Bringing GT350 back

Bringing GT350 back

Author
Discussion

Ori1234

Original Poster:

14 posts

83 months

Sunday 2nd February
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I temporarily relocated to the US and bought a 2019 GT350. It's a great car and lots of fun.

I'm due to return to the UK this summer, and am thinking whether or not to bring the GT350 with me. The import process seems well trodden, and as I've owned for >6 months in the US, I should be able to bring back without import tax.

A key motivation for bringing back is that I cannot immediately think of another car to replace it with, even if I materially increased my budget...I really enjoy the manual gearbox, relatively powerful characterful NA V8, and handling

If I did bring back, plan would be to own it in the UK for a couple of years and then sell on. My main concern is the market for these cars in the UK -- is this likely to be extremely difficult to sell without taking a large loss?

What would you do? F

ZX10R NIN

28,850 posts

137 months

Sunday 2nd February
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Do it they're a special car, I still want a GT350R but life is getting in the way frown

paddy1970

1,081 posts

121 months

Sunday 2nd February
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Given your clear enjoyment of the car and the difficulty finding a suitable replacement, I would bring it. The potential resale hit seems worth it for a couple years of enjoyment with a special car you already know you love. The UK's enthusiast community is strong, and while it might take longer to sell than in the US, you should find a buyer who appreciates what makes the GT350 special.

Another point to consider is that while you avoid import tax, you'll still have shipping costs and potentially some conversion work (lights, speedometer, etc.). Also, insurance might be more expensive for a rare, LHD performance car.

Saleen836

11,752 posts

221 months

Sunday 2nd February
quotequote all
paddy1970 said:
Given your clear enjoyment of the car and the difficulty finding a suitable replacement, I would bring it. The potential resale hit seems worth it for a couple years of enjoyment with a special car you already know you love. The UK's enthusiast community is strong, and while it might take longer to sell than in the US, you should find a buyer who appreciates what makes the GT350 special.

Another point to consider is that while you avoid import tax, you'll still have shipping costs and potentially some conversion work (lights, speedometer, etc.). Also, insurance might be more expensive for a rare, LHD performance car.
Will just be rear indicators that would need a conversion from red to amber and a rear foglight will need to be fitted, headlights as far as I am aware on the S550 Mustang is a flat beam so no mods needed, speedo will be in mph so nothing required there.
Quite a few specialist insurance companies have no problem with LHD ( I pay around £300 a year for mine)

Emcojim

27 posts

34 months

Monday 3rd February
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I bought a 2020 GT350 last year from a Ford main dealer in Indiana. Ron at STS handled the shipping and everything else for me. It arrived in the UK in November 2024, so I haven’t driven it much so far…. ‘Looking forward to the weather improving.

Emcojim

27 posts

34 months

Monday 3rd February
quotequote all
I bought a 2020 GT350 last year from a Ford main dealer in Indiana. Ron at STS handled the shipping and everything else for me. It arrived in the UK in November 2024, so I haven’t driven it much so far…. ‘Looking forward to the weather improving.

Florida_Man

61 posts

50 months

Monday 24th February
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Love the gt350 but the engine issues especially with the gen 1 voodoo put me off.

ratrod 2

1,563 posts

21 months

Tuesday 25th February
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Ori1234 said:
I temporarily relocated to the US and bought a 2019 GT350. It's a great car and lots of fun.

I'm due to return to the UK this summer, and am thinking whether or not to bring the GT350 with me. The import process seems well trodden, and as I've owned for >6 months in the US, I should be able to bring back without import tax.

A key motivation for bringing back is that I cannot immediately think of another car to replace it with, even if I materially increased my budget...I really enjoy the manual gearbox, relatively powerful characterful NA V8, and handling

If I did bring back, plan would be to own it in the UK for a couple of years and then sell on. My main concern is the market for these cars in the UK -- is this likely to be extremely difficult to sell without taking a large loss?

What would you do? F
There was 2020 GT350 R sold a couple of nights ago on "Collecting Cars"

Covered under 1800 miles, Usual white with blue stripes, Sold for £78,850 plus 6% buyers commission,



Edited by ratrod 2 on Tuesday 25th February 19:48

Emcojim

27 posts

34 months

Wednesday 26th February
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ratrod 2 said:
There was 2020 GT350 R sold a couple of nights ago on "Collecting Cars"

Covered under 1800 miles, Usual white with blue stripes, Sold for £78,850 plus 6% buyers commission,


Edited by ratrod 2 on Tuesday 25th February 19:48
That was ridiculous. The owner must have been desperate. He changed the auction to 'No Reserve' in the last 15 minutes.
He gave it away.
Whoever bought it probably hasn't stopped laughing yet.

ratrod 2

1,563 posts

21 months

Wednesday 26th February
quotequote all
Emcojim said:
ratrod 2 said:
There was 2020 GT350 R sold a couple of nights ago on "Collecting Cars"

Covered under 1800 miles, Usual white with blue stripes, Sold for £78,850 plus 6% buyers commission,


Edited by ratrod 2 on Tuesday 25th February 19:48
That was ridiculous. The owner must have been desperate. He changed the auction to 'No Reserve' in the last 15 minutes.
He gave it away.
Whoever bought it probably hasn't stopped laughing yet.
It was the second attempt, it was on the same auction a few weeks ago .

I thought it had sold so maybe the winning bidder didn't buy it in the end for what ever reason.

I think when the auction house put no reserve near the end it means it's made it's reserve otherwise

it would have stated it was no reserve from the beginning of the auction ,

Maybe the owner dropped the reserve last minute as the auction will call you trying to get you

to reduce the price a hour or so before the end .

Emcojim

27 posts

34 months

Wednesday 26th February
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That low mileage high spec 2020 GT350R Heritage is easily worth north of £100k taxes paid and UK reg.
This was way too cheap… there has to be a very good reason?