Question for Andrew Clarke and Retrofit

[Chris F]

I was wondering if you fellows would have a little advice from your experiences with importing that you guys have done. I was looking into importing a 83 GD300 LWB from the UK and before I even really consider committing into the purchase I was wondering the total cost and any aggrevation that you went through. Also any leads on haulers / shippers would be great

Thanks

Chris

 

[Retrofit]

Well I realy don't know realy where to begin.

1st. You will have to find your truck from a distance and then find a way to have look at it. It is a hard process to do from a distance if you don't have someone over there to do it for you. And also agree on a payment method that is safe for you and the seller.

2nd Is getting it from where it is in the UK to the port of your choice. I used the same agent that took the car in charge from the purchase place all the way to halifax.

3rd As for the Canadian customs it was realy easy dealing with them. Just needed the paper work from the carrier and a true bill of sale plus your title. Pay the applicable taxes and off you go !

4th From there on it is just a question of getting it to where you live, on it's own power or on a flatbed (easier than getting all the permits and stuff).

5th And at last, you just need to get it throught your provincial inspection, witch can be something else to deal with.

All of those infos are prety vague and I have to admit that once the truck is in your driveway you will have about 3 inches of paperwork and bills that you will have to keep in case you ever want to sell the truck. And this is of course if you want to import a 15 year or older car.

Their are many carrier company to do business with. Choose one you trust and don't base your choice on price but service.

Should you need any more info let me know.

Pat

 

[Chris F]

Thanks Pat, that gives a little better idea what to expect. Your website in your blog about your import gave me a better sense as well. It makes sense to ship to Halifax for you but I had been quoted an additional $2500 plus tax to ship from port to Calgary which sucks.

What shipper did you use to import your truck into Halifax?

I am not so worried about the person in trusting to scopeing out the vehicle as I would be with customs. but my biggest worry was about the overall cost of the shipping, inspections and I guess any repairs that really need to completed. There have been a few trucks (MB and LR's) out of Japan that I have been looking at and with shipping to Vancouver would allow me to pick it up at port myself.

Anyways it has given me something to think about. Thanks

Chris

 

[bterpstra]

I was wondering if you fellows would have a little advice from your experiences with importing that you guys have done. I was looking into importing a 83 GD300 LWB from the UK and before I even really consider committing into the purchase I was wondering the total cost and any aggrevation that you went through. Also any leads on haulers / shippers would be great

Thanks

Chris

Importing one is pretty tough. If you would settle for a SWB, I'd be happy to sell you mine. One advantage is that it has a turbodiesel that I swapped in two years ago since I live in Colorado and the NA diesel is pitifully slow.

 

[Chris F]

Importing one is pretty tough. If you would settle for a SWB, I'd be happy to sell you mine. One advantage is that it has a turbodiesel that I swapped in two years ago since I live in Colorado and the NA diesel is pitifully slow.

I am always interested. I would seriously prefer to deal with someone on this continent. Anyways pm me

 

[Retrofit]

Importing is not all that hard, you just need to be realy well organized that's all. And for my part, the canadian customs part was probably the least of thing to deal with.

My self I went with Havas Packing and Shipping based in the UK. Realy good services.

Good luck !

Pat

 

[Chris F]

Importing is not all that hard, you just need to be realy well organized that's all. And for my part, the canadian customs part was probably the least of thing to deal with.

My self I went with Havas Packing and Shipping based in the UK. Realy good services.

Good luck !

Pat

Thanks Pat for all your info. I will definately check these guys out. However I missed out on this truck but there will be others and I will be able to find a better suited truck although this past one was close.

 

[AndrewClarke]

I just saw your post, and may as well answer late as never. I was looking overseas but ended up getting one right close to home. It's not that I COULDN'T have picked one up in the UK but I'm glad I made the choice I did.

I found one on www.landroverexchange.com (why oh why are they no longer lrx.com). It was in great mechanical shape and all the work had been done for me. Sure it cost a little more than the ones you see on autotrader.co.uk but OTOH it was here, had Ontario plates, LHD conversion, I could test drive it, check it out, and it ran well. And the seller certainly had more in it than it cost me to buy it, so since my time is worth something to me it was an advantage to me to buy it over importing one myself.

IMHO I guess both have their ups and downs. If I had lots of time and a place to work on the truck and was mechanically inclined and didn't care that the truck wouldn't be on the road for months and months after I'd bought it, I'd probably buy a total heap in the UK for the VIN, a new galvanised chassis, 300tdi or HS2.8 engine, an interior, etc. etc., throw it all in a container from the UK and build up a really sweet ride.

- Andrew.

 

[Chris F]

thanks Andrew,

I thought that you purchased over seas. I definately hear you on trying to purchase locally first or at least the same continent but the picking in what I want are slim so I will still near and far. For the most part I will remain patient in this quest and perhaps I will find a good deal for me as well.

Chris