buying private in the USA - from here
Discussion
Hi all, after an awful lot of wondering and procrastination I've decided that I really need a 70s American truck in my life. A short bed C10 or F100, possibly a D100.
Funds as ever aren't as plentiful as I'd like them to be, and looking at current prices in the UK I'd need double my 10 grand budget to get anything decent.
That's fine and understood, but the snag is that everything else aside from complete rotters and massive projects seem to sit around the 14-16k mark.. And that's just not good value for what they are, which is pretty ordinary trucks needing a fair few quid spending on them over time. I guess spring and sunny weather is making sellers think they can expect strong money.
Anyway looking at craigslist and facebook in the USA there's no shortage of trucks that I think I could import on budget, and end up with something significantly better than what's in the UK market right now. Not to mention that $15k trucks over there generally look far better than £15k trucks here.
It's a little unnerving thinking about persuading a US seller to sell to a Limey on the end of a phone / laptop, and to wire $10k to them and have it all go smoothly! I appreciate that a company like Kingstown or STS can deal with the logistics from the seller's door to clearance through the UK port.
So, anyone done it? Any contacts or agents in the US who deal in this sort of transaction? Just a case of trawling the likely candidates til you find a seller who is straight up, helpful and uncomplicated?
Funds as ever aren't as plentiful as I'd like them to be, and looking at current prices in the UK I'd need double my 10 grand budget to get anything decent.
That's fine and understood, but the snag is that everything else aside from complete rotters and massive projects seem to sit around the 14-16k mark.. And that's just not good value for what they are, which is pretty ordinary trucks needing a fair few quid spending on them over time. I guess spring and sunny weather is making sellers think they can expect strong money.
Anyway looking at craigslist and facebook in the USA there's no shortage of trucks that I think I could import on budget, and end up with something significantly better than what's in the UK market right now. Not to mention that $15k trucks over there generally look far better than £15k trucks here.
It's a little unnerving thinking about persuading a US seller to sell to a Limey on the end of a phone / laptop, and to wire $10k to them and have it all go smoothly! I appreciate that a company like Kingstown or STS can deal with the logistics from the seller's door to clearance through the UK port.
So, anyone done it? Any contacts or agents in the US who deal in this sort of transaction? Just a case of trawling the likely candidates til you find a seller who is straight up, helpful and uncomplicated?
FNG said:
Hi all, after an awful lot of wondering and procrastination I've decided that I really need a 70s American truck in my life. A short bed C10 or F100, possibly a D100.
Funds as ever aren't as plentiful as I'd like them to be, and looking at current prices in the UK I'd need double my 10 grand budget to get anything decent.
That's fine and understood, but the snag is that everything else aside from complete rotters and massive projects seem to sit around the 14-16k mark.. And that's just not good value for what they are, which is pretty ordinary trucks needing a fair few quid spending on them over time. I guess spring and sunny weather is making sellers think they can expect strong money.
Anyway looking at craigslist and facebook in the USA there's no shortage of trucks that I think I could import on budget, and end up with something significantly better than what's in the UK market right now. Not to mention that $15k trucks over there generally look far better than £15k trucks here.
It's a little unnerving thinking about persuading a US seller to sell to a Limey on the end of a phone / laptop, and to wire $10k to them and have it all go smoothly! I appreciate that a company like Kingstown or STS can deal with the logistics from the seller's door to clearance through the UK port.
So, anyone done it? Any contacts or agents in the US who deal in this sort of transaction? Just a case of trawling the likely candidates til you find a seller who is straight up, helpful and uncomplicated?
Given the current state of the classic car/vehicle market here in the UK (not the USA which is perhaps unaffected) I would have given patience and time you'd stand a good chance of securing something here in UK at a more reasonable price........having said that what do we consider a 'reasonable' price? - plenty of people still asking 'elevated' prices for cars........but American car sales 'here' certainly seem to have declined. But really good stuff still seems to sell to the right person. Have you considered doing what traders do? - do a 'wanted' ad for a truck......someone may respond and if you are on a similar price band to what traders will pay you might have something turn-up. Funds as ever aren't as plentiful as I'd like them to be, and looking at current prices in the UK I'd need double my 10 grand budget to get anything decent.
That's fine and understood, but the snag is that everything else aside from complete rotters and massive projects seem to sit around the 14-16k mark.. And that's just not good value for what they are, which is pretty ordinary trucks needing a fair few quid spending on them over time. I guess spring and sunny weather is making sellers think they can expect strong money.
Anyway looking at craigslist and facebook in the USA there's no shortage of trucks that I think I could import on budget, and end up with something significantly better than what's in the UK market right now. Not to mention that $15k trucks over there generally look far better than £15k trucks here.
It's a little unnerving thinking about persuading a US seller to sell to a Limey on the end of a phone / laptop, and to wire $10k to them and have it all go smoothly! I appreciate that a company like Kingstown or STS can deal with the logistics from the seller's door to clearance through the UK port.
So, anyone done it? Any contacts or agents in the US who deal in this sort of transaction? Just a case of trawling the likely candidates til you find a seller who is straight up, helpful and uncomplicated?
FNG said:
Hi all, after an awful lot of wondering and procrastination I've decided that I really need a 70s American truck in my life. A short bed C10 or F100, possibly a D100.
Funds as ever aren't as plentiful as I'd like them to be, and looking at current prices in the UK I'd need double my 10 grand budget to get anything decent.
Funds as ever aren't as plentiful as I'd like them to be, and looking at current prices in the UK I'd need double my 10 grand budget to get anything decent.
Don't buy the car, buy the seller.
Given that you're asking. I thought I would throw it out there as a friend of mine is selling a 69 Ford F100 short bed truck. I've bought a couple of cars from Tom and he's OCD so his vehicles tend to be nice. This one has a 390 CI engine with a C6 and an LSD rear. It's a short bed and has a recent repaint (last 3 years). He also recently installed rear disc brakes and a modern vintage air a/c system. It fires on the first turn and sounds great and looks very nice.
The owner is an 83 year old ex US marine and is a solid guy. He bought the car in Texas when he lived here but he now lives in Florida (near the gulf coast). Tom has had a few nice cars over the years. I bought a 94 Ford lightning and a 1980 Mercedes Benz 450SLC when he moved from Dallas. I think that the truck is about to go on Bring a Trailer. If you're interested, I can share the link when it goes live, or put you in touch if you want to talk to him directly.
Edited by alabbasi on Friday 16th May 17:43
Have you done the sums?
Purchase price. you need to factor in the exchange rate you will get for your money, then transport costs from where you buy to shipping location, shipping costs + insurance, then once landed import duty on all costs then VAT on the total
With the $-£ rate currently the difference between buying here or importing isn't much different
Purchase price. you need to factor in the exchange rate you will get for your money, then transport costs from where you buy to shipping location, shipping costs + insurance, then once landed import duty on all costs then VAT on the total
With the $-£ rate currently the difference between buying here or importing isn't much different
Thanks for the replies and offers of help - much appreciated.
Unless these cars do end up going for ten? I don't know the market too well, but I do know there's not much about at that money for a Yank you'd want... hence looking at imports as it's a very mixed bag of private trucks on sale but it does look like decent enough daily drivers are out there in my price range. Shiny dealer-sold examples, no chance, but I'm not after that.
SRT Hellcat said:
I have a contact in New Hampshire that could collect a truck for you and take it to the New Jersey docks. You can organise shipping through Transmotion
Thanks for the offer. I will take a look at what's for sale in the state.alabbasi said:
Given that you're asking. I thought I would throw it out there as a friend of mine is selling a 69 Ford F100 short bed truck. I've bought a couple of cars from Tom and he's OCD so his vehicles tend to be nice. This one has a 390 CI engine with a C6 and an LSD rear. It's a short bed and has a recent repaint (last 3 years). He also recently installed rear disc brakes and a modern vintage air a/c system. It fires on the first turn and sounds great and looks very nice.
The owner is an 83 year old ex US marine and is a solid guy. He bought the car in Texas when he lived here but he now lives in Florida (near the gulf coast). Tom has had a few nice cars over the years. I bought a 94 Ford lightning and a 1980 Mercedes Benz 450SLC when he moved from Dallas. I think that the truck is about to go on Bring a Trailer. If you're interested, I can share the link when it goes live, or put you in touch if you want to talk to him directly.
That does sound interesting - an F100 is second in preference to a C10 square body but at my price range I need the best truck not the ideal one. If you could share a link or more details it'd be much appreciated.The owner is an 83 year old ex US marine and is a solid guy. He bought the car in Texas when he lived here but he now lives in Florida (near the gulf coast). Tom has had a few nice cars over the years. I bought a 94 Ford lightning and a 1980 Mercedes Benz 450SLC when he moved from Dallas. I think that the truck is about to go on Bring a Trailer. If you're interested, I can share the link when it goes live, or put you in touch if you want to talk to him directly.
newsatten said:
Fraught !
with prices well higher in the US , 10k would just buy a pile of pooh!
loads of motors here that just dont sell, go look and make a cheeky offer, its the looking thats important, not silly offers from a laptop.
Some of my problem here is that the rule seems to be that if it's got a V8 in it, it's 14k and if it's got shiny paint, a bit more. The amount of stuff that comes on at 14k is hilarious, and I fully get that there will be a seller out there who will go for 12k cash in yer 'and when I'm stood in front of them, but I don't have a great deal of spare time so 5 hour round trips to offer 4-6k under the asking price isn't going to make me popular with my family, nor the sellers. I'm just not quite at the budget that means I can offer 12-13 on a 15k truck and have any chance it'll be accepted.with prices well higher in the US , 10k would just buy a pile of pooh!
loads of motors here that just dont sell, go look and make a cheeky offer, its the looking thats important, not silly offers from a laptop.
Unless these cars do end up going for ten? I don't know the market too well, but I do know there's not much about at that money for a Yank you'd want... hence looking at imports as it's a very mixed bag of private trucks on sale but it does look like decent enough daily drivers are out there in my price range. Shiny dealer-sold examples, no chance, but I'm not after that.
Saleen836 said:
Have you done the sums?
Purchase price. you need to factor in the exchange rate you will get for your money, then transport costs from where you buy to shipping location, shipping costs + insurance, then once landed import duty on all costs then VAT on the total
With the $-£ rate currently the difference between buying here or importing isn't much different
I pulled this together a few years ago so am sure some of the port and registration charges will have gone up but it looks broadly right. Anything I've forgotten?Purchase price. you need to factor in the exchange rate you will get for your money, then transport costs from where you buy to shipping location, shipping costs + insurance, then once landed import duty on all costs then VAT on the total
With the $-£ rate currently the difference between buying here or importing isn't much different
FNG said:
That looks really clean.
Hard to believe it’s anywhere near my budget though!
How much is he asking?
It's up on BAT auction: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1969-ford-f-100-...Hard to believe it’s anywhere near my budget though!
How much is he asking?
You can hear it run. For a 56 year old truck, it runs like a sewing machine. Long bed is the way to go. You can hold an 8x4 sheet of plywood or plaster board and close the tailgate or fit a toolbox and still have 6ft of bed.
Edited by alabbasi on Tuesday 20th May 18:14
FNG said:
Saleen836 said:
Have you done the sums?
Purchase price. you need to factor in the exchange rate you will get for your money, then transport costs from where you buy to shipping location, shipping costs + insurance, then once landed import duty on all costs then VAT on the total
With the $-£ rate currently the difference between buying here or importing isn't much different
I pulled this together a few years ago so am sure some of the port and registration charges will have gone up but it looks broadly right. Anything I've forgotten?Purchase price. you need to factor in the exchange rate you will get for your money, then transport costs from where you buy to shipping location, shipping costs + insurance, then once landed import duty on all costs then VAT on the total
With the $-£ rate currently the difference between buying here or importing isn't much different
Shipping costs have risen a fair bit in the past few years so might be worth getting a few estimates on that plus all the other associated costs
5% duty on anything over 30 years old so anything on my radar right up past the favoured ones up to C1500s are low duty now.
I reckon that F100 will go well beyond my means. And TBH while I get that you get more truck for your money, for the simple aspects of parking at work and at home, and frankly the look of the thing, I’m strongly preferring a short if I can find one in the right condition for the right money.
I reckon that F100 will go well beyond my means. And TBH while I get that you get more truck for your money, for the simple aspects of parking at work and at home, and frankly the look of the thing, I’m strongly preferring a short if I can find one in the right condition for the right money.
alabbasi said:
That will be most of the OP's budget before he has even shipped itSaleen836 said:
That will be most of the OP's budget before he has even shipped it
I bought my square body in 2008 for $2000 and had the TH350 rebuilt (R&R for $600). Those days are over. I don't think it's possible to find a good square body for less, especially not a short body. The ones I see these days for $5000 or under are usually basket cases needing at least 3x the amount to turn it into a $5000 truck. This was my old truck. It's a long bed of course.
Edited by alabbasi on Thursday 22 May 00:22
I definitely wish I'd got one a few years back when a decent custom truck was ten grand... but there you go.
That $13k truck looks very nice but it's that few grand extra that I simply don't have the means for. Or at least I'd need to save hard for a year to afford! And I've never yet managed to keep ten grand in my pocket and save with a long term target in mind, and don't expect I'll be able to start now.
I'd seen a couple
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/62885583...
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/12440990...
and a fair few around the $13-14k mark but that's £14k landed, and with that much I can go buying a UK truck I can inspect and make a cash offer on.
Always a risk buying a pig in a poke with a distance purchase, no returns!
As I'm at the bottom of the short bed market and there's risk attached it may end up that my choice is a $7-8k project that I'll sink the same again into, or a decent long bed that I'll want to trade out of, into the truck I really want!
Hey ho story of my life when it comes to car buying. I'm still looking around the market. Thanks again for all the advice and moral support.
That $13k truck looks very nice but it's that few grand extra that I simply don't have the means for. Or at least I'd need to save hard for a year to afford! And I've never yet managed to keep ten grand in my pocket and save with a long term target in mind, and don't expect I'll be able to start now.
I'd seen a couple
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/62885583...
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/12440990...
and a fair few around the $13-14k mark but that's £14k landed, and with that much I can go buying a UK truck I can inspect and make a cash offer on.
Always a risk buying a pig in a poke with a distance purchase, no returns!
As I'm at the bottom of the short bed market and there's risk attached it may end up that my choice is a $7-8k project that I'll sink the same again into, or a decent long bed that I'll want to trade out of, into the truck I really want!
Hey ho story of my life when it comes to car buying. I'm still looking around the market. Thanks again for all the advice and moral support.
Just a thought, and possibly a useless one, but have you considered a car derived pickup like an El Camino or Ranchero?
I was after a 3100 step side originally though soon broadened my sights after the prices started to escalate and ended up putting the C10 Action Line on my wish list along with the 4th or 5th gen F100.My main criteria was similar to yours I suppose, short-bed (ideally step sided) reasonable cost, I was budgeting up to £10k at the time, and with a decent V8 motor.
I looked at lots of interesting stuff, some being good, some not so and one I regretted not buying which was a 60s GMC but at £15k it was just too much for me to justify spending. I ended up with a 1970 Ranchero which, whilst being reasonable to buy, has cost me an awful amount since both in time and money. However, I still love it to bits, it's reasonably easy to work on being based on a Torino, parts are readily available, though don't forget to take shipping and duty into account with them, and it seems to drive a lot better than a dedicated truck from that era. I've ruined my initial budget with it now but I just liked the thing so have gone through it from front to back doing what was necessary.
I did have it up for sale at one stage, had a couple of tentative enquiries but not too much interest, so have decided against it as I'd only end up wanting something else and I'm now in "the devil you know" situation and still doing bits to it every week or two.
Incidentally, another thing worth a look at may be the Dodge D series. I discounted these myself due to personal preferences though they do seem to be a lot of truck for the money.
Best of luck with whatever you decide on.
I was after a 3100 step side originally though soon broadened my sights after the prices started to escalate and ended up putting the C10 Action Line on my wish list along with the 4th or 5th gen F100.My main criteria was similar to yours I suppose, short-bed (ideally step sided) reasonable cost, I was budgeting up to £10k at the time, and with a decent V8 motor.
I looked at lots of interesting stuff, some being good, some not so and one I regretted not buying which was a 60s GMC but at £15k it was just too much for me to justify spending. I ended up with a 1970 Ranchero which, whilst being reasonable to buy, has cost me an awful amount since both in time and money. However, I still love it to bits, it's reasonably easy to work on being based on a Torino, parts are readily available, though don't forget to take shipping and duty into account with them, and it seems to drive a lot better than a dedicated truck from that era. I've ruined my initial budget with it now but I just liked the thing so have gone through it from front to back doing what was necessary.
I did have it up for sale at one stage, had a couple of tentative enquiries but not too much interest, so have decided against it as I'd only end up wanting something else and I'm now in "the devil you know" situation and still doing bits to it every week or two.
Incidentally, another thing worth a look at may be the Dodge D series. I discounted these myself due to personal preferences though they do seem to be a lot of truck for the money.
Best of luck with whatever you decide on.
Edited by daveenty on Friday 23 May 11:17
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