classic911

I'm leaving for Italy on Tuesday and I've always been curious about purchasing an older Porsche in Europe and shipping it back.

I think I've read that if the car is more than 25 years old it is no problem having it imported into the good'ole USA; however, any car younger than 25 years there are a myriad of restrictions. I've also been told you can have a newer car but you can't drive it more than 2500 miles/year, you can't sell it, etc.

Does anybody have any good links/info on the subject?

Thanks!

geo.aigel

I have researched this a few years back. The first statements you made are correct. Don't bother with cars that are newer than 25 years.

Main problem is that you can't import a car yourself, you have to give an approved importer the job and that's costy, even on the older cars.

Why in the world would you want to get an older 911 from Europe? There are more 911 cars in the US than in europe, I think. Rust is a huge issue over there and they aren't any cheaper either. Euro performance isn't much different on the early cars from the US model performance, is it?

I'd look in CA, NV and AZ for a rust free early car. If you go to Italy, go get something you can't buy here. 911s are all over the place in the US.

George

Ed Bighi

I agree. If I were to go through the trouble of bringing in a car with our draconian import laws and hiring a customs broker, I would get something not available here. Like maybe a Lancia 037 Rally, Lancia Delta HF, Peugeot 205 GTI or Ford RS 200. But then again, why bother with those when you can find, if you look hard enough, an Audi Sport Quattro short wheel base over here. Not only that, but the customs broker would have to be an automotive specialist.

I once had to hire a customs broker to clear a Jeep Wrangler that left Port of Miami only two weeks before to Monaco. The buyer did not approve of the vehicle and sent it back. My partner and I were under the assumtion that it would be just a case of paying port fees and driving it away since not only was it an American car, but one that was sold and driven here. We were met with DOT and EPA paperwork up the wazoo and had to hire a customs broker. Yes, we had to spend good money and time to get it cleared. Unlike in other countries, bringing things into the US isn't just a process of paying some duty. It is a lot more as I found out. Only third world dictatorships are worse.

The mileage restrictions you mentioned are the latest allowances by the Department of Transportation for vehicles that can be considered very special landmark cars. For example the Porsche 959. And even then, each particular car has to be approved. Once approved, the path is cleared for other units of that particular model. Of course, the first person to venture with a particular car bears the costs of the approval of that type. Once DOT has cleared it, then it is just a matter of passing the EPA requirements which are far easier to satisfy.

The Department of Transportation's tightened safety restrictions after the mid eighties is what killed the grey market. After that point, it wasn't just a matter of slapping on a catalyst along with bumper shocks and different turn signals. It is a shame really, because I have been going nuts over the killer deals on Mercedes 500Es in Germany now.

A good place for information on cars not officially imported into the US, is www.renaultsport.com.

dporsche74

hi, I was seriously thinking of getting a Mercedes Evo1 190e-16v from europe this fall, I have been reading the US customs and duty pages on the net, They are long and difficult to understand,

I was also wondering what are the proper steps in getting a car imported? I figure I will have to pay duty,(2.5%) , but it seems I have to
pay one and one half the vaule of the car untill it is EPA approved??(whats that), and have to put up the total value untill it is DOT approved,?? Does this sound right to dish out around 30K untill
it is legal and get it all back ??

Why can't we just change the mirrors, bumpers,exhaust, light etc..
to USspec? Passing the DOT and EPA tests seems easy with a chassis that was already imported here
thanks
Dave

69 911 Iroc replica
86 190e 2.3-16v (cossy)
80 300SD TD

hoffman912

personally if i went through the hastle of importing a euro car, id keep it stock. thats part of the beauty fo the euro model, how different and rare it is here in the states

dporsche74

I haven't seen a evo1( 500 made) ever in the US for sale yet?, I called a few importer's today and will only tell me I will have to give them about 10K, but will not tell me what for ??, I try 3 differnt places? one I don't have time for this!
I would just change the Euro parts back once legal ., and put the USA parts back on my normal 190e 16v, This is very confusing to find soild anwsers.

dporsche74

here is a stock evo 1

dporsche74

back. 225hp compared to the 167h/p USA model, larger flares and wider tires, big brakes,stroked engine 2.3 to 2.5, AMG power pack ing system, the list goes on too

Beethoven

In addition to the difficulties of getting the car to the US, you'll have to deal with a very shaky (for want of a less polite term) market in Italy. The German sister list of rennlist (elfertreff) is full of stories of people buying Porsches in Italy only to find out that the mileage is manipulated, the bodies repainted, the motors mistreated, etc. There are exceptions, of course. But Italy is not the country where I would look for a pristine Porsche.

classic911

Thanks All!

Maybe I'll look for a nice Lancia Stratos while I'm there, and visit the Moto Guzzi and Ducati factories..............

Ed Bighi

Lancia Stratos, 190 evos, now you are talking about cars that would be worth importing. Though Stratos's can be found in the US. But you are still going to be dealing with shady importers, moronic American laws and the risk of not ever getting that car in even after the expenses. Look at my previous post for that link I mentioned. They have a history of bringing in some otherwise impossible cars. See what they say. One of these days I will take the easy route and just move to Europe and enjoy those cars.

neilk

I remember reading a story in the NY Times about Sally Jesse Raphael importing a Smart Car to the US. IIRC, she had to crash test a couple, but the car was ultimately approved. Once hers passed, others could import them hassle free. I have even seen a couple in Dallas, the SUV capital.

9caregiver

Greetings,

I have imported a 73 RS and also a spare RS engine on seperate occasions and it is actually EASY. Just hire a good import broker and they will guide you through it. I would not bother with a common model though as the costs of importing may not make any sense. I would also only try and bring in exempt age cars.

Incidentally the climate in Italy is the ideal place in Europe to find older Porsches much like Southern California is to us. Some of the best Carrera RS cars have been found there. Best of luck.

Don

meanmaroon951

well this is somthing only a 944 owner would do ;Find you a big pontoon boat take all the stuff off drive the 911 up on it hook the 911 engine up to the prop (make that thing work to get to the new world) MIght want to bring beer and gas maybe toilet paper

uli953

Good idea !

What about a weekend in Stuttgart and then take my 91`944 turbo cabrio (There are none in USA, officially) to the states ?