it in importing a car to the UK? I'd expect 2k at the most. How are left hand drive cars over here?? Especially manuals, because I'd like a manual to auto. How are they for parts? Does everything need to be shipped from the states? And reliability? I'm from the UK by the way. Thanks!
Hi, would it happened to have been Roger Wills' 65 you saw on GT Racer? Lovely unrestored car (at least until the weekend when it was shunted at Abbey - thankfully not severely damaged)
LHD is no problem, and consumable service parts are normally in stock at specialists here in the UK. Anything else can be shipped over from the States in a few days.
I has a C3 as a daily driver for a few years, so they can be reliable - in fact the more you use it the more reliable it becomes as it won't like sitting for weeks on end. If you get a 68 the fibre optics can apparently be troublesome though.
Lots of guys on here can advise re importing, and there's quite a few good cars for sale over here also.
LHD is no problem, and consumable service parts are normally in stock at specialists here in the UK. Anything else can be shipped over from the States in a few days.
I has a C3 as a daily driver for a few years, so they can be reliable - in fact the more you use it the more reliable it becomes as it won't like sitting for weeks on end. If you get a 68 the fibre optics can apparently be troublesome though.
Lots of guys on here can advise re importing, and there's quite a few good cars for sale over here also.
Ah cool. Yes it is that one!! Awesome. I'd love something like that to do track days as a great summer car. I think I must advance the building of the garage...it'll be done when this winter hits. They are beauties. Are all pre 1972 ones tax exempt over here?
Can I have some info for importing cars? How advisable is it to buy a car from the states without first seeing it? I know it's a risk, but maybe if there are enough pictures...maybe. Please tell me your stories.
Can I have some info for importing cars? How advisable is it to buy a car from the states without first seeing it? I know it's a risk, but maybe if there are enough pictures...maybe. Please tell me your stories.
pre1973 is tax exempt.. so 72 and earlier.
as for import costs, depends which state you get the car from and how far from a port, but figure around:
Cost of Car
Cost of shipping (£1000-1500 - make sure it is insured)
Then combine this cost and add on 10% duty. then add on 17.5% to the new combined total.
Then add on tax & registration & mot plus any issues to bring it up to UK spec (orange indicators etc).
So, as a summary:
Car = $30,000
Shipping = £3000
=$33,000 = ~£16,500
(£16,500)+10% duty)+17.5% VAT) = £21,326
+MOT, TAX and and SVA issues, say £500 to be sure.
=£21826 / $44000 ish
All rough figures but good for getting on with
edited to add: there are lots of good UK cars around, plus saves the £700 return fare of going out to check it out yourself
as for import costs, depends which state you get the car from and how far from a port, but figure around:
Cost of Car
Cost of shipping (£1000-1500 - make sure it is insured)
Then combine this cost and add on 10% duty. then add on 17.5% to the new combined total.
Then add on tax & registration & mot plus any issues to bring it up to UK spec (orange indicators etc).
So, as a summary:
Car = $30,000
Shipping = £3000
=$33,000 = ~£16,500
(£16,500)+10% duty)+17.5% VAT) = £21,326
+MOT, TAX and and SVA issues, say £500 to be sure.
=£21826 / $44000 ish
All rough figures but good for getting on with
edited to add: there are lots of good UK cars around, plus saves the £700 return fare of going out to check it out yourself
Edited by AMCDan on Friday 16th May 13:38
First place to look is the UK Classic Corvette Club website http://www.corvetteclub.org.uk/ this one for example http://www.corvetteclub.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=625...
Then you can look at the UK Corvette dealers, Corvette Kingdom, Vette Dreams etc. A good 68 to 72 vette will not be cheap though and you have to remember they are 30+ years old. My 70 was rebuilt from the chassis up 3 years ago and I still regularly chase problems eg. I have a small vacuum leak that is driving me nuts, been chasing it for the past 6 months and recently had to replace the drivers door latch. Having said that these minor issuesare not a problem if you have some level of mechanical competence (except that bloody vacuum leak!!) and if properly looked after they are very reliable. Oh yes and when you take it out, be prepared for a lot of attention!
G
Then you can look at the UK Corvette dealers, Corvette Kingdom, Vette Dreams etc. A good 68 to 72 vette will not be cheap though and you have to remember they are 30+ years old. My 70 was rebuilt from the chassis up 3 years ago and I still regularly chase problems eg. I have a small vacuum leak that is driving me nuts, been chasing it for the past 6 months and recently had to replace the drivers door latch. Having said that these minor issuesare not a problem if you have some level of mechanical competence (except that bloody vacuum leak!!) and if properly looked after they are very reliable. Oh yes and when you take it out, be prepared for a lot of attention!
G
The model shown is the C2 built from 1963 to 1967 and in my eyes, the best looking Corvette ever made BUT they are very expensive. The '63 had a split rear screen. The 1968 - 1982 C3 is far more common and better value but you need to inspect the fibreglass bodies carefully. The manuals are, I believe, a 3 plus overdrive set-up and I'm not sure how good they are.
C3s had flying buttresses until 1978 when the large compound rear glass window was introduced although this never opened until 1982, the final year of the model's production. There was no 1983 Corvette and the wider, more practical, faster C4 was launched in 1984.
C3s had flying buttresses until 1978 when the large compound rear glass window was introduced although this never opened until 1982, the final year of the model's production. There was no 1983 Corvette and the wider, more practical, faster C4 was launched in 1984.
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