Mopar Muscle Association UK

Evening!

Hello: An introduction & questions!

Introductions first!

I’ve had a passion for Australian Valiant’s for many years. My uncle used to come over from the UK to Aus working the merchant navy, 6-months on / 6-months off. As a child, he’d randomly turn up at my parents in a different Valiant, drive off into the outback & come back and leave it on my parent’s lawn for 6 months. When it died, he’d get another (which was often, given the bashings he gave them – too much outback drink-driving!).

Always loved them, and as soon as I could, I got one myself. A lovely beige base-model 4lt CL Sedan. Rust ridden death-trap that got a dodgy RWC from the garage I worked at as a favour! Bullet proof, I had it until I moved to the UK.

I always knew intellectually that they had been sold into the UK but never expected to see a single one (I mean, if they rusted in Aus, image what the UK would do to them!). This changed when I saw a barn-find CH Sedan about 18 months ago on ebay for £2500. Sadly, having just moved, I had no cash. Gutted. It was in very good condition, and will have made someone very very happy!

I joined here as a lurker and kept a partial eye on the internet for any more once I had stashed some cash away from the good lady. Missed the Charger the other month (which I understand went for £4000.00) as I had stopped looking. The appearance of another CH on ebay has prompted me to admit I want one, and to drag me out of the shadows!

Sadly, I fear the CH currently on ebay is too expensive for me. I am a fan of the “grandpa” look, not the muscle car styles. It’s based on my upbringing – I took the “outdoors” route when growing up rather than the “hoon” route. Much camping – often as the only 2wd car around, trying to prove to my mates that my CL was just as good as a 4wd (it didn’t half get places – and you could drive it into a tree it was unstoppable!).

This CH has lost many of the original features, the seats, chrome etc. But, the big issue is the lack of carpets, bit of metal on the vents and the seller saying it was put there by the previous owner to stop water getting in. Ugh. Plenum chamber rust. Is there anything worse for a valiant? I once owned a CL van that had it so bad in the end the front dipped due to the rust in the A-Pillars from it. Shame, it was scrapped in the days it wasn’t worth anything.

Question time!

So, I am interested in the import route as a cost saving alternative (and given that the DVLA seems to think there are only 4 CH sedans about, 2 on sorn. I know two – this one on ebay & the one I saw. Then there apprears to be one very nice dark grey one about, so I think it’s safe to say I won’t be seeing many more in the future for sale).

I understand that some people have imported from Aus, and am interested in the costs that were involved in bring it into the UK. Taxes, and the steps that the DVLA needed to register the car.

How did it work for the people who have brought one over from Aus? Would be interested in hearing peoples stories if they have the time.

Thanks for reading!

G'Day CLPete and Welcome.

I remember the CH that was on ebay about 18 + months ago too.
If I remember that did not sell and in my opinion from what could be seen on ebay is/was a MUCH better car than the one that has been on recently.
Maybe it will come up again?

On imports.
I shipped my Monaro over about 4 years back as roro (roll on roll off) meaning that it came on car carrying ships as opposed to by container.
This cost about £1300 to the shipping company if I remember correctly.
Import tax/duty was low at about £250 because I could prove about 20 years of ownership.
Think you need to prove about 1 year ownership in Oz to be able to bring it in without paying import duty based on the value of the vehicle.
This is just from my limited experience so it would pay to gather others opinions and do some research on the web.
Think Dave brought his Charger over in a container along with his couch a few funnel web spiders and his Dick Smith matches. :-)

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-i ... k/overview

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vca/other/importi ... stions.asp

If you import a model that was sold here (VE to VJ or maybe VK? - sure Dave will be along soon to clarify) it should not be much trouble to prove to the DVLA what it as historic road tax if applicable. Otherwise you will need a letter from someone like Tony O to state what the car is to take along to the DVLA. This is what I had to do with the Monaro so I could get it registered correctly for the year of manufacture.
This will pay dividends for me next year as the year for tax exemption will be moved from pre '73 to pre '74 as of next April.

So something to think of there as to what model you may want to buy in Oz to import. I would not expect that the tax exemption year will be rolling... it may depend on the budget every year and who is in government.

Think I must have missed the fact that there was an Aussie Charger for sale recently.

Feel free to PM/email me and I'll pass on my mobile number if you want to have a chat.

What part of the country are you in?

Welcome aboard Pete, I'm sure Dave will be along in a while with all sorts of helpful hints, because he's completely bonkers as well...

Welcome Pete,:hello2:

Can't help on the Aussie thing but you've found the right place for the Aussie stuff........

hello

Think steve has covered off the import stuff

i did mine with a house-hold worth of funtiture and tat as well so my experince and costs were different.

there are cars out there... as you have seen

I know/knew of a pretty good VG hardtop still grandpa rather than Pacer-ed

problem is

the guy who owns it is

1) not a member anymore
2) is on the channel islands
3) has no paperwork for it so can't register it (at least on the channel Islands, it would nee to be registered here on the minaldnad first) and has no idea which aussie state it came from
4) has lots of cars in his massive workshop and i don't think sells much i.e you'd have to badger him.

called keith i think. keithcuda??

club records would probably have contct details for him member 3 -4 years ago and a number of guys he rents workshop space to, were members until about 2 years ago.

It needs an owner with aussie contacts who can do the legwork in Oz to prove it wasn't nicked and was exported.

and then some help from MattH to get it registered

there is a VF one floating about looks rough comes up every few years

a few Dodge phoenix about ex embassy cars i belive basically 318 engined 4 door fury idividually numberd limited edition

vast majority will be VE valiant 4 doors or chargers

the former due to the numbers imported and less propensity to rust than any VH onwards
the latter due to the looks

basically a car will come up. its just a case of checking ebay, piston heads and retro cars each day


2000 + came in 200 of which were chargers


you get 1 or 2 per year on ebay


there is also an ex club member in the US who had a Yellow CM charger 318 sitting on a hemi 6 K frame.

he was called "Tweety" proper name (Andy Neal) runs a buiness in New york i think doing inovative stuff with Light, self made man.

never heard what he did with it

dave as in dave robson (the other dave) is probably still in contact

Ron fenton would be the chap to bring it in for you if he still has it and will sell it

that would be a unique car in the UK. imports here stopped with the last of the VJs

so you would qualify for a reduction in import duty due to its historical and unique status.

Steve and i know a man with a hemi 6



Dave