Can I bring my 2001 Viper GTS to the UK ???

[BLS]

Hello all,

Business opportunities are bringing my family (British born wife, 3 kids and I) to the UK. We plan to move from our home in Orlando, Florida to a small village just outside of Nottingham this December.

I own a saphire blue w/ silver stripe Viper GTS. And I don't want to sell it. Is it possible to bring it with me? Register it and drive it on the roads, streets and highways over there?

The car is highly modified (heads, cam, roller rockers, ecu, headers (no cats) and NOS/propane system. It dynoed at 709 RWHP and 863 RWTQ. So, needless to say... the car will not pass any emmission or smog tests.

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thnaks...

[Viper]

Nottingham cool just up the road from and another member Mich, maybe its possible to bring it in and run US plates on a temporary import license though not sure how that works, there was a guy from CA running his RT over here that way for a couple of years

You could do it properly and get UK plates, but you'll have to pass a government test, I guess the main thing noise (there is a 101DB limit) would be a problem, I'm not sure how the NOS/propane (BTR?) system would effect the regulations either. The more the car is back to standard, the easier it will take to pass

There are a few minor things like headlights pointing the correct way, a rear fog light with a euro lense is needed, as is side turn signals on the hood near the OE viper emblems. There's a guy in the club that can do all that for you

Emissions, there is always ways around that...
nice figures BTW








>> Edited by Viper on Saturday 15th October 15:49

[nismobrown]

I can't see why you should have too many problems.I imported my one from California and the biggest pain in the arse was fitting the original exhaust system back on the car just to get it passed the SVA test knowing that I would have to fit the corsa back on again straight after.The hi flow cats will pass but from there back you will have to fit the original system.Put back the standard air filter,disconnect side markers(removing bulbs should be ok),fit side lights into your front light clusters(bit of easy wiring and 2 cheap bulb holders which fit into holes in the clusters),turn dip beam holders to the other side of the elongated slots(4 screws a side which you access by taking rear panels off the clusters),change wiring to front amber lights in cluster so they become your turn indicators,fit rear fog lamp at proper height(I think it is 250mm to bottom of fog light with the car full of gas and 2 passengers on level ground)fit it on passenger side with illuminated switch on dash or console which is visible to the driver while sitting in the car(I fitted my one into ash tray holder on alloy plate which is the same shape and size as ashtray cut out),fit side amber repeaters into void between door and hood pointing backwards (make the right height alloy plates or similar and pop rivet to cill section and connect these to your front indicators).You will have no problem with brakes as they do not test the ABS cars any where near as much as non ABS.make sure tyres are all good.you will probably have to remove the NOS but I am not sure.I don't think headers will cause a problem.Rear spoiler ,side splitters etc might fail?Most important don't forget to bring the original exhaust,clamps,headers e.t.c back to the UK.I think that is most of it from what I can remember and it is worth rust proofing them better to put up with the shit weather we get in the UK.(I changed most of the fixings to stainless which is 100% better than stock.
Dave.

[vetteheadracer]

Depending on how long you are planning on being in the UK, depends on whether you need to import the car or whether you can just bring it over for a "holiday" if you get my drift
I think the rules are you can bring the car for up to 1 year without it being imported. i.e. keep it on your Florida tags assuming they are valid then you can just tell the police you visiting for vacation if you get stopped.

here's the details from the DVLA website.

www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/exptimpt.htm#Temporarily%20Imported%20Vehicles

C. Temporarily Imported Vehicles
There are International agreements which provide for the temporary use of a vehicle in a foreign country for a limited time, usually 6 months in a 12 month period. A visitor to the UK may use a vehicle displaying foreign plates, provided that all taxes (including vehicle excise duty) are paid in their country of origin.

[STRAWBS]

there has been a Mitsubishi Eclips by me that has been around for about four years on an american plat it has florida on it as wll writen on the bottom