Going states to buy a car to bring back (advice) !!!???

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sat Feb 09, 13 8:57 am

America is a big place.
Really big.
Getting anywhere takes ages.
Forget Public Transport.
Policeman give you big fines if you use a car and try to speed things up a bit..

Do EXEACTLY as they say, or they start to draw thei sidearm

You really must narrow down the field of your search, both in terms of cars and geography.

I would not buy from Florida, it's not a dry State.
You may get lucky as Floridians buy dry state cars and then sell them.....

I have done numerous trips to the States and I have rarely seen desirable cars, let alone on the road. It's not like the films. It's all Toyotas at the coasts and Pickups inland (Drewe will kill me for that...)

However, I have collected pre-purchased cars from the States and transported then to the docks. It was a very memorable "Road Trip". Ten inches of snow all the way across 3 States, there and back......

Be careful, buy wisely (and NOT just because you are there) and you will have a great time.

AllKiller · Post by **AllKiller** » Sat Feb 09, 13 9:19 am

autofetish wrote:buy from uk will be cheaper in the long run.

No........!!!
Go there thousands more choice and conditions
and options

Check them over properly...Buy private if you have the time to travel around a state. found my 57 T Bird in a Car mart weekly paper....loads on sale at Garages and news stands
Unlike Pete i have bought from Florida and east coast states and had No problem...A good Car is a Good car easy, and vice versa.

I would always buy from the U.S.

Cheaper over here my arse

Roll on roll off if shipping is tight but some chance of damage...A container is good and insurance.
Done it loads of times...Highly recommended. great fun and an acheivement
DONT carry large amounts of CASH with you unless your stupid up or have lots of blokes you.

GTXJim · Post by **GTXJim** » Sat Feb 09, 13 9:36 am

I bought my Belve from the states, do all the work here, searching for the right car, sorting out pick up and delivery and shipping, don't rush in, make a careful decision, I paid a paypal deposit from here and took cash out for final payment, I asked for the bill of sale to be made out a bit cheaper to save on duty back here, and it all went smoothly , the only thing was it stayed at the docks for longer than I hoped.

pete walton · Post by **pete walton** » Sat Feb 09, 13 9:44 am

I got mine of of USA ebay...not sure i would buy the same car again

,but the guy i got it of Stateside was more than helpfull...Golden Chariots shipped it for me...No dramas at all.....My car was purchased of the son of Jim Smith....i promised him i would not paint the car.....otherwise it was no deal.....Still talk to him now and again...Big drag race family..

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Sat Feb 09, 13 10:10 am

Pete is spot on, Ive been a few times and in the early 90s there were very few obvious classics on the road and in good condition.... Plenty around but even in California/ Nevada/ Utah etc they were mostly very used and rusty daily drivers, wrecks being sold as rare, good condition classics (in particular an original paint sublime AAR Cuda with more rust than paint, no engine or trans and very little interior!). I bought an old car trader magazine and quickly found that there are lots of nice cars for sale behind garage doors etc in suburbia and in classic dealerships (although very pricey compared to private).

I was on my honeymoon then and was driving Mrs B mad stopping and looking at everything remotely classic so never bought anything.... Roll on twenty years and as Pete says, even locals point at old cars there now, bit like we admire nice moggys etc..... Becoming scarce when a few years ago there were tons of them. Jap cars everywhere like here!

I reckon a good few weeks on the net, on sites like Forabodiesonly etc etc and you will scope out a few nice cars on a short list, have a cracking holiday with your lad and come back with a beaut!!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Feb 09, 13 10:30 am

cheers, yes ive been sat infront of computer most nights late and getting square eyed lol, depending on where car is i find i dont know where to ship from or any sites to look at other than craigs list, any shipping companie cantacts and websites to look at other than ebay much appriciated, yeah when looking been taking into acount transport to docks, shipping fee then vat and customes here, having the likes of drew out there is very helpful and your not buying blind

Charger · Post by **Charger** » Sat Feb 09, 13 10:48 am

I visited this place last year, not buying just looking …

http://www.classiccarliquidators.com/cl ... uscle-cars
Harwell Motor Company is at 4501 West Houston St., Sherman, TX 75092

Quite a wide variety of cars, seemed to be the sort of what you see is what you get type place

From memory I think they could help with shipping

Loads more pics here …

http://www.moparuk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=39179

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Sat Feb 09, 13 10:59 am

Quite easy to ship form Texas, too......

I bought a car from Seatle (I know, but it was not FROM that area - the owner moved).

Had to get its transported by road to San Francisco to get shipped in a container (and they STILL Damaged it). Now that was expensive............

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Sat Feb 09, 13 11:09 am

Wow Si!!!

Ive just mentally spent my entire lifes worth on that site mate! Good find!!

Were the cars as nice as they look in the photos??

Cheers Steve

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Feb 09, 13 1:10 pm

yes a carefull decision is top priority, ive just got of phone to kingston shipping alot of friends have used them guy called mark went through all the ins and outs in detail transport, insurance, what docs are cheaper etc what you get taxed on etc, he explained to allow for 30% tax over all plus cost of shipping, but you can qaulify for 5% tax if the car meets the following criteria is over 30 years old, is no longer in production, no modifications etc , after chatting for half hr he said where are you based as in regards to what docks in uk it may get shipped to, i said exactly where i was from and he said no ways i grew up there , il give you discount , nice bloke

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Sat Feb 09, 13 1:17 pm

It's all Toyotas at the coasts and Pickups inland

I hate to admit it but you are right .I drive a toyota and the wife drives a pick up.....nuff said

But cars are indeed out here ,but I was just talking to one of my Gurus that owns 30 mopars and what we are finding is cars that are completely done that people want a fortune for or total basket cases ,and they too want a fortune for a pile of steel and plastic.

Using one of the classic car dealers is one way to go but you pay a premium.

Craigs list and other local auto traders is the way to go and even local newspapers have a few gems show up from time to time.

It take patience and an open mind ,if you come over here with one car in mind and only one car well then you will have quite the search on your hands,

But if you have several cars in ind you should be able to find something to satisfy your thirst for a Mopar

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Sat Feb 09, 13 5:17 pm

got me digging round old photos and here are a few cars we found for sale....great fun stopping and looking at them and meeting the sellers...

Cheers Steve

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Sat Feb 09, 13 5:23 pm

......

terryr · Post by **terryr** » Sat Feb 09, 13 5:39 pm

if you go the roro option make sure you have no aftermarket gauges and stuff in the car ,or the sailorboys will pinch em ,as my mate found out with his pick up truck ,Bananarama! even took the oil pressure gauge ,oil everywhere

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Feb 09, 13 7:14 pm

haha terry yeah guy i spoke to said if roro the car has to be completely empty ! its real hard to locate a car , in two minds to fly out and see or find something here first, i did find a no matching 1970 challenger ( drew is gonna post it up), i could afford the car but not shipping on top etc etc, so search continues !!