Importing a Caterham built overseas into the UK?
Importing a Caterham built overseas into the UK?
Author
Discussion

surfsofa

Original Poster:

406 posts

303 months

Wednesday 29th November 2017
quotequote all
Has anyone done this? I'm considering buying a CKD Caterham and building it here in the US. I'm a Brit, and if I ever decided to move back to the UK I'd want to bring the car back with me. I'm trying to establish whether that's even an option and whether anyone has been through it.

Thanks!
Simon

downsman

1,099 posts

176 months

Thursday 30th November 2017
quotequote all
We are lucky in the UK, in that the IVA test makes it possible to register just about anything, even a home designed special. Most of Europe won't allow anything home built, and some countries won't even allow you to change parts that aren't type approved.
So almost certainly, you could bring it back in, but it is likely that you'd have to go through the test. That means keeping records of the build process, receipts and evidence of newness of parts etc.

tight fart

3,351 posts

293 months

Friday 1st December 2017
quotequote all
Don't think it would make any financial sense, wouldn't a left hand drive Caterham fetch a lot
more $ in the US than £ back here?

surfsofa

Original Poster:

406 posts

303 months

Friday 1st December 2017
quotequote all
Thanks! I hear you about the financial sense thing. I guess there's a good chance I'd feel emotionally invested in a car I'd built myself. There certainly is a market for these cars in the US, even if for the most part they tend to favour power and 'cubic inches'.