Importing a mustang

[ambrose]

I'm returning to the UK soon and looking into bringing along my 'Stang. Anyone got advice?

It's a 96 GT coupe. That's a 4.6L lump with 215hp.

I'm motivated by the fact that I can't actually get 3K sterling for it in the U.S. (depreciation + pathetic dollar)! For that money, I couldn't really buy 0-60 in 6.5 secs, could I? Or at least it would be very old and rusty.

So anyone with experiences along these lines, let me know.

Chris

[LuS1fer]

the Stang would certainly be worth more over here - anything from £6k-£8k.

Importing is pretty straightforward. You just send it ro-ro. Shipping from Baltimore is $880. I think you're exempt from the taxes if you've owned the car for 6 months or more. You have to put the car through an SVA test at one of the SVA centres here - mainly lighting like fog lamps, orange rear indicators, orange side repeaters - probably at most around £500- £1000. Then you register the car with a year's road tax and away you go.

For better info, try this site - www.aacint.com They'll provide the links to the DVLA and HM customs sites for chapter and verse.

There are plenty of US cars in the UK and plebnty of enthusiasts. At the annual summer Billing American Car Show last year, there were a record 7000 American cars.

[ambrose]

Thanks for the link.

Do you have any good suggestions for getting the bits for cheap?

Also, I don't _think_ I have side repeaters. IIRC this means I don't have to add them. Correct?

[ZR1427]

Ambrose ,i dont think many of the guys of the corvette forum read this forum so if you want to know about importing a car from the states it might be an idea to post about importing on there.

As for parts there is a post further down this forum from ErictheBrave who can bring in parts that you can locate but they cannot ship,i know him personally and he's a real decent bloke,he's bringing in an engine for me at this time.
Hope this helps.

Cliff

BTW,welcome

>> Edited by ZR1427 on Friday 20th February 20:33

[mikef]

Lots of good advice at www.import-car.info/

I basically followed these tips and got my two fords over here painlessly

Mike

[Mustang Baz]

Greetings chaps - am currently in the process of thinking through importing my 2000 V8 GT Convertible Mustang into the UK from CA, as the prices I am being offered are so low as to make me cry!

Am interested in how Ambrose got on in importing his 'Stang and how running it is going over in the UK. Any advice would be very much appreciated - websites checked out excellent, but as an active PH member on other forums, I am aware how good this site is for finding out other's experiences.

[ambrose]

Hi Baz,

My sympathies with you resale problem. It rings true with my experience.

Well, eventually I sold it. I lost $1500 on it in 18 months, but that was around the cost of importing it so I decided to make my life simple.

IIRC the shipping was quite cheap as long as I could deliver it to the docks (IIRC Newark) - a bit of a drive from Detroit. However there was more problems. Getting the right back lights is not cheap (incl. fog), and I never found the correct headlights. Tax was not a problem for me. I was arriving back from a time abroad, and really wanted to pick up the car and drive it off - but I figured that wasn't going to be possible - so I'd need a tow.... etc. etc. Basically without some real help it was going to get expensive.

So I took the loss, came home and bought a 944 turbo! Just as fast (well, faster) plus it actually goes around bends.

Anyway. Good luck to you. I always like to see mustangs on the road in the UK. I'm pasting in my notes I collected.


--------------------------------------------
American car advice
Eddie 01763 853020

Importing:
Shipping? $500-700??

Dependable auto shippers.
www.dasautoshippers.com/dasnew/web_order/contact_das.html
1 800 826 1083
Pick up muy house: $1750
Drop off new jersey: $1150.
Roll-on roll-off, takes 4-6 weeks.

There should be zero taxes and duties.
You need the form C104A (and C3 for any other stuff).
www.hmce.gov.uk/ go to forms and pubs -> categories of pubs -> public notice no. 3.

Vehicle inspectorate (SVA testing, MOT etc).
Enquiry Unit
Vehicle Inspectorate
91/92 The Strand
Swansea SA1 2DA
0870 60 60 440
www.via.gov.uk/about_us/contact_services/contacts/contacts_general.htm

will either need an MOT or a SVA (150quid)


Dept. of transport
www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_506867.hcsp

DVLA:
0870 240 0010
Fax: [phone]
Address: Customer Enquiries (Vehicles) Unit,
DVLC, Swansea,
SA99 1BL
Personal Vehicle Registration Marks 0870 6000 142
E-mail: [e-mail]

UK Mustang breakers:
Steve Walker at Oldcott Motors (Stoke) 01782 782 081
Blues Brothers (Crewe) 01270 215 005
Ian Mumberson (Alvechurch) 0121 445 5000
Stateside (Atherstone) 01827 717 600

[blown 5.0]

i imported a 2000 GT rag top last year , lights were easy so were side repeaters , got 99 to 01 cobra rear tail lamps as they have amber turn signials ,but you will need a resistor , about 27 watt as the new turn signials have 1 bulb at rear but the red turn signials have two 27 watt bulbs , by having one you will have your turn signials flashing way to fast.The side repeaters are fitted in place of the GT badges on the fender with small clear oval indicators from halfords , just enlarge the hole for the badge so that if you want you can get it sva and then remove them with out leaving a hole , the look just fine if they were long term and dont look as cluttered as the badge and the indicators together.I drilled out the fog light blulbs and fitted a 5 watt side light bulb and took the feed from the amber side lights , that way you dont need to drill the head lamps and if converted back later all you need is two fog lamp bulbs.The rear fog lamp is a halfords special fitted to the stud on the rear crash bar , and spliced from the fog lamp switch on the centre consol as it needs to light up . Again can be removed or just flipped up , this way i made it legal but i didnt deface the car .Good luck

>> Edited by blown 5.0 on Wednesday 19th January 21:37

[Mustang Baz]

Thanks to all for responses. Am taking the plunge and bringing the Mustang back over.

Quick additional query though; does anyone know whether a Flowmaster Muffler will cause a failure on the SVA in the UK? Not sure if it will pass the "noise" element of the test and want to make sure of this before it goes into the container in the next few days!

[smele]

Mustang Baz said:

Thanks to all for responses. Am taking the plunge and bringing the Mustang back over. Quick additional query though; does anyone know whether a Flowmaster Muffler will cause a failure on the SVA in the UK? Not sure if it will pass the "noise" element of the test and want to make sure of this before it goes into the container in the next few days!

Hmm, I had not thought about the noise element.

[Mustang Baz]

Smele - Mustang passed SVA with flying colours BUT per Mildenhall Auto Centre (excellent), it stood an enhanced chance of failure due to the fitting of any additional non-stock items. So....Flowmasters/other a no go prior to SVA in my experience.

[MrBabyMan]

I know of a company that can do the job. It's called American Auto Transport. They ship internationally too. The website is http://www.autotransportaat.com . Check it out for more info.