99 transam ramair
Discussion
Just a quick question about importing one. A friend has one in the US owned from new which might be for sale. Very well looked after, 50k miles full history. How much is a fair price to pay him and how much extra is it going to cost me please to get it legal and on my driveway?
Thanks in anticipation...
SM
Thanks in anticipation...
SM
The cost of the car attracts 10% import duty on top then you pay 20% VAT on that total and your shipping. Cheapest shipping is ro-ro and that can cost up to £1000 with marine insurance for when it's on the boat.
On arrival here, you have to get an MOT before registering it as SVA only applies to 10 years and under cars and the last TA was made in 2002.
You mainly need white sideligts, side repeaters, front and rear orange indicators and rear fog light and internal illuminated swith, all complying with UK positioning.
The main issue for the TA is fitting legal orange indicators and sidelights/indicators because the front running lights are too far recessed to be legel so have to be stuck on the bumper somewhere and the 98 on LS1 TA has no rear orange indicators. You also have to stop the brake lights flashing when it indicates under the US system (IIRC, this may be simply cutting a white wire at the brake pedal but don't quote me).
The Camaro is a lot easier which is why they officially imported them in 1999 and 2000.
As for price, a good Z28 here sells for around £6-10k but TA's tend to be slightly higher. However, they are now very rare and so prices will be more arbitrary and may even be on the rise.
On arrival here, you have to get an MOT before registering it as SVA only applies to 10 years and under cars and the last TA was made in 2002.
You mainly need white sideligts, side repeaters, front and rear orange indicators and rear fog light and internal illuminated swith, all complying with UK positioning.
The main issue for the TA is fitting legal orange indicators and sidelights/indicators because the front running lights are too far recessed to be legel so have to be stuck on the bumper somewhere and the 98 on LS1 TA has no rear orange indicators. You also have to stop the brake lights flashing when it indicates under the US system (IIRC, this may be simply cutting a white wire at the brake pedal but don't quote me).
The Camaro is a lot easier which is why they officially imported them in 1999 and 2000.
As for price, a good Z28 here sells for around £6-10k but TA's tend to be slightly higher. However, they are now very rare and so prices will be more arbitrary and may even be on the rise.
Thanks for the input, that's really useful.
So this fellow is looking for 7k USD, he's had the car from new, no stories at all just nicely looked after. He's a personal friend so there's no question of him hiding anything.
I guess I need to know if this is an import that's going to be viable at that price. I'm not desperately worried about how much it ends up being worth compared with the import costs etc, more a case of how much it's going to be in absolute terms and of course if it's even possible with the headlight issues etc. not especially keen on screwing indicators to the side lol.
Are there web resources for people who's converted a 99 transam? Or are there even services available to do a fixed price kind of thing?
SM
So this fellow is looking for 7k USD, he's had the car from new, no stories at all just nicely looked after. He's a personal friend so there's no question of him hiding anything.
I guess I need to know if this is an import that's going to be viable at that price. I'm not desperately worried about how much it ends up being worth compared with the import costs etc, more a case of how much it's going to be in absolute terms and of course if it's even possible with the headlight issues etc. not especially keen on screwing indicators to the side lol.
Are there web resources for people who's converted a 99 transam? Or are there even services available to do a fixed price kind of thing?
SM
OK.
Here is my guide to when I imported my Corvette Z06, noting the SVA is more rigorous than a simple MOT (though they are increasingly picky)
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/627465/2002-chevrole...
First thing to note is that US headlights are flat beam so there are no issues there, they are legal.Secondly, TAs use good old-fashioned electrics ane none of the modern CANBUS electronics that require a professional to do it (who charge anything from £1000 or more for the privilege) though, depending where you are in the country, there are people who can help.
What year is the Trans Am as they require different things depending on whether it is pre '98 or the LS1-engined '98-on
Assuming a rate of 1.5 to the £, your £7k is going to be £5000 plus 10% import duty is £5500 plus 20% VAT is £6600 with your shipping and VAT on top. Of course (cough), if you had a genuine bill of sale for around £5k, the duties would be less and I'm sure you have a great bargaining ability.
This side, you have to cost of the conversion (side repeaters £20, rear fog and switch £25, white sidelights £20, registration and first year's tax (currently around £220 a year). There may be a delay as you have to obtain a CE certificate of duties paid which used to be immediate and which I think you now have to apply for by post.
When I imported, I booked the shipping from the US website of Wallenius Wilhelmsen and it was about $800 with marine insurance on top. If you want to make some enquiries, try Ron Fenton at STS imports who runs containers to the UK.
Here is my guide to when I imported my Corvette Z06, noting the SVA is more rigorous than a simple MOT (though they are increasingly picky)
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/627465/2002-chevrole...
First thing to note is that US headlights are flat beam so there are no issues there, they are legal.Secondly, TAs use good old-fashioned electrics ane none of the modern CANBUS electronics that require a professional to do it (who charge anything from £1000 or more for the privilege) though, depending where you are in the country, there are people who can help.
What year is the Trans Am as they require different things depending on whether it is pre '98 or the LS1-engined '98-on
Assuming a rate of 1.5 to the £, your £7k is going to be £5000 plus 10% import duty is £5500 plus 20% VAT is £6600 with your shipping and VAT on top. Of course (cough), if you had a genuine bill of sale for around £5k, the duties would be less and I'm sure you have a great bargaining ability.
This side, you have to cost of the conversion (side repeaters £20, rear fog and switch £25, white sidelights £20, registration and first year's tax (currently around £220 a year). There may be a delay as you have to obtain a CE certificate of duties paid which used to be immediate and which I think you now have to apply for by post.
When I imported, I booked the shipping from the US website of Wallenius Wilhelmsen and it was about $800 with marine insurance on top. If you want to make some enquiries, try Ron Fenton at STS imports who runs containers to the UK.
Just to add, and may save you a headache or two, there is a company called Ship My Car. I think they're around the Milton Keynes area. But they will take cars of everything if you wanted. Shipping, insurance, SVA and registration. Might be a thought and give you a solid bottom line to work with.
http://www.shipmycar.co.uk/
http://www.shipmycar.co.uk/
$7k is an amazingly low price for a good condition 4th gen WS6 and if I were you I'd rip his arm off for that!!! As previously mentioned on here all the electrics can be done cheaper than a modern car so that's another plus. If you're lucky you should be able to pick up a pair of spare early 4th gen rear lights to convert to UK legal spec purely for MoT purposes and then use the original honeycomb ones.... for car shows etc 
Golden Chariots do a good service as does (Ron Fenton @ AVS IIRC)
Golden Chariots do a good service as does (Ron Fenton @ AVS IIRC)irocfan said:
$7k is an amazingly low price for a good condition 4th gen WS6 and if I were you I'd rip his arm off for that!!! As previously mentioned on here all the electrics can be done cheaper than a modern car so that's another plus. If you're lucky you should be able to pick up a pair of spare early 4th gen rear lights to convert to UK legal spec purely for MoT purposes and then use the original honeycomb ones.... for car shows etc Golden Chariots do a good service as does (Ron Fenton @ AVS IIRC)
This. If it's a genuine 50k mile car in nice shape $7k is a steal, I'd figure closer to $10-12k. Golden Chariots do a good service as does (Ron Fenton @ AVS IIRC)BlackTank said:
I used shipmycar and they were outstanding, handling every detail of the import from the US. I give them a 10 out of 10 for service, responsiveness and speed. Hope it works out for you - I've loved every minute of having my Camaro here in the UK.
thanks, I'll speak to these chaps if and when. actually really stoked to get the car 
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