Exporting from the UK to the US

"Guy Meurice" (guymeurice)
04/09/2016 at 07:17 • Filed to: None

Has anyone got any experience in doing this? Reading Doug’s post about the value of Land Rovers has got me thinking it might be worth my while buying a few and sending them over to you guys in the states.

Picture of mine for attention.

DISCUSSION (9)

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Guy Meurice
04/09/2016 at 07:29

I think duurtlang has some experience with sending cars from europe to the US.

However are you sure EU spec defenders would have a similar value to the US spec ones?

Liam Farrell > Guy Meurice
04/09/2016 at 07:44

Ok I have researched this a lot as we were planning on importing one but ended up buying one already imported. The value of the NAS (North American Spec, the type Doug reviewed) are much greater because they only made a few thousand for the US and Canada, while the ROW (Rest of world, all the others that aren’t NAS trucks) are much cheaper because they made 2 million of them. Doug did exaggerated the value of it, that truck is probably about 45-55,000, while there are trucks that go for 70,000 those have everything done to them and a galvanized frame and bulkhead. The truck in the picture I would probably value here in the US all documented and legal in its current state 15000 max. Nobody who are buying these wants a old truck like that, and it is probably all rusted out. To import it it has to have the original engine type or a different engine available that model year; that's why they wrote an article a few days ago about a truck stuck in port because it didn't have an original engine. Sure there are people who do this for a living, but it is very difficult to do and not an easy way. You would definitely have to make sure there is minimal rust all around. Definitely if you are going to do this sign up for the Defender Source forum for defenders and series trucks. I'm not trying to discourage you, but I'm just trying to be informational. Feel free to ask me any questions.

Svend > Guy Meurice
04/09/2016 at 07:46

I think that unless you have a buyer already in the U.S. to send a Landie to you’d need a business in the U.S. to either hold the vehicles or sell them on your behalf.

There are several companies here in the U.K. already geared up to sell Landies to our cousins so I can’t imagine there would be much profit for private individuals unless you can offer something different such as classic Landies like Series Is and early Series IIs.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Guy Meurice
04/09/2016 at 09:34

Our customs folk tend to be a bit psychotic on a number of fronts, one of them being whether it has the original engine. There are several firms doing imports and charging handsome fees to do it - one to one sales could turn some profit advantage and cost savings for the two involved, but a very sharp inspection prior is absolutely essential because of the special stick up the backside of the US border-watching folk.

ranwhenparked > Guy Meurice
04/09/2016 at 11:35

It has to be a 1991 or older model, with the original numbers matching engine and no significant modifications from the factory specification.

UK-spec Defenders aren’t worth as much here as the ones Rover Group officially exported in the ‘90s, but they are still worth considerably more here than they would go for back home in the UK, so there is certainly a profit to be made.

You’d need to have some structure in place over here to receive the trucks, store them, and handle the marketing and sales. If that isn’t you, than you’d have to give somebody a percentage to do it on your behalf, if it is you, then you have the cost of setting all that up. Plus the transatlantic shipping cost, so I question whether an independent operator could make much money after everything was accounted for.

If you could make it up in volume, you could have a nice business going though. There are people here that make a good living out of bringing in classic Minis, Morris Minors, Citroen 2CVs, and ‘70s/’80s/early ‘90s Japanese classics.

I’ve thought about maybe trying to track down a really mint 1992 Rover 800 coupe when they become legal next year. I’ve always liked those more than I know I should.

Dru > Guy Meurice
04/11/2016 at 13:29

If I ever got the gumption to import something from the UK, I would likely be willing to send someone like yourself a few dollars (not pounds, because Murca) to go and check out a vehicle for me.

Guy Meurice > Dru
04/11/2016 at 15:03

Well if you do give me a shout, I’d be more than happy to take a look at anything located in the south of England. I’m in Kent.

Dru > Guy Meurice
04/11/2016 at 15:04

Awesome. What is the postcode in that area?

Guy Meurice > Dru
04/11/2016 at 16:00

There’s loads, Not sure which would be best. CT, TN, ME, DA, & BR.