Importing a restoration project from the US it?

[plasticpig]

A mate of mine is looking to import some restoration projects from the US. He is looking at importing two Porsche 914-6's both of which are in Calfornia. Does anyone have any advice about the best way to do this? Is it better to use an agent or can it be done on your own?

[cardigankid]

I'll be watching this with interest. You may have noticed the price of XK's in the States compared with UK if you don't miond LHD, which doesn't bother me.

[aeropilot]

plasticpig said:

A mate of mine is looking to import some restoration projects from the US. He is looking at importing two Porsche 914-6's both of which are in Calfornia. Does anyone have any advice about the best way to do this? Is it better to use an agent or can it be done on your own?

You can do it on your own if you know the ropes, but best done through an agent.
Good source is looking at the ads in the back of Classic American magezine for agents with UK reps etc.
Don't foget to check whether the quote is for surface shipping (not advised) or container shipped which is obviously more expensive. However, econonmies ofsclae mean cost effective if bringing more than one car over as you could get exclusive use of the container.

[a8hex]

cardigankid said:

I'll be watching this with interest. You may have noticed the price of XK's in the States compared with UK if you don't miond LHD, which doesn't bother me.

They are supposed to be too hard to convert from LHD to RHD. Particularly if you aren't too concerned with making everything as original as possible. There's a Jaguar World book about restoring an XK150 where they take a US FHC and convert it.

[lowdrag]

Every Jaguar of the 50's and 60's was built to be either LHD or RHD. You'll see the extra hole in the bulkhead to accomodate the steering column. It isn't difficult to convert a car but you will of course have to get a new dashboard and steering rack (although a friend told me that a LHD rack can be simply converted to RHD) and sometimes change light lenses etc. but the conversion is fairly straightforward. An E type with air con is not feasable because of the plumbing - you'll have to take it out.

[plasticpig]

How many cars will fit in a container?

[aeropilot]

plasticpig said:

How many cars will fit in a container?

Depends on the size of the cars.

IIRC, a standard shipping cont. is 40ft long.

[David_s]

aeropilot said:

plasticpig said:

How many cars will fit in a container?

Depends on the size of the cars.

IIRC, a standard shipping cont. is 40ft long.

There are two standard sizes, 20' and 40'.

[a8hex]

David_s said:

aeropilot said:

plasticpig said:

How many cars will fit in a container?

Depends on the size of the cars.

IIRC, a standard shipping cont. is 40ft long.

There are two standard sizes, 20' and 40'.

You could probably stack at least two cars high it one too, but the frames might cost more than you'd save.

[Hybrids]

Speak to Kingstown Shipping, they will advise you on the best way, a few importer use Kingstown so cut out the middle man.
RoRo (Roll on Roll off)is okay but bits can go walkabout.
Damage is unlikely, most cars moved around the world are RoRo
Non runners are prefered to be in a container, though I RoRo'd a non runner a couple of years ago. (usually charge a premium for having to push it !)
Containerised bits still go missing, brought a Police car over and bits had gone off that.
C&E are much more aware of car values these days, the days of having a bill of sale for $3000 for a Dodge Charger are over

[mgp1969]

I am about to arrange the shipping of an 85 Porsche 911 from California to Dubai. The dealer recommended Aladdin Shipping; I decided to look around and got a cheaper quote from Shipping International. They have dicked me around for about 3 weeks so am about to pay the $1000 more to go with the dealer's recommendation (who they have apparently used a lot).

I will update when the car arrives.