Has anyone ever shipped a car to the states?

[1988325]

Just wondering on horror or success stories shipping a whole car to the USA, anyone?

[fuzzy]

no idea. not so much as horror stories more to do with expense i would expect.

[march109]

dont think anyone bothers anymore, imports to the USA have to be emmisions and safety tested, the euro e30 didn't pass safety in the usa 20 years ago, hence usa models having those god awful bumpers.

The US makes it as hard as possible to import anything unless you are a large company to protect their home manuafacturing industries.

[mattyb240]

Done it on 5 race cars to go over to daytona and allgot their and returned safely

[march109]

But were they registered for road use over there? if not its hardly the same.

[fuzzy]

america didnt get the touring did they? i believe its quite sought after in the e30 community in the states. is this your plan?

[fuzzy]

But were they registered for road use over there? if not its hardly the same.

to be fare the op never stated whether it was for a road or track car.

[1988325]

I need to do more research. I think once a car gets a certain age, the emissions doesn't matter anymore. Not sure if that is 20 or 25 years. I've seen the cars here just wondered how they do it. With the advent of Paypal purchases are much easier than they used to be.

[1988325]

Yes, it would be a road car. And yes, I am interested in the Touring. I've seen LHD cars from Canada for $3,000 USD. I want a RHD car though. To be truthful, any RHD E30 would be welcome, as it would be quite unsual here.

[march109]

A few on e30tech have imported UK and EU spec cars, I think its also easier to import a car already registered in Canada, if your ooop north why not import it through there first? You cold make it pass emisions if you could get to it to work on it first too, theres also a post on e30tech I think about running alcohol based fuel to pass emissions and if the engine was good allready this might make it pass better,

Alternativly import the shell and drop a US engine in? Then get the equivelent of a kit car sva test to gt it on the road, alot of your boys build some radical hot rods from kits and use them on the road these days don't they? there must be a process for testing a radically altered vehicle to gain road legality.

[mattyb240]

Was going to state it wasn't specified, just merely saying once trnasport was organised all went well with no horror stories

[JohnH]

I would imagine that the shipping should be reasonably straightforward and inexpensive. Have a look at any classic car mag and there are always tons of ads for international vehicle shipping.

As for the regulatory issues, just worry about them once the car is there. Considering US "gas guzzlers" get through I don't imagine any European vehicle (even a 20 year old one) would have too much trouble getting through.

[1988325]

I thought about import to canada or New Zealand first but i'd have to know someone there to accept it on my behalf? I am in Pennsylvania reasonably close to ports in Baltimore. The engine removal idea is a good one. I'll check the ads for international shipping, those guys would know how to get it through. I'm pretty sure a car a certian age doesn't have to conform to USA Fed emissions.
Whats funny about this whole deal, is that bringing a car in legit is a pain in the arse, yet our southern border is wide open millions of illegals walk right over no problem.

[fuzzy]

yet our southern border is wide open millions of illegals walk right over no problem.

we have exactly the same problem with illegal immigrants coming in from the south but our goverment encourages it so they can give away all our taxpayers money and resources

[1988325]

Say it isn't so! I had hoped Britain would be better at managing borders than the US.
We've got too many liberals running things, so I fear we are doomed.

[78dude]

I dont see any problem to import an E30 from Europe to US of America.
Today there is plenty of Italian cars who is been bought in Germany secondhand and they ship them over the ocean to USA. I know some Alfa Romeo`s who have been bought in Europe and shiped over because lack of resellers because you cant buy a new Alfa there. Mostly that is the Alfa Romeo Bertone and Alfa 164, but I saw one E34 Alpina for sale in California and that was a German import, dials in kmh and european bumpers!

[daimlerman]

Some years ago the Daimler car club arranged a club trip to the USA.Cars were delivered to the shipping port (Southampton IIRC) and went unacompanied on a RR type ferry.Members flew over and collected cars at the other side.No reports of damage,the guy who told me about the trip did comment that he had to buy a battery whilst touring,though.

[Gibson]

a rough crossing can damage them depending on how they are secured in the ship.
i saw a mondeo that had been tied down by the rear axle in the middle on a rough crossing and it had bent it so much it had more than 15 degrees negative toe on the rear wheels

[Simon]

i saw a mondeo that had been tied down by the rear axle in the middle on a rough crossing and it had bent it so much it had more than 15 degrees negative toe on the rear wheels

That would probably be a mk 2 mondeo then?

The rear beams on those are rubbish, and always bend, even when using them to pull the car.

[Gibson]

Oh yea sorry i forgot too add the smiley of the little bloke sniggering and pointing at the word mondeo.....

[pacerpete]

Shipping a car to the US is easy, getting it legal and registered is another thing ! Each state has different laws but emissions are usually the biggest hurdle. I am certain there are lighting and bumper issues and maybe even legislation relating to airbags ? Do your homework before spending your money !