Huge Yank shite bought!

[Pete-M]

Beware of NOVA when it lands here. ..

[Mr_Bo11ox]

The yanks are the WORLD LEADERS in inane wanky bureaucracy, the french get the piss taken out of them for having permits and documents for this that and the other but the truth is the yanks have got the job sewn up. You should see the reams of shite that get generated every time my work has to send a poxy valve or whatever to the states. Its flipping mental.

 

IS THE VALVE A VALVE FOR A) A GAS A LIQUID C) OTHER

 

IF C) WHAT IS THE VALVE FOR (GIVE BRIEF DESCRIPTION)

 

IS IT A) A BIG VALVE A SMALL VALVE

 

IF A) IS IT OVER 10 KG IF IS IT UNDER 2.6KG

 

IS THE VALVE A) A REGULATING VALVE A BLOW OFF VALVE C) SOME OTHER SORT OF VALVE OR WHATEVER LIKE ANYONE IS EVER GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITH ANY OF THIS INFORMATION ANYWAY AS IT IS FUCKING MEANINGLESS, HOLY SHIT THERES A KID RUNNING AROUND OUTSIDE SHOOTING STRANGERS FUCK! THE COPS HAVE SHOT HIM

 

HAVE A NICE DAY

[mouseflakes]

They may be bereaucratic heavyweights, but it's nice to see they use smileys on their forms.

[hairnet]

can haz i updatez pleez??

 

had trouser tent since october is that good

[danthecapriman]

I will keep this updated!

It's been an epic twat so far doing this but well worth it in the end. I have questioned why did I bother in the first place but looking at a pic of it seems to answer that!

I just really hope the cars ok after sitting for so long. The headlight doors are a bit temperamental on it and apparently lack of use doesn't do them any favours. Hopefully the air con still works too!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

'epic twat', love it

[fotorabia]

Sublime!..i bought a 73 Caddi Coupe de Vile in Phoenix AZ aged 21 for $500 after having built a Pink Floyd stage in 1988..i slept on the front seat..mate on the back...dodgily on a UK provo licence..actually the first car id ever driven..we limped it to New Orleans where destitute we flogged it to some homeless guys for $100...was a great mis-adventure...id have something similar again just for self punishment sake ..good luck with it..

[RichardMoss]

I just hope that the shipping company didn't charge by the foot!

[Alexg]

Great to see an update on this. Red tape nonsense will be worth the grief once the barge arrives, on a boat.

[cort1977]

The yanks are the WORLD LEADERS in inane wanky bureaucracy, the french get the piss taken out of them for having permits and documents for this that and the other but the truth is the yanks have got the job sewn up. You should see the reams of shite that get generated every time my work has to send a poxy valve or whatever to the states. Its flipping mental.

 

IS THE VALVE A VALVE FOR A) A GAS A LIQUID C) OTHER

 

IF C) WHAT IS THE VALVE FOR (GIVE BRIEF DESCRIPTION)

 

IS IT A) A BIG VALVE A SMALL VALVE

 

IF A) IS IT OVER 10 KG IF IS IT UNDER 2.6KG

 

IS THE VALVE A) A REGULATING VALVE A BLOW OFF VALVE C) SOME OTHER SORT OF VALVE OR WHATEVER LIKE ANYONE IS EVER GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITH ANY OF THIS INFORMATION ANYWAY AS IT IS FUCKING MEANINGLESS, HOLY SHIT THERES A KID RUNNING AROUND OUTSIDE SHOOTING STRANGERS FUCK! THE COPS HAVE SHOT HIM

 

HAVE A NICE DAY

This is very true, they do have some big rule books.   Controlling valves and other hardware coming in to the states may be some anti-terrorist legislation.   One we have to be careful of at my work is the Foreign and Corrupt Practices act, anything that could be seen as a bribe to an overseas company is a big no-no.   I would say that the bureaucracy gets processed quite quickly though, you don't have to wait months for a letter to come back like I suspect you do in France.   Obviously, no paperwork required for firearms, I can stop at a sports shop on the way home, show my driving licence and buy a gun.   It's a strange place in many ways.

[danthecapriman]

That's always amazed me aswell, you try to export a car or import pieces of machinery or whatever and you need to be bang on with everything yet you can walk down the street into a gun store and walk out with enough firepower to start world war 3!

You have no choice though I suppose so you just got to play the game!

[pilninggas]

The headlight doors are a bit temperamental on it

 

Love it, super yank-tank accessory fest.

[nigel bickle]

That looks like enormous fun.

 

Did you agree a fixed price, or have you been charged storage at the port throughout.  I'd gently suggest you were ill-advised to try exporting without a pink slip -the shipper should have warned you that it will be difficult.  If its cost you -I'd suggest a hint at redress, after the car is here and paperwork sorted.

 

Where's it coming in to? I presume ro ro, as the cheapest option?  Less chance of damage than the ridiculous stacking I've witnessed in containers..

 

I'd be interested to hear your costs, expectations and how the shipping pans out -if possible. I have a couple of potential long distance shipments in the offing, and my old favourite shipping agent has folded!

 

Either way -good luck..

[gordonbennet]

You travel the roads and there's thousands of ugly fuckin boring cloned euroshit everywhere, even Japanese cars are fuckin european now, nearly all fuckin 4 cylinder tractor engines that sound crap, take the badges off and you wouldn't know, if you were remotely interested anyway and i'm not, in what the make is.

 

Then some bugger goes and buys a car lovely enough to make a strong man cry with joy, i love that car, its just so fuckin different, that green interior is made for canoodling with the lovely lady in your life as you cruise, and a real engine too, oh joy.

 

Me jealous? fuck yes.

[eddyramrod]

Me too, Gordon.  I've had these things and miss them badly.  Sill, while there are some left, and I can still drive, there's always a chance...

 

*None of mine were as lovely-condition as this appears though.

[danthecapriman]

That looks like enormous fun.

 

Did you agree a fixed price, or have you been charged storage at the port throughout.  I'd gently suggest you were ill-advised to try exporting without a pink slip -the shipper should have warned you that it will be difficult.  If its cost you -I'd suggest a hint at redress, after the car is here and paperwork sorted.

 

Where's it coming in to? I presume ro ro, as the cheapest option?  Less chance of damage than the ridiculous stacking I've witnessed in containers..

 

I'd be interested to hear your costs, expectations and how the shipping pans out -if possible. I have a couple of potential long distance shipments in the offing, and my old favourite shipping agent has folded!

 

Either way -good luck..

 

I paid a fixed price. So far there has been no mention of storage charges, and ive even directly asked the shippers this question but not heard anymore about it! I have kept all my emails etc regarding this issue so I have it just incase anything happens later on. Just have to see what happens on this score, but I will kick off if it doesnt go in my favor!

 

It should come into Felixstowe, I believe it is containered with another car but obviously its insured (fully comp) aswell. The actual shipping agents are http://www.schumachercargo.com/

The way ive done all this is to go for one company to take charge of the whole lot, start to finish. So all I have to do is tell them what it is and where it is, they pick it up, get it to UK, pay all duties etc (at my cost) then get it road legal. I just have to pay them, sign some paperwork then once they are done drive it home! I could have done the UK mods myself and various other bits but I decided not to piss about and just have it all done in one hit so I can use and enjoy it straight away.

 

This works out best for me as I have a mk2 Transit in bits being converted to a camper, Capri needing some time spending on it and a mk2 Granada needing the same! The last thing I want is another car that needs work and is off the road, so I figured it was best to pay the extra and get this straight on the road.

 

Costs so far:

Car: £8000 approx

Shipping, duties, insurance, conversion, mot etc etc: £2500 approx

New title: $220 - £130 approx

 

Obviously I will have to pay road tax for it aswell, but as its a 73 its now exempt so once its registered as historic I can get that back again.

 

Its fair to say ive probably paid above what most people would, but I intend to keep this long term so its worth it to me.

[Skizzer]

Good on yer. Hope this goes smoothly from here on.

 

It looks fabulous. Even Mrs Skizzer approves.

[cort1977]

I think someone mentioned it above but just to reiterate collect it ASAP.   The agents will charge storage from the second it clears customs.   Last one I imported was GBP20 per day, it was covered in filth from their crappy yard and they'd flattened the battery for me.   I let it stay there over the weekend after clearance and paid GBP100 for the privilege.   Thinking about it still boils my piss now!

[nigel bickle]

I get 5 days 'free' storage included, at Southampton, & its £15 per day thereafter.

 

I'm a cheapskate, way too many cars means I have to find the lowest cost route possible- which is perhaps why it took nearly a year for the bastard Bellel to get here!

 

The upside is, that I'm all over every aspect , like a rash - solving issues as they occur (mid Atlantic fires excepted!)

 

£2500 is way more than I could pay to get a car here from the States, but I applaud you nevertheless- and am a wee bit jealous.  SWMBO would divorce me if I broke those rules.

 

I'd ask for the consignment number so you can track it across, giving you an idea of when it'll land, & confirmed offload.

I'd ask for photos, landed -to confirm no damage (everyone will blame everyone else if its scratched/ dented) prior to further payment, and I'd want to be informed when/where its going for MOT- giving me an opportunity to have a damn good look at its underside.

If you are collecting it taxed, the CE386 (Customs docs) must have been sorted- which can take a little while, so anticipate a couple of weeks further delay whilst bureaucracy catch's up..

 

T'was ever thus!

 

I look forward to the collection update.  If you're driving it home, take a large can of fuel -it'll be running on dregs, (which you don't want in the carb!) & a spare charged battery.  Most are borked, or flat after a long crossing -and you really don't want to stall at the first junction ,unable to restart.

[danthecapriman]

Cheers for the tips guys.

I can track it now, while it's with the shippers. It tells you when it gets loaded etc. They have also taken pics of the whole car, underside included (it's solid!) and done a condition report so if there's any more damage the insurance should cover that.

I'm expecting a bit more waiting once it gets here, but once it's in the UK it's pretty much 'job done'. I think they said they will valet it when it's ready for collection too.

 

Good point about the fuel and battery too, I'll take a full Gerry can to get me to a petrol station (where I will take a collection photo!) and a good battery and jump pack too.

[scooters]

Huge Wantage. ...

If it's not a rude question...how much did it cost? Don't tell if you had rather not but I'm very interested in aspiring to some 70s yank horrorshow

[Richard]

Huge Wantage. ...

If it's not a rude question...how much did it cost? Don't tell if you had rather not but I'm very interested in aspiring to some 70s yank horrorshow

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/14923-huge-yank-shite-bought/page-4?do=findComment&comment=555416

[danthecapriman]

Huge Wantage. ...

If it's not a rude question...how much did it cost? Don't tell if you had rather not but I'm very interested in aspiring to some 70s yank horrorshow

I paid roughly £8000 (depends on exchange rate) for this car. You could get a similar condition and spec car for less but this one was from a classic specialist, which as it turned out was a god send with all the problems I had with paperwork. Plus, I just really liked the car so felt it was worth paying for! It's had a lot of recomissioning from them before it was put up for sale too.

All I did when I decided to get a yank was go to ebay.com and spend ages browsing. I had a good idea what sort of car I was after anyway then spotted this one.

Likewise shipping costs can be had for much less than what I've paid. It all depends on what level of service and extras you want.

In spite of the long wait and the problems I've had, I'm glad I decided to do it, and would do it again, I'd just be a bit more careful next time about the title/paperwork thing. If you do end up importing I would not advise going with a car without the title/pink slip.

[danthecapriman]

Just a quick update on this, if anyone's still interested!

 

The car finally arrived and was unloaded at Felixstowe in late May.

The customs forms and NOVA declaration filled in and sent back, I had to wait for customs to decide how much duty and vat I owed them. I got a bill back for, duty: £0 and VAT: £ 477.96

Bit of a result I think, and probably the only time I've been happy to pay the taxman! The reason it was so cheap is because the car is over 30 yrs old, you can apply for reduced rates based on the item being imported being classed as a collectors item! You don't automatically get this of course, you have to apply for it otherwise you pay standard rates.

Once this was paid the car was released from the port, it was then picked up by the importers, converted to UK spec and prepared for its MOT. It needs a few silly bits sorting for MOT but nothing major.

When I spoke to them about the MOT repairs they said it was a good car, no rust anywhere, floors and chassis like new etc which was a relief since I've never actually been able to see what I've bought!

 

Once the MOT is in the bag, it should be a case of an IVA test then DVLA registration. Then it's all mine. Shouldn't be long now!

[Spiny Norman]

Superb! Just re-read the original post, what a fugging awesome old battle cruiser.

[Bren]

If i could chose a 70's yank barge I would like an LTD.

 

Preferably in metallic brown with black steels - just like Burt Reynolds wheels in the film White Lightning.

[Ratdat]

IVA test? Surely it doesn't need one does it?

[AnthonyG]

Excellent stuff, I am watching my way through Kojak at the mo as his sidekicks drive the Ford versions of these, depending on episode, Custom 500s, Galaxies and a LTD at one point. Funnily enough, even the base models would have been a superior ride to Kojak's povvo mid-size Buick Century.

 

The brochures for these cars in early 1970s just called the range 'Big Fords' as if a Gran Torino was barely longer than a Corolla! When GM bought put the 'downsized' Chevy Impala/Caprice and brethren in '77, Ford made a big show of their bigger beasts, citing 'road-hugging size'.

 

Think the Lincolns of this era were the longest/heaviest/widest sedans ever offered in the US market. All this giant FoMoCo stuff was replaced between '79-'80 with the Panther platform cars such as the LTD Crown Vic and Grand Marquis as owned by the shiter above, also the very square Town Car. These only stopped being made about 3 years ago, due to tighter emissions and minimum mpg rules closing off the cab, police, and livery car (limo) markets to these separate chassis beasties 😒.

 

I need a big Yank in my life soon, I like the slightly earlier ones though, circa 1962 to 1968. A suicide door Lincoln Continental or a Imperial would be awesome, although General Motors cars have survived in greater numbers. There were around a million of the full-size Chevrolet sedan and wagon made in 1965!!

[AnthonyG]

Preferably in metallic brown with black steels - just like Burt Reynolds wheels in the film White Lightning.

Awesome film and pretty unknown over here. Fans of 70's Fords used in anger should also check out the second Dirty Harry film, and 'The Streets of San Francisco' TV series, with a very young Michael Douglas. 73-78 Fords also appeared in 'the Driver' (a getaway driver thriller with Ryan O'Neal, circa 1977) and the first Terminator film, funnily enough in this the LTD gets swapped for a late 70s Eldorado like the one CMS shows, as Linda Hamilton and whatever the bloke was called desperately try to evade Arnie.

[danthecapriman]

IVA test? Surely it doesn't need one does it?

Apparently so, yes. As I understand it, (and I could easily be wrong) as it's a non EU vehicle type, never normally sold here it has to have the IVA?

 

Like I say, I could well be way off here. My paperwork from the importers does say it has to have an IVA though.

 

What makes you think it doesn't have to have one? I'd be interested to know.