Has anyone here imported a used (turn key) 356 Replica to the EU?
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Arranging transport is easy, but depending on which EU country the buyer wants it imported to is another story. France is almost impossible.
Brit SOCer imported a CMC (assume over 25-30 years old) to England and titled it using a VW title that matched the pan VIN (car bought from NJ dealer with Michigan assigned VIN but no title came with car just a shipping invoice).
TUV in Germany will put you through the wringer. @Kuehl in German had the US sourced alloy wheels on a super wide bodied Speedster rejected since they weren't stamped properly.
Suspect the year built will play a big part.
I would be the importer as I am moving to Europe, but the car isn't a pan based car it is on the Intermeccanica tube chassis. I am getting the feeling this may be an issue.
Car is fairly recent. 2018 or so.
What country?
@356Jeff posted:I would be the importer as I am moving to Europe, but the car isn't a pan based car it is on the Intermeccanica tube chassis. I am getting the feeling this may be an issue.
Car is fairly recent. 2018 or so.
Could you take the motor out, import it as a kit, and get around EU rules easier that way?
Each EU country has it's own rules and they typically revolve around safety inspections. Some very strict, some less strict.
Someone posted that on a non-antique Speedster replica import to UK, it needed a fender mount gas filler (not under the frunk) and the headlights had to be raised. Many countries also require approved plastic light lens (like SWF lens) - SAE/DOT/YUV - not Made in TAIWAN.
I guess a tube based chassis is another difficult issue here in Europe.
The slight chance is a replica body on VW-pan , however the chassis needs to be shortened. VW approved the shortening of the chassis in the very past, but this approval has been withdrawn. So the shortend wheelbase might be a critical issue, there is V-shape or H-Shape cutting. There are some TUV insectors who see it this easy, some not. Of course headlight need to be changed ( easy) lights with "E" sign, windshield same, saftey belts etc..
On top Porsche does not allow replicas to be imported - this is what I read here - and some may have been confiscated while importing to Germany or EU ? ( don´t know exactly) - so import must be without badges etc.
Which country do you want to import to ? For short term only or it should be registered in EU ? There will be 19% or 21 % VAT plus 10% Tax. If it is a 30 years old car in "historic" condition the tax is 7% ( or 6% or 9% depending on where the taxation is done ( Holland different than Belgium, different to Germany...)
Contact Thomas Jepsen in Denmark. He currently has at least one Speedster for sale and has successfully imported at least two Vintage Speedsters built cars from me in the past. He knows what it takes.
Here's his contact information :
Thomas Jepsen
B e s t CAR
Tel: +45 30 24 28 00
Mail: thomas@bestcar.dk
Website: http://bestcar.dk
I'd be curious to hear more about the German rules. A guy looked at and test-drove my Spyder last year & told me he wanted to take it back with him to Germany and drive it in rallies and such. He seemed really into the car and I think his wife liked it too. I cautioned him to look into the TUV process and he ended up not making an offer.
I don’t know about replicas, but when I sold my 911 to a guy in Germany in 2015, he told me he’d like to buy my (92) 968, too, but he couldn’t import it because it wasn’t 30 years old.
On top of regular car import rules, there’s TUV inspections for replicas that make California rules look lenient.
Well, I am from Germany ;-)
It is a bit complicated and differs much from US-rules.
Getting a "tubula frame based" Porsche replica with TUV is - to my opinion - almost impossible.
Different to a pan based ( like VW) - there is a better chance to get them registered, however not guaranteed. The speedster requires a shortened beetle wheelbase - such shortening had been approved by VW in the early 80tees or so ( see BUGGY) . However the approval to shorten the pan has been withdrawn by VW since years. However there are ways... I am not familiar with Spider-replicas, sorry.
I looked on a Spider without registration here in Germany - however decided not to take the risk.
RE-IMPORTING a ORIGINAL Porsche is not so difficult, since they had been type-approved here in Germany in the past.
In order to re-im/export them to Germany you need to get them converted to german rules. ( Changing headlight, flasher lights, sometime the tyres, non-original alloy Wheels, etc.) The car must be presented to TUV then for full inspection - and required special permits for US-lights, sometimes emission / CAT. KM/h-speedom, Porsche Datasheet etc.
Plus you pay always between between 19 and 21% VAT plus import tax for some cases.
Costs for original Porsche / Hella headlights and tyres, Datasheet, inspection fees etc - you know the price level...
Sometimes it just simply does not make sence to ship around the globe as there are other Porsches available here too - and recently there is not much benefit in currency exchange.
I imported my 1989 US-model 928S4 in 2010 from Japan back to Germany - and had to pay custom tax pls VAT - and make the full inspection - this was rather simple and cost me - say 600€ plus VAT+customs.
After 30 years and being in "collectable" condition the tax is reduced ( see ealrier posts) This may have been the reason the 968 was not sold.
Country would be Portugal. Car is a tube frame. THanks for all the feedback, still digesting it all.
I think it may be possible to get it approved for in-country registration only, that is it can't be moved within the EU. Not certain yet.
Hi Guys. Not been around for some while but I recently read that all cars now need an SVA test in the UK. I believe that means you cant have a replica with a beetle title. Read it in a Speedster and Spyder club magazine.