Thinking about offerng an export service.

[airbats801]

I was talking to a guy down in aus, and I started thinking about offering a exportation service. It would strictly be exportation out of the united states, all paper work on importation of the car would have to be handled buy the person importing the vehicle.

I think it might work out pretty good for you guys, assuming you have researched and know what all needs to be done to import a vehicle.

I'm not looking to get rich off this or anything. I was thinking around 300-400usd per car. And a little fee for going out to take a look, pics, and check a car over.


From what I am reading, its pretty easy for me to export a car, basically requires the title. I need to do some more research and see what other documents I may need.

i''ve learned a little about australian customs, and the widebody conquest/starions meet the 15 year rule.

You can also look at taxes for these cars this way, I know they basically double the price of the cars bill of sale. Well Blue book for these cars is 1300usd for a 89 conquest and around 1450usd for a 89 starion in good condition. Now say you found a cherry one for maybe 3kusd. The bill of sale would be more on blue book value between you and I ;)

I can usually track down cars for fairly cheap, depending on what kind of running condition you want them in.

I could also offer some aprts services along with the car, ex 4g63 dohc for around 50 bucks, toss one in the back ;) along with turbo dsm ecus and what not.

Anyways, I am curious to see if there is any interest in this, I would like to do this on the side to fund my engine swap. We also have a local internation port Portland, Oregon usa Port of Portland.

[decoy]

then flav can start selling some LHD -> RHD conversions

[Junkers]

mmmm I like the sound of this, minus the conversion :?

[airbats801]

I should also mention, i cna usuallf find non running ones in decent shape for around 600 or so.

The rhd conversion for you guys would be a pita though. Could always jury rig one from a aus spec car tough ;)

[flav]

Mate, i see what your saying but the 15 yr rule is gone.. and when the car lands here theres about $3000 in fees before they let you get anywhere near it, then if you go collect it some bastard has stripped whatever he car out of it, usually the guy who handles the yard and the towing service as he's already importing whatever he sees is selling and using your car as his 'good' spare parts car and swapping all his busted shit to yours.. Corruption is a happening thing in this buisiness.

[MrBishi]

I really can't see much of an advantage shipping the complete LHD car over. Sure the cars are cheaper to start with but by the time the RHD conversion is completed (ie finding a junk AU starion with good dash & swapping bits) it will be no cheaper than importing a RHD one from japan.
They can be had for $10-$15K and the simple fact is that people are understandably reluctant to fork out that much money for an unpopular 15+ yo car sight unseen.

Shipping of parts on the other hand could be a good idea. 4G63 twin cam heads, 89 seats, body panels, front bars, rear wings etc. will always be of interest. I wonder how the FTA has affected prices on 2nd hand car parts?

[hcca]

I still wonder if there would be some merit in bringing in car that doesn't run but is straight (ie. airbat's $600 one). If it could be shipped over here complete for <$2000-2500 then it would probably be worth it for widebody panels, diff/complete rear end, 5 stud hubs and interior bits.

[flav]

Mabey a few enquiries in the Half cut business is the way to go. No reg. rules to comply with, on that basis i think i shall look into it! Dammit..thinking out aloud again. Would need alot of interest to do it this way....it would have to work out cheaper in the long run, but MrB is right as far as left to right conversions and all the hassles involved. Buy, comply and drive is easy. (compliance $1000-$1500)

[Alspos]

Can you register it in LHD, or is that just CH cars? I have seen a few old cars getting around unconverted. Be a buffer to overtake though :)

[hcca]

You can only register LHD if it's over a certain age (not sure what that is, but it's definitely at least pre 1980 and probably earlier).

[airbats801]

Yeah, i figured the hardest part would be getting the rhd parts. Unless you feel like raing your flatty, I sure would, but thats me, it probably wouldnt be worth it.

I'm not sue that teh wide bodyr ear ends would bolt up to a narrow body. If they did, you would also need the ds since I believe the torque tube ont he flatt is a little shorter than the widebody.

[toysrus]

You can still import vehicles made in 1988 and before so I see no problems, and you would get more re-sale value on an original than a Au-widebody conversion.

The other advantages is how the US cars are better looked after compared to the Jap ones, for the same amount of miles and the chance of getting one with full leather interior is not so rare as it is in Japan

[hcca]

I'm not sue that teh wide bodyr ear ends would bolt up to a narrow body. If they did, you would also need the ds since I believe the torque tube ont he flatt is a little shorter than the widebody.

They do bolt up.. need most of the widebody rear end though.

[airbats801]

getting one ful leather? aI tihnk about 98% of the us cars came with full leather lol.

I had one of those rare burgandy velour interiors in my car, but I got rid of that real quick.

Unless the car is white or silver, it most likely came with black leather here.

White and silver tend to come with maroon leather.

[mrb1]

Problems from experience:

1) RHD black dash in Oz are made from unobtainium. (mine is coming from the UK as we speak)
2) diffs are the same and are interchangable except for big spline 1989 US. (by diff I mean complete with torque tube)
3) there is a LOT of work to convert to RHD.

In my opinion get a RHD one from Japan.