3 months ago I had some fun (it just arrived)

[shatmepants]

I love the late '50's early '60's Ford trucks. I could find one in decent shape that I could afford, so I had to settle for a '62 big window Unibody. A little inspiration maybe.

Parked with my Dad's '34 and my kid's push car.

[bryn]

Good work fella, big trucks are cool ;D

I shipped a couple of things back from Oakland myself last year and it was very easy, did you use Kingstown in this country? I found them to be excellent and very efficient with the paperwork. Where is it coming back into? PM me if you'd prefer, I had issues with the handling company this end, that's all.

As far as the process back here goes, you seem to have enough experience but it's also very simple.

You can drive it back from the port if you're insured, which you can get on a chassis number alone. But you have to be booked in at a testing station for an MOT, and the Police can get funny if that station is at the other end of the country.

Plus insurers in the UK only seem to want to insure you on something for a couple of weeks before needing a UK license plate. A trade policy get's around this, but most will only cover you for third party liability.

I wouldn't gamble with driving it around on the US plates either, you may well get away with it. But if it's been permanently imported, you really need to register it for road use.

You'll have no worries with SVA, it doesn't apply to anything over ten years old. When you get to the MOT station they can input the chassis number and model details, the computer doesn't have to recognise the model or manufacturer even. It might be worth running it by a few stations first unless you have a 'pet' one already.

When the truck arrives, the shipping company will give you a tax invoice for the full amount of shipping and duty. You pay, they release the truck and you're good to go.

You then get sent a receipt by the customs office, present this with the relevant registration forms, a valid MOT and insurance, some money and you'll get issued your age related plate.

Hope that helps, I found importing a car easier than catching a ferry. I'm in the states until the 10th of July, and will be shipping something back with me if you need anything large bringing back spares wise.

[mercmad]

There is a book you should buy called the "Ford F series bible". It's full of info on how to keep the truck running by yourself easily. And invest in some dinitrol and treat the truck IMMEDIATELY!!!. Rust is unknown in Cali . and the tin worms will be lined up on the wharf waiting for your truck.
www.enthusiastbooks.com/si/30203.html
Invest in a LPG conversion too,you will find fuel bills to be eye watering

[bazzateer]

Nice truck, the orange lenses at the front need changing for clears though!

[akku]

Jun 18, 2008 8:54:39 GMT mercmad said:

Rust is unknown in Cali

Sadly this is not entirely true. Its entirely possible to import a car from California and it be rusted. My Plymouth has been off the road 2 years due to the amount of rot in it and that came straight from Oakland where it has lived its whole life...

So anyone thinking of buying a car (or truck) from a dry state make sure its rust free, not that the rust is included at no charge...

[bryn]

I was quite amazed at just how rusty something can be in America, and still be on the road. AK is quite right, never take a description as word, always see pictures.
I saw 'clean, good condition' vehicles with UK terminal chassis rot and split up interiors

[generally01]

The thing I have on my side is I have somebody working out there for me and he wouldnt bother sending something rotten over and its deffinately not the first car I have imported so getting pretty use to the shipping process.

Shatmepants (great name) thats a great looking truck and exactly the style of wheels I had in mind.

[leigh]

I know these aren't the same model as yours (which is super cool by the way) but maybe they'll be some inspiration:

[bryn]

Jun 18, 2008 14:14:52 GMT generally01 said:

The thing I have on my side is I have somebody working out there for me and he wouldnt bother sending something rotten over and its deffinately not the first car I have imported so getting pretty use to the shipping process.

Cool. I'll shut the f*ck up then

[generally01]

Not at all and thanks for the reply. There will be plenty on here who havent imported and that will hopefully anwer a lot of their questions.

Its Steve and Mark at Kingstown who I have always dealt with and as you say they are always really helpfull.

I'm relieved about the SVA issue as well, that was bugging me so its good to know its not required.

Dave.

[bryn]

Hey it's all good , mine came back into Southampton from Oakland and Harris Transport who they used were pretty shoddy. I let them know at the time, so don't know if they still use them.

I'm guessing given your location the truck will be landing somewhere further north anyway. The offer is still there if you want some larger bits shipping back in mine, I'm about a mile from Jegs for the next three weeks... ;D

[generally01]

Cheers for the offer, I think I may have another 2 vans on the way, just need to get payment sent so I can get stuff in there.

The place we were sending from was shipping to Hull but started sending to Southampton which starts to cost us more for transporting back to Glasgow. We found a new shipper out of Oakland and we are getting stuff in to Hull again.

We have always organised our own collection so never had an issue other than them picking up a few days late and copping some storage charges.

[bryn]

Cool, Hull is where Kingstown are based aren't they? Ever shipped anything from the east coast? I used them out of NJ, but am open to suggestions if you have any.

As for Southampton, my two were left in an employees car park, in full view of the road into an industrial estate behind a six foot metal fence. I drove in with a Range Rover and trailer, started to load them and thought I'd see how far I could get before being challenged... I gave up and went inside after a while.

And that was on the first day they cleared, they'd already been sat there for four days... With the keys in the ignition

[generally01]

Geez-oh, thats terrible. As I have never collected in person I have no idea where they have been left and thinking about it, this is the first time I have been issued with a release code so the truck can collect so they could well have been left insecure.

If you want to find a shipper from the east coast phone Kingstown and they will be able to put you on to somebody. We had a van to move from LA and Kingstown recomended a shipper so they are the guys to ask.

[bryn]

It's kind of scary when you get them yourself... I heard horror stories about Chatham, but was very happy when I got there with Rmad.

Kingstown shipped my van back from NJ for me, so I was going to go with them again. Always worth asking though

[hairnet]

Jun 17, 2008 18:49:16 GMT tonycocacola said:

zoMg!
*/ insert "right turn clyde" joke here /*

stick to benz ;D

similar to this chevy I think you may find

[chaz]

This is in Malta, not mine.

[generally01]

It arrived today and Some of you might like it,





Its V8 powered;


And came with some interesting dash top ornaments;


So here it is in all its glory, the Glasgow hillbilly wagon;





And here are the owners, Hank and Billy-Bob;


Squirted some fuel down the carb and its started first time;


Its got dual tanks, dual exhausts, air con, new master cylinder, new clutch cylinder, new tyres and is Completely solid underneath;


Plan is to MOT it and drive it for as long as I can afford the fuel (probably about 3 miles) so watch out for a nutter steering 3 tons of steel next time you are in Glasgow.

Dave.

[bryn]

Haha, love it

Isn't it kind of weird when you see them in America, in their natural surroundings and then back in the UK... Always makes me smile, how they seem to look different.

And as for the optional extras ;D

[generally01]

I always think they look different because they are shivvering. They feel cold so are always a little out of focus ;D

Its so good to finally get it here. Gearbox sounds a bit noisy, the brakes are interesting, there are no wipers and there is no key for the doors but thats about all I can find wrong with it.

Time to scour the internet for spares I suppose.

P.S. It came in through thames port. I just didnt want to advertise where it was sitting after you telling me about bad security at these places