There goes the neighbourhood

Yeah, I figured the V8 Defenders wouldn't be too pricey in the UK, thus the suggestion. Get one with a galvy frame and it should sell pretty well in the US.

As for the Minis, good rally replicas should go well and those first two trucks would really stand out.

4cylndrfury wrote: Tip 1 - youll need to use the other set of tick marks on the speedo

Nope. He's not coming from Canada!

TJ wrote: Congrats Tim. Are you bringing over any of your current cars?

Thanks. Not initially - the Integrale might follow once it's old enough but we're still trying to figure out if we'll keep it here that long or not. All the others are either not old enough (Elise, Alfa 156) or I can get one in better overall condition for the same money (911).

TJ wrote: As far as the Minis go, I would say that trucks are really desirable. Saloons are obtainable fairly easily, but trucks are fairly rare. Other than that I wouldn't bother with any if the VTEC swaps. Most of the ones over here seem to get put up for sale frequently. I think a lot of people like the idea of one more than than they like it in reality. How about Mk1 Escorts?

Engine conversions are pretty hot over here right now, either the Honda or GM/Opel Ecotecs. But I guess most people would be more interested in one with an A-series in. I'll keep an eye out for something decent - trucks and vans are not that easy to find over here either and aren't that well served from an aftermarket perspective, either. But I'd guess they are still more plentiful than they are in the US.

Mk1 Escorts are very expensive over here, I don't think that it would make a lot of financial sense to bring one over from the UK. I haven't looked at the prices in Germany lately but I'd think it would make more sense to try and source one over there as that'll be at least LHD.

Keith wrote: Yeah, I figured the V8 Defenders wouldn't be too pricey in the UK, thus the suggestion. Get one with a galvy frame and it should sell pretty well in the US.

I'll see what I can find but a lot of them have been abused pretty badly as farm vehicles.

Keith wrote: As for the Minis, good rally replicas should go well and those first two trucks would really stand out.

Rally replicas - ones that would be eligible for any sort of motorsport as opposed to an early 90s one with some big headlights on it - aren't that easy to find, though.

What about original (late sixties) Coopers? They seem to have come down from the crazy price levels they were on 5-10 years ago. Anyway, if I'm going to do anything along those lines I'll probably try to source a truck and a van to keep my bikes company in the container.

Carson wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote: Tip 1 - youll need to use the other set of tick marks on the speedo

Nope. He's not coming from Canada!

aww...4cf=fail

Tim, I'd like a yamaha super tenere 850 please. I think you could fit it into your lugage if you pack carefully. If that works out there are several other euro only bikes that I'd like you to consider on future trips.

Always room for another car guy over here!

as long as we're taking orders, can you bring THIS over with you? Appreciated.

By rally replicas, I mean big lights, not motorsports legitimacy People like their shiny toys.

And yeah, most Defenders have been treated like the farm trucks they are, but there are a few good 'uns out there. And they're worth stupid money over here.

Welcome! I hope you and your wife have much success here. Car folks are almost always good folks, and as a previous poster noted, we could use some more good folks here.

BoxheadTim wrote:

TJ wrote: Congrats Tim. Are you bringing over any of your current cars?

Thanks. Not initially - the Integrale might follow once it's old enough but we're still trying to figure out if we'll keep it here that long or not.

Allow me to offer my services. Jay's Orphan Auto Minding is housed in a state-of-the-art kennel facility in our beautiful Brandenburg lakeside town. All Orphan Autos will be fed only premium fuel and, to ensure they remain in the tip-top shape you've come to expect, will be regularly exercised with vigor. Planned activities for our Orphans include day trips to historic Spreewald, Hockenheim, and Nürburg, brisk runs through the scenic countryside, and long gallops on the free-range playground known as the A2. Our prices are very reasonable and long-term packages can be specially constructed for you. Please contact us with your specific requirements.

All this talk of importing cars has me wanting for formulate a business plan.

Seriously...I've got a business set up and funded...I could totally go this direction with it (I was doing real estate! not so much right now)

I might have to start a thread on it ;)

Clem

With the pound so low relative to the dollar, it's a good time to be bringing cars over from the UK. For real fun, make it a car finding service - someone tells you what they want, you cross the pond and hunt it down. As an added bonus, this works better for high-value cars so you'll be testing vintage Jags and the like.

Ya, I've thought of doing this too. I may or may not be moving back to Canada when my contract runs out next year. If I do I'll at least hire a shipping container and fill it with Euro goodness. I'll bet you can stuff quite a few Peugeot 205 GTIs into one.

Well, it looks like I wasn't the only one with that sort of business plan then . I guess I better find out how much the shipping really costs before I do anything daft, though.

Keith, the issue with a lot of the higher-end cars here is that you'll probably find better ones in the US than you do here. Our climate does tend to be a little wet, for starters. I'd think that the only vintage Jaguars worth exporting are probably the 50s & 60s S-Types, Mk1 & Mk2. And those have a slight problem with flaking rust. Pretty much all the sporty stuff is easier to find in the US. Personally, I'd be tempted to stick to small volume sports cars like old Lotus, TVR & Marcos stuff.

I did check to see when the Griffin 500 went into production. Something to keep in mind for 2015

Jay wrote: Ya, I've thought of doing this too. I may or may not be moving back to Canada when my contract runs out next year. If I do I'll at least hire a shipping container and fill it with Euro goodness. I'll bet you can stuff quite a few Peugeot 205 GTIs into one.

Tag one with my name if you'll hold it in Canada for a few years until it's US import legal!

BoxheadTim wrote: Well, it looks like I wasn't the only one with that sort of business plan then . I guess I better find out how much the shipping really costs before I do anything daft, though.

And so when you're ready to start...hit me up for some business dealing ;)

Clem

An AC Ace? I can find my own 289 and trans.

Welcome to the US. Bring your own beer.

Actually I could use a set of euro bumpers for a 84 Merceds W123

Mental wrote: Welcome to the US. Bring your own beer. Actually I could use a set of euro bumpers for a 84 Merceds W123

That that that spur of the moment ebay MB you bought 5ish months ago? Were have you been all that time, ehh?

Y'know, used AC Ace don't seem to come up that often over here either . Looks like we've hit a slight snag on this though, place my wife lives in only allows 1 car that must be parked in the garage (guess what, HOA territory) so it looks like we need to sort out some storage before I can even get my bikes or a car over.

Oh well, that gives me more time to try and sort out her Cherokee I guess.

Keith wrote: I did check to see when the Griffin 500 went into production. Something to keep in mind for 2015

Which coincidentally would be the same year that my Integrale would be eligible for import...

Osterkraut wrote:

Mental wrote: Welcome to the US. Bring your own beer. Actually I could use a set of euro bumpers for a 84 Merceds W123

That that that spur of the moment ebay MB you bought 5ish months ago? Were have you been all that time, ehh?

No no no, that one is quietly rusting in storage. This another MB 300 TD I bought after getting back here to OK.

Welcome Tim ! And FYI you don't want a black anything in Las Vegas in the summer.