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Hi All, Hoping there are a few Americans on here that could give advice. I recently did a deal with a nice chap in the US on Discovery 1 3 door auto and the shipping costs were very reasonable. It got me thinking what other cars are coming of age to be able to export to the US and what there potential values are over the values in the UK. I currently have a 1993 Impreza WRX track car and a 1993 BMW E30 Touring. I'm sure both were never sold in the US and now being 25 years old cars like this could potentially be a good export. Your thoughts please  and pics for reference. |
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munky
Part of things
Posts: 462 
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Nov 19, 2018 12:55:50 GMT
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Mk1 STis, Nissan Skylines, left hand drive Landrover Defenders.
Problem is, modified cars are a tough import and Landrovers with swapped engines or chassis are a no-no.
While it’s tough if not impossible to tell if a Landry has had a new engine of the same type, an engine swap is obvious and well known by the inspectors.
The cars coming to the 25 year loop hole should be stock versions of the breed, so as I mentioned, unless they have original engines and chassis, they are very hard to import. Some minor mods such as turbos etc can be talked around, however, they still need to meet smog standards in some states such as Cal.
Oh and we have many BMWs here, though I’m not sure about the touring.
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Last Edit: Nov 19, 2018 12:57:21 GMT by munky
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Nov 19, 2018 13:03:21 GMT
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I know E30 tourings are very sought after, but heard also that mods are a no-no on importation. what happens after it comes in, many states have no inspection or emissions test  |
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You've missed the boat (pun intended/not intended) on E30 Tourings by several years. Quarry motors have that well catered for now.
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munky
Part of things
Posts: 462
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It’s true that many states have no annual test. The state I live in doesn’t.
There is an inspection upon import and also those states that do require smog etc narrow the population of potential punters.
At the moment, kei cars seem to do okay here. There are still rough defenders doing the rounds for $20k when they were bought from eBay in the UK for $3k - so you can guess the new owners are ‘bonnet up clubs’ members.
I’m not sure if anyone has had the kahoonies to try it, but a 25yr old Caterham or Westie might be an interesting car to bring in if you can. I can’t see the objection if it was built by Westfield or looks like it was to the world. There’s a great pastime over here called AutoCross where people do time trials in parking lots with their cars. Stock and modified. It turns up some monsters, but also some ‘Berkins’ which are lotus 7 rip offs.
Also how old are the earliest Lotus Elise’s now? A few were brought in a race cars only (of the mk1s) and some were brought over as chassis and had K series Honda engines fitted. Could be some interest in those if they are old enough now.
there were a bunch of Skylines brought in in the same way, only to be reunited with their original engine. My wife’s hairdressers husband bought one and then get a nice letter from the Feds, informing him that they were going to come at take it off him. I think he sold it on very quickly. Feel for however ended up with that!
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Last Edit: Nov 20, 2018 1:51:18 GMT by munky
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VadGTI
Part of things
Posts: 75
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As mentioned, Defenders and 3-door Discos will bring in good money, so long as they're original and not rotted away. If you happen to somehow find a V8 non-diesel LHD truck, it'll be a gold mine, especially if it's a 4-door 110. Minis, so long as they haven't been reshelled or engine swapped. Same with 2 door Range Rovers, which we never got. R32 and R33 (soon) GT-Rs, but people are likely going to source those straight from the source (JDM land). I think the 3er Touring market is saturated, and people prefer LHD cars.
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- 1988 BMW M3
- 2004 Volvo S60R
- 2013 VW Golf GTI
Gone but not forgotten: S13, AE86 4AGZE, DR30 Skyline RS Turbo, Miata x 2, Mk3 Golf GTI
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Nov 21, 2018 22:35:57 GMT
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Agreed on vehicles listed above especially Defenders.
Wondering what cost of shipping seemed reasonable to you and did you use RoRo?
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munky
Part of things
Posts: 462
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Nov 23, 2018 13:57:54 GMT
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bringatrailer.com/listing/1992-land-rover-defender-110-5/£5k maybe £10k Landrover selling for $25k (so far). I can’t remember now if you can fit 2 or 3 into a shipping container. Makes me think that it’s 3 90s or 2 110s. The transport company I talked to strongly recommended against RO-RO as they are aware of damage to cars and missing parts.
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Last Edit: Nov 23, 2018 13:58:13 GMT by munky
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Nov 24, 2018 20:49:05 GMT
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The list could be endless, if anything pre 94 can be shipped.
But Lotus Esprits, Mini Coopers SPI, TVRs and Morgans could be well worth the effort and RHD add to the British'ness of the cars.
Maybe, Americans will go crazy on the MGF in the future?
Another oddball could be the Volvo 480. It was designed with the US market in mind, but never actually sold there.
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 Click picture for more |
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munky
Part of things
Posts: 462
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EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,920
Club RR Member Number: 108
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Nov 25, 2018 12:00:03 GMT
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I would suggest some LHD VW stuff that wasn't sold there. You could pop to France and pick up a Polo Breadvan/coupe/loon for peanuts and I'm sure it'd get snapped up in a flash.
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Nov 25, 2018 12:33:35 GMT
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I would suggest some LHD VW stuff that wasn't sold there. You could pop to France and pick up a Polo Breadvan/coupe/loon for peanuts and I'm sure it'd get snapped up in a flash. Jamie Orr from Orchid Euro is big into that, RHD conversions etc. He scours the scrapyards of Europe for clean Euro specific parts and then ships 40ft containers full of parts and cars. Doesn't work out cheap, but some people want that UK and Euro spec goodness apparently. Here I run USDM parts on VW's as I think that's cool then |
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brc76
RR Helper
Posts: 1,107
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Nov 25, 2018 16:51:35 GMT
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I'm expecting escort cosworths and lotus carltons to be gaining some demand over here eventually.
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Bolf
Part of things
Posts: 507
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Nov 25, 2018 20:08:32 GMT
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i'd anticipate honda DC2 will be popular soon
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mylittletony
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,342
Club RR Member Number: 84
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I've asked a very similar question in what appears to have been the wrong section! import/export optionsIf anyone wants anything shipping in the next couple of months, let me know. |
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Nov 26, 2018 22:23:20 GMT
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There’s been a lot of talk that’s that is were the fairly high profile, top end of the market series land rovers that are going missing are ending up. Same with minis.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they are. If the yanks are willing to put up with rhd, it’s got to be something that is stereotypically British. Or, stereotypically Japanese, but as mentioned above somewhere I’d expect they’ll go straight to source for that.
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Last Edit: Nov 26, 2018 22:24:28 GMT by Dez
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munky
Part of things
Posts: 462
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As I mentioned before, some of the kei cars sell okay here. Nissan Figaros etc. but nothing seems to sell as well as Lamdrovers.
Now if you could work out how to bring R8s over here, that would make some money, as they still pull huge $$$ here.
I’m surprised that Fiat Coupes haven’t featured here yet. I would take the plung on a LHD one, but their reliability can be a bit spotty and match that with parts you have to order...
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and pics for reference.
