Implications of importing a car from the USA

[Tony]

John

Our e-mails must have crossed, you have already done it. Your computer seems to find a lot more than mine.

Thank you very much for the help. From the photos of the engine bay and underside, the car seems to have gone through a body off upgrade at some time. As to the quality of the work, it seems ok from the photos and to my untrained eye, but I am sure the experts on the forum will know better.

I see the car was green originally

[MarkE]

Tony, having banged on about the considerable choice of cars available in the US in a wide variety of conditions, I?ve looked at this one long and hard and have delayed my response in case I was just over-reacting. But I wasn?t.

It really is bloody hideous, and looks like it belongs in the foyer of a Las Vegas casino. Its way too glitzy and it just looks wrong in every way. The only thing I could see it being used for over here, and it would need a tow hitch, is for pulling a large chrome-plated caravan.

If the restoration was any good, then surely the seller would bother to write up a description of what?s been done to it. Instead he?s just taken a load of photos to emphasise just how glitzy it is. Remember, it?s very easy to fill and paint these cars to look ?good?, but it?s what?s underneath the paint that?s so important.

There are many, many better cars than this, in the UK and the USA?and probably Manila. That?s what it reminds me of come to think of it, one of those chromed-up Jeep Taxis used in the Philippines.

[on2wheels]

Hi,
I wish people would really tell it how it is and not mince their words!

Tony, a good book that I got when researching e-types was .......

The Essential Buyer's Guide
Jaguar E-Type 3.8 & 4.2 litre by Peter Crespin.
Veloce Publishing ISBN 13:978-1-904788-85-0 at about ?8-?10.

Another good book giving all the numbers is....
Collector's Originality Guide Jaguar E-Type by Philip Porter.
Motorbooks ISBN 978-0-7603-3560-4

Good luck with your search,
Nick.

[MarkE]

It was just a view, Nick :D

Wait 'till I voice a strong opinion on something!!

[Tony]

Nick,

Thanks for the lead on the books. I need to do a bit reading.


Mark,

I know you like it really. I was thinking it would look nice with some cow horns on the front. Texas style :D

[1954Etype]

Nick,

Thanks for the lead on the books. I need to do a bit reading.


Mark,

I know you like it really. I was thinking it would look nice with some cow horns on the front. Texas style :D

The other thing you absolutely have to consider when spending that sort of money out is how much you will get back if you sell it. (I certainly couldn't afford to lose a large amount). This car is a bit like buying a pink Porsche - if you like the colour then great but don't expect it to sell quickly or make top dollar. The more orignal a car is, the better (upgrades are fine providing they are reversable (ie bolt on)). As has been mentioned, this particular car belongs in the foyer of a large hotel somewhere.

[MarkE]

Just to prove that I?m not totally obsessed by originality, I spotted this a year or so ago and absolutely love it. I used to dabble in racing in the Modsports group, which was all flared arches and big noise! It started off as an early 3.8, and now sports a much widened body with a S2 bonnet with extra bump, huge wheels, a custom interior and a 7 litre V8. From memory, the owner spent $100k developing this car, and it shows.

About the only thing I would change is to lose those side pipes?very Corvette.

But this car underlines what is said above, as it was on eBay again last week. Very few would share this guy?s vision, and most would probably think that it?s hideous and a sacrilege. But I think it would fit in well pottering around Cheltenham.

[Heuer]

Tony

There is a (very) full list of E-Type books in The Library http://etypeuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=884 and well worth allocating ?200 to spend on a few of them so you know more than the other man. Knowledge is king!

[steve3.8]

John,

That's strange, when I go on their web site it has a lot of those photos missing.
It will be a good exercise for future reference to see if the car numbers stack up. Is there a web site that interprets these numbers, I am sure I a have seen a reference on the forum somewhere?


Steve,

I beginning to see the costs of importing a car mounting up. I really like the cars on the Etypeuk site but it is another 15to 25k which over budget. As I promised my wife to spend the same on the house as the car , the lump sum retirement package would taking a pounding.

Not to worry, it's a steep learning curve.

Tony,

to get the "J R Ewing" Dallas car on your drive converted to rhd form would be ?60K thats why i thought the uk cars were comparable if not a better buy, if ?50K is your total budget you need to be buying at ?35k in the states-- and thats quite a tall order for a condition A car,proceed with caution!

cheers Steve

[Tony]

All this discussion is proving very helpful and as Steve states, 35K would be the limit for a US car to keep within the 50k budget.

So I can learn, let's pretend the car was still in the original green as per manufacture and assume it has no rust in the structure??.

What are the actual discrepancies.

The chrome though shiny looks to be the same as on any other E type.
The sun visors have been added on later.
The engine is not painted gold.
The engine and gearbox match the car and the numbers stack up.
It's LH drive. (effects resale costs)
The interior does not seem standard

Where else does it fall down?

I only ask this so I can check when looking at other cars.

[e-bygum]

Another "discrepancy" is the "pusher" rad fan that looks to be mounted to the stone grill in the nose of the bonnet.

[1954Etype]

All this discussion is proving very helpful and as Steve states, 35K would be the limit for a US car to keep within the 50k budget.

So I can learn, let's pretend the car was still in the original green as per manufacture and assume it has no rust in the structure??.

What are the actual discrepancies.

The chrome though shiny looks to be the same as on any other E type.
The sun visors have been added on later.
The engine is not painted gold.
The engine and gearbox match the car and the numbers stack up.
It's LH drive. (effects resale costs)
The interior does not seem standard

Where else does it fall down?

I only ask this so I can check when looking at other cars.

THere is an excellent book by Pete Crespin on buying an E Type. He has covered the S1 and 2 with one book and the V12 with another. Well worth buying. Available from Veloce Publishing.