importing a Dacia 1300 from Romania - using its own engine

[Guest dedders]

Hello everyone

 

Absolutely been loving looking at this forum so far. Keep up the good work!

 

Im considering undertaking a challenge of some sorts. I thought I might sound it out here....... your comments are all welcome.....

 

My girfriend is from Bucharest, and i've been there numerous times now, and every time i am utterly amazed at some of the cars that are still in use on the roads there. Some really agricultural looking warhorses, beaten and battered, but still bravely serving their owners well.

 

I really like crap old cars. I have decided that i want to buy a reasonably old Dacia, say a 1300 (pre-1981) and attempt to drive it to the UK, and possibly even import it. I know people out there with garage facilities and it would seem that purchasing spares and getting the thing working well (relatively speaking) before the journey to the UK, should not be a problem. It must be said however, that the only person in Romania who i have asked, and thinks it's a good idea, is my girlfriend. Other comments have been along the lines of "it'll be hard enough getting to Arad", or "it would probably only be good for about 100km". But this hasnt really dampened by enthusiasm, i really need to take this idea to fellow enthusiasts

 

So.

 

1. Am i crazy?

2. Would a well-fettled example with no serious issues be capable of making that distance? (i believe its possible)

3. Would anyone actually buy it off me, if i get to the UK......? 

 

 

 

 

[barefoot]

What can possibly go wrong?

 

& there's £150 waiting for you here as soon as you get it MOT'd

[Jim Bell]

I think you would have to be a fool to NOT drive an old shit car back from Romania.

[barmatt]

Go for it, I'm sure it would make an epic collection story and as said above, what could possibly go wrong?

[Cavcraft]

1) No.

 

2) Why not.

 

3) F.R.O, you're on your own with that one!

 

4) Welcome along.

[SambaS]

I already discussed this with Niko a Romanian lad I worked with and he though I was crazy.. he did the journey in a Golf MK4 GTTDi.

 

He's since gone home for good and we have two new Romanian staff.

 

It is entirely possible, get it done!!

[castros_bro]

If you have a background in chodding and bodging then there's no problems, if you get one and use it for a while and sort any major issues then from the border near Arad going west is a doddle. Miss out any serious winter months. You're looking at maybe 2400km or 3 days of 10 hour at 80kph or 80 days of 10 hours at 3 kph so don't try the fast lanes on German Motorways. A student friend has been doing UK - Szeged (H) several times a year for 4 years in a (very very) crap Renault without problems. Make sure the paper work is in order and don't expect to make any profit. You could fill it full of very old motorbikes/mopeds which have a chance of making a small profit.

[Mr Lobster]

1) No, absolutely not.

 

2) Yep, can't see any problem.

 

3) Oh yes indeed. I just felt my bank account get a bit twitchy.

 

Theres a guy on the RCCC forum who had a R12 restored by a Dacia enthusiast in Romania. Might be worth having a read of that as its full of info.

[KruJoe]

I've done this trip four times (in a vehicle currently displayed on travellerhomes.co.uk - that's a (long) story for another time). At that time it took about 50 hours, stopping only for borders and snacks.

I suggest you live with the car for a while in Romania, so you can learn how to keep it happy. Then if you break down, any local old boy will show you how to fix it!

I once had a day near Brașov in one just like this:

 

 

It was GR8, but we had to keep stopping to empty water from the carb

 

[rml2345]

Welcome along! To answer your questions;

 

1. Not at all

2. Of course! Just to be sure though, bring spanners, fluids and a few essential bits and bobs. 
3. I'm pretty sure* there will be half a dosen like minded people who'll have your arm off for it. 

[dieselnutjob]

 the only person in Romania who i have asked, and thinks it's a good idea, is my girlfriend

 

Marry this girl.

[RedSparrow]

Welcome!
 

Brilliant idea. Try and get one of the weird variants like a Liberta or one of those half pick-up half car things.

[Junkman]

A Dacia 1300 will make the trip without as much as crinkling its arse cheek.

There must be dafter stuff to drive home from Bucharest. A Tarpan or some such.

[Felly Magic]

Sam Glover would probably buy it off you no problem. Do it! And you don't have to be mad to be an Autoshitter, but it helps

[warren t claim]

Welcome back Felly!

[skattrd]

If you  brought a Duster back instead then I might be interested in buying it

[Wilko220]

This must surely win the prize for best first post ever.

DO IT!

[Alexg]

1. Not around here you're not

2. I've seen a Romanian plated 1310 in Tunbridge Wells

3. Probably, but here's the thing...

a Renault 12 with tax & MOT has just ended on eBay within the last 10 minutes. There were no major faults, it made £800 odd quid. So if it's profit you're after I fail to see a big earner. It's a cracking idea mind, but to make it financially viable I'd pick something a bit rarer.

[John F]

I've done this trip four times (in a vehicle currently displayed on travellerhomes.co.uk - that's a (long) story for another time).

 

 

 

Looking forward to hearing that story, Joe.

 

Re. the trip back to Britain: If you have AA / RAC Personal Cover, what's the worst that can happen?

[londonm]

Excellent first post, film your progress and post it on YouTube. I agree about getting something a little more 'exotic' though. A pick-up etc.

[Mr Lobster]

You'll probably still not break even on doing it, but for more in the way of ca$hback, bring a 3dr Sport model as the rarity should mean its worth a bit more.

[nigel bickle]

Its pretty much all been said. If you want to do this , to at least cover your costs, bring something properly rare back. You'll not excite many of us with an old Dacia -too many around now.

 

Bring me back a   properly rare old truck or pickup -I might well be interested.....

[HillmanImp]

Volksy and I have spoken about doing the reverse banger rally for some time where we fly over to Spain pick up a car and drive back but I have not been able to afford it due to me not doing my exams at work.........

 

He quite rightly said he was going to get a Renault 4 as he would defo be able to sell it when he got back to cover the costs. I was looking at SEAT Malagas and Renault 7s as I am stupid and am determined to be broke all my life.

[garethj]

Most cars from the '70s will stagger on at 50mph, no matter how knackered they are.  Agree with the idea of using it for a week to see what falls off, but if it will do 30 miles at 50mph, it'll probably do 3000 miles.

 

And that girl is a keeper.

 

Sounds like you're determined to do a huge amount of work on a completely undesirable car which makes no financial sense.  You'll fit in a treat around here

[Sigmund Fraud]

Sounds like a perfectly reasonable plan (for Autoshite !). Renault 12s are fairly simple old things, so as long as there's oil and coolant in the engine and you have a couple of spanners, a set of ignition parts and a fanbelt in the boot, it should make it to old Albion.

 

Something to consider : most UK classic car insurers are happy to insure a vehicle on it's VIN number, if your aim is to import it to the UK within a couple of weeks of starting the policy. They also offer 'european recovery' for very reasonable prices. Combining the two may prove to be a useful safety net, if you haven't embraced the WCPGW philosophy yet

[Six-cylinder]

 

 

My girfriend is from Bucharest, and i've been there numerous times now, and every time i am utterly amazed at some of the cars that are still in use on the roads there. Some really agricultural looking warhorses, beaten and battered, but still bravely serving their owners well.

 

I have one of two Romanian built Oltcit 1100R in the UK and I am having trouble buying some parts. I wonder if next time you go to Bucharest you could look for a couple of parts for me, at the moment I need a complete boot handle/lock with key? I understand you could only bring back small aeroplane sized parts until you drive your own car back to the UK!

 

On the subject of driving a car back I feel I cheated with my Oltcit, I bought it in he UK already MOTed and registered. Now feeling a little more adventurous, if you wanted an unpaid co-pilot for the adventure I could be your man subject to timings.   

[dollywobbler]

One of these for ultimate win, otherwise I agree with everyone else entirely.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

The guys at my local car wash do this in reverse every 6 months, they've got a mental mileage S80 diesel to take back at the moment. I once asked them if they'd considered bringing anything back, they laughed and said there were no cars in Romania they'd trust to drive more than 50 miles.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

When i was working in Romania in about 2004, once you got more than 5 miles outside of Bucharest there were folk along the side of the road every few yards fixing their dacias so they could travel another half-dozen kilometres.

[lovejoy]

Aha !  a man after my own heart !  sorry to be so late in replying - and welcome !

I have had - for my sins - 15, yes FIFTEEN  Renault 12 Estates  -  all started with a Zimbabwean one I bought

in South Africa, to venture in to the bush and sleep over weekends in -  everone kept trying to buy it off me !!

- reason stated was that during the 12 years sanctions against Rhodesia -  they were the most reliable cars there...

 

Only one has never run ( it's here on an island in bongo bongo land ...)  but all fourteen others never missed a beat,

and I used to nail em up and down to Cornwall frequently.

 

i guess you mean you want one of these -

that are almost identical - but not as well screwed together, as one of these -

(owe you another beer, nigel)

but as Dolly says, the doublecab pickup is the one i'd go for - given the chance 

 

I await the outcome with great anticipation,

your sincerely,

A R12 nutcase