Importing Two Defender 130's as Salvage?

[nomad]

Hey I am sure there are multiple listings reference Defender imports.

The problem I have is simple. A very good friend of mine in Blightey has sourced two extremely minor damaged Defender 130's LHD, one Hi-Cap Crew 2002 the other a 15 seater 2001.

Now could someone please tell me how I can get them in as salvage because that basically is what they are, they'll be donor /organ vehicles.

They will if I can, be coming in from England any suggestions on how much dismanteling will be involved, paperwork necessary taxes etc etc port charges the usual.

Thanks in advance.

Nomad.

trev1964@juno.com

 

[Leslie]

To do it more-or-less legally, dissasemble them into components (engines/transmissions on pallets, doors, hoods, and fenders off, seats out, etc.). Get a 40-ft shipping container, load them into it, then ship the container over as *parts*. However, there's a couple of caveats here: if you don't do this regularly, ie it's not a regular business transaction for you, you can be busted if they deem that your goal was to assemble them back into vehicles. To make it more legit, start a small business on the side, and ship it over for the business: ship other parts over, too, that aren't for those vehicles in addition to those bits... ie, have a manifest like: 2 chassis, 2 body shells, 4 engine/transmission combinations, 8 axles, 15 doors, 6 fenders, assorted seats, miscellaneous parts like brake drums, brake discs, water pumps, fuel pumps, springs, wheels, etc. etc. etc.


If you don't dissemble them, then you will really run the risk of having them confiscated. Yes, it happens, there were several 110s that were brought in through Texas, seized, auctioned off and parted out....

And even if you do all of that, there's still a chance that it can be confiscated, if they're suspicious. Be able to afford to lose the whole lot if it gets locked up.

FWIW....



-L

 

[EricSiepmann]

I wouldn't suggest it for two reasons. One, like leslie said, there's no sure way to get the parts in. No gaurantee that you parts won't be confiscated.

Two, roversdownsouth has on occassion 110 bodies for sale. I have seen a blue 100 crew cab body mostly complete and a G4 110 on the sight recently.

In fact they have almost everything you'd need to convert a donor into a 110. They have a 110 crew cab complete for sale right now. So why go thru all the trouble and expense of shipping when someone already has done it for you? Why try to do something illegally when there is a legal and quick solution readily available?

EwS

 

[kellymoe]

There has to be a legit way to do this, especialy if the vehicles are declared salvage. As Eric said RDS has at times had some fairly complete bodies of 110. RDS was able to get them into the country somehow without raising too much suspision. It has been done before, look on www.LRX.com there is a guy down in Texas who is selling a 110 crew cab. I think it is a 2001. Contact him and ask him what hurdles he went through. I think it was brought in in parts and reassembled.

 

[Panama Disco]

Hey I am sure there are multiple listings reference Defender imports.

The problem I have is simple. A very good friend of mine in Blightey has sourced two extremely minor damaged Defender 130's LHD, one Hi-Cap Crew 2002 the other a 15 seater 2001.

Now could someone please tell me how I can get them in as salvage because that basically is what they are, they'll be donor /organ vehicles.

...........

trev1964@juno.com

I have a friend that is selling a 2003 Defender 110 station wagon manual transmission (XS package) around 38,000. I think. He did sell another defender 90 to a guy in the USA a couple of months ago but then my friend told me that the guy got his truck confiscated . So be careful.

Peter

 

[Panama Disco]

Forgot to mention is a TD5

Peter

 

[Leslie]

There has to be a legit way to do this, especialy if the vehicles are declared salvage. As Eric said RDS has at times had some fairly complete bodies of 110. RDS was able to get them into the country somehow without raising too much suspision.....QUOTE]


Where do you think those confiscated 110s from Texas ended up? Louisiana, maybe?







-L

 

[EricSiepmann]

Well, when your business is LR parts, it's not surprising that he can get in bodies without drawing to much attention.

The guy in Texas selling the crew cab registered the car as a series and brought everything into Mexico. He's working on another project at the moment....

EwS

 

[nomad]

Hey chaps, thanks for replying to the post.

Eric, yes I would love to deal with RDS with the kit the have down there. But I have been offered the two 130's for a combined price of $3500 USD. That is the key to my requests for LEGAL info on importation of the 130's into the States.

I did e-mail the chap in TX with the CC Def 110 to no avail.

1. I do not as an ex-Police Officer wish to spend any time in Federal Jail.
2. When getting the deal on two 130's I wish not to pay the usual US rate on them.
3. All help coming has been most appreciated.

So still if anyone has further info please continue this thread. Not only for me but others that may be in the same boat.

Cheers

Nomad

 

[EricSiepmann]

Eric, yes I would love to deal with RDS with the kit the have down there. But I have been offered the two 130's for a combined price of $3500 USD. That is the key to my requests for LEGAL info on importation of the 130's into the States.

Nomad

$3,500 is your starting cost. Have you priced shipping to the US? I haven't been through the process myself, but it appears very expensive especially given the weak dollar. And then you'd have all the time invested into reassembly of all the parts. The RDS option would definetly save you countless hours because it's here legally, mostly complete, and could be drop shipped closer to home. I'd crunch the numbers for the entire build carefully. Might turn out to be cheaper to buy a wheel instead of re-inventing it.....

 

[syoung]

US Customs can answer your questions, and being completely upfront honest with them will help your case if someone gets the urge to crawl up your backside with a magnifying glass.
If you surrendered the ID plates and submitted to them in writing exactly what you intend to do with them, you actually have a good chance.
Of course, Customs has been looking for more important things than fraudulent auto imports- I've been in the market for an old style Mini and I've had to wade through all the gray market illegal imports trying to find a legit one. Seen a lot of shady Rovers lately too.

 

[nomad]

Thanks Chaps.

 

[nomad]

Steve have you tried:

WWW.vancouverminiclub.ca/forsale/ads

Again you will have to delve through heaps of junk COOPer stated stuff from 1974?? etc etc.

Cheers

 

[ptschram]

Shipping via a single, one-shot 40 footer from Liverpool to Newark will run about $3600. RO/RO, about $1400.

I too have seen a recent vintage diesel 110 in the US. One even bore a US state issued VIN tag with the same vin as the truck .

If one were to ship unrelated parts in separate containers, the likelihood of confiscation is lowered greatly.

If these vehicles are being shipped on an "export document" they will be treated as vehicles. If recognizable vehicles are in a container, absent an "Export Document", questions will be raised. In my experience, if it looks like a vehicle, the shipping company is gonna want an "Export Document".

Obtaining the "Export Document" requires the bill of sale, V-5, and a date of departure.

Under the best of circumstances, importing a vehicle is not an easy process.

I hear lots of schemes and am way too frightened to even think about it-had a chance to pick up a 1983 110 at Sodbury for $1000 and SWMBO wouldn't even let me consider it. I even have a brother in law who at the time wasn't a citizen and could have gotten it in for me under the non-citizen, 36 month deal. The 109 she did let me buy was well worth the hassles. Bringing it home from Newark was an adventure in and of itself.

Peace,
PT

 

[AndrewClarke]

I'm too lazy to look this stuff up again right now, but I did some research a couple years ago as I was thinking of bringing in a Euro-spec Audi S4. My nephew works for Audi in Germany and can get me a good deal on one, but it won't really do me any good here (legally), but anyway... Here's what I remember at least.

You can import any vehicle you want for something like 3 weeks. Hence the Lotus Elises I've seen crusing around in the past with Euro plates, for instance. You can also import vehicles as farm implements and such and they're legal to drive as long as it's on your own property. Similarly, race cars are allowed but they can't be registered for street use. If your real, intended purposes is actually to use these vehicles as parts donors as you've mentioned, then I don't see how you would realistically have troubles. There is no law (that I know of) against bringing in vehicle parts, as long as they're properly declared. I suppose you might raise the suspicions of US Customs but I would think at least that with the proper documentation this should be OK. The problem is that even if your shipment is legit, if it gets delayed at the dock, you pay dock fees for as long as it's there, which can get expensive since US Customs aren't exactly the fastest group of individuals.

It's certainly easy for me to suggest that you consider it as it's not my money. As others have said, unless this is a sort of personal quest for you or something like that, the easier way would be to use something that's already here. Of course, the easiest thing of all would be to just siit on your ass and watch television, in which case why would any of us own our Land Rovers in the first place.

 

[ptschram]

The problem is that even if your shipment is legit, if it gets delayed at the dock, you pay dock fees for as long as it's there, which can get expensive since US Customs aren't exactly the fastest group of individuals.

You get ten days free storage, then it goes to $15.00/day. Curiously, this is paid to a Tony Soprano wannabe who calmly pockets your cash after you pay him and sign a receipt for $5-$10 less than what you actually gave him...

If you use a reputable customs clearing agent, your stuff is essentially approved before arrival, but again, this is all dependent upon whether there are recognizable vehicles in the container.

It all depends upon the bill of lading wording.

 

[AndrewClarke]

Well, my information regarding dock fees was what I was told by other people, so I can't vouch for it personally. Is it the same for every container and every dock, Paul?

 

[ptschram]

Well, my information regarding dock fees was what I was told by other people, so I can't vouch for it personally. Is it the same for every container and every dock, Paul?

Please accept my apologies if you were insulted.

My experience is limited to shipping vehicles.

Fropm what I've seen, most stuff comes into just a few ports.

 

[AndrewClarke]

Please accept my apologies if you were insulted.

Not insulted in the least! I just had some questions since it sounded like you ACTUALLY knew what you were talking about

 

[gjackson]

I would agree with those who have said there are no legal problems. If you are actually importing parts as parts, then there should be no problems. Just take the cars apart before you load them into the container. They only have to be in 3 pieces: engine separate from chassis separate from body. Then they can be defined as parts. Declare them to customs as such. The only legal problem you may have is if the engine is a diesel. Those are not legal, but customs usually doesn't care. It is EPA who cares about that.

I have brought 3 defenders into the country and have also shipped complete vehicles to Europe, Africa and back. Shipping can be a pain, but the costs are manageable. You get at least 3 free days at the dock before storage charges start to apply. In 90% of cases customs doesn't even look at the container. You take your paperwork to them and they sign off. Delays depend on how busy customs is and if you raise any red flags, like asking stupid questions.

If you are still worried about legalities, talk to an import lawyer. I did that before bringing anything in. There are multiple ways to do this, but you shouldn't confuse what is legal with what isn't. Just because a part is off a Euro spec LR does not mean it is illegal here. In the worst case you could sell the diesel engines in England and ship the bodies and chassis. All depands on what you plan on doing with them when they are here.

cheers

Graham