Ship US Dino to Europe - or not?

Since I am in the process of moving to Europe, I have been pondering - no, make that agonizing over - over what to do with my beloved #05020 Dino. Here are my alternatives:

1. Face the costs and hazards involved in shipping it to Europe. Then convert the speedometer to kph, perhaps change the rear turn signal lenses to yellow. In other words, do the absolute minimum required to pass the safety inspections over there. A full conversion of the front end to Euro look, with removal of the rectangular side marker lights, etc., is of course possible, but I would never do it to #05020. It is one of the precious few, well preserved, mostly unrestored original US Dinos left. It must be left intact, in my opinion.

I may consider removing the A/C compressor, air pump and other smog devices, but only in such a way that they can be re-installed and the car returned to existing, original condition.

Another issue is the shipping. The cost of the shipping is surprisingly low, around $1800, but insurance, at 2% of the value is not. Insurance of a Dino will cost twice as much as the shipping, it seems. Even worse, "you can insure against total loss, but not against minor nicks or scratches", according to the shipping agent. Hmmm..

I am not saying that the hazards of shipping is a big issue, but stuffing a near-concours car into a shipping container is not without some concerns, either. The oceans can be unforgiving sometimes. Waves happen. Just for fun, take a look at this short video clip of a container ship crossing the Atlantic. Imagine your precious, irreplacable (to you) collector car inside one of those containers!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUXoEjUxlVc[/ame]


Or:

2. Start thinking the unthinkable, and put the car up for sale in the US, where the A/C and other US equipment is an advantage, rather than the opposite. A highly original, mostly unrestored GT in Gold/Platinum condition is rarely offered on the US market, so price should be close to top of the range. Then, later in the year, I would look for a Euro Dino in Europe.


So, what do you think? Does selling it sound like a reasonable plan? If so, will I be able to find a genuinely good Dino in Europe, in the normal price range? It would not need to be in concourse condition (been there, done that) but it would have to be very good and correct. I must say, recent offerings on the web have not been encouraging, but I assume there are better ones available somewhere.

Or, do you think I should have my head examined for even thinking of selling a car like this? After all, original (or mostly original) cars can not be duplicated - at any price.

Any thoughts, advice or opinions?

 

Asking prices for Dinos in Europe seem to start at 129,000 Euros = $169,000. So I would regard the normal price range to be $169,00 to $199,000 or so. The problem is, the ones I have seen pictures of, all have something wrong with them. Seats, steering wheels, nose sections are frequently incorrect. That is a bit disturbing at those prices.

Import costs into Sweden from the US can be quite high. In general, importing a car from outside EU will cost 10% import duties plus 25% (!) VAT (Value Added Tax). With various other fees, the total cost can be 38% of the value of the car. That would make importation out of the question for me. Fortunately, there are exceptions for collector cars, which fulfill certain requirements. Dino qualifies. They can be imported for "only" 12% of the value.
In my case, if I shipped my US Dino, I would try to import it as personal moving goods, in which case it would be almost free, assuming I can fulfill those, even more stringent requirements. If not, the worst case would be that I pay 12% plus shipping costs.
Importing a used car from another EU country is essentially free.

You have a point about all the cars coming over the same way to the US. But at that time, they were just new cars. Now they are collector's items and pieces of automotive history. That makes everything a little more touchy.

 

1) RoRo is something I had not considered. I thought container would be safer, but I will look into that possibility too.

2) That is precisely my concern. I do not want to modify a very original and unmolested US Dino to European requirements. And, yes, I agree, it would be a lot of fun to shop for a replacement Dino!

3) Interesting point. I will maintain a US address for many years to come. I may be able to drive on the California plates in Europe for at least 6 months or so.

4) Indeed! It is to my native Sweden, and they do know how to tax everything there. But I have studied the regulations in detail, so I know I will not need to pay more than 12%, thanks to the exception for historical/collector cars.

Thanks for the input!

 

I would almost bet that you are correct. The historical/collector car designation is difficult to get in Sweden, but I think that, along with the reduced import fees, they are allowed to remain in their original conditions, as you suggest. I will definitely read the fine print on those rules. I know for a fact that it applies to personal import/ relocation vehicles.
Thanks!

 

Good points, Alberto. If I shipped in a container, I could go to the place where they load it and inspect myself, to make sure that nothing can rub against the body, and that everything is properly tied down.

The pictures of the Dino in your container are amusing. You mean to say that the customs inspectors said: "Sure, it is a worthless, abandoned car. It says so right on it!" Funny!

And whoa, 48% import duties! I only wish the governments of the world would wake up and realize what damage they are doing to commerce with their misguided laws.

Lars

 

Andrew,
Yes, the port information is probably outdated, but what a story, and what arrogance from those customs officials!

I get your point about my car. We should not let government bureaucracies dictate when to sell our cars. I will keep that in mind.

Lars

 

I suspect you are right about the difficulty of finding another Dino in Europe, and about the other issues too. Very thoughtful advice, thank you, Rob.

Lars

 

Certainly true. US Dinos get no respect in Europe, it seems. Good thing that you mentioned it, it was another concern I had, which I did not spell out.

US Dinos are considered less desirable in Europe - for entirely irrational reasons, in my opinion, but never mind. The market perception is what it is, and it appears to place a lower value on a US Dino in Europe.

In my case, that may not mean much. If I went through the trouble and expense of shipping and importing the Dino, I would keep it for a long time, so why worry about market value? Still, it is something in the back of my mind, perhaps.

But in a general discussion about whether or not to ship a US Dino to Europe, the question of market value should probably be taken into consideration.

I also believe that this market perception may be slowly changing. For example, I recently learned about a very nice US DIno, which has found a happy home in Denmark.

 

You must have been reading my mind, Fred. I am already doing something similar to that.

I was planning to spend a couple of months in Calfornia each year during the winter, and I am keeping my little sailboat in Marina Del Rey for that reason. If I just extended that winter stay a few months, I could probably live without the Dino in Sweden, and the Dino could stay in California. That would of course be the best of both worlds. Will try to work on it!

And, yes, I guess you are right, the car is part of my identity now. After 18 years of ownership, I am almost married to it. Thanks for your moral support!

Lars

 

Rob, I did not think of that! Perfectly logical, of course.

Confirming what you said, I found this information on http://foreignborn.com/visas_imm/entering_us/7importingyourcar.htm

"Re-Importing A Previously Exported Vehicle
A vehicle taken from the United States for non-commercial, private use may be returned duty free by proving to U.S. Customs that it was previously owned and registered in the United States. This proof may be a state-issued registration card for the automobile or a bill of sale for the car from a U.S. dealer. Repairs or accessories acquired abroad for your vehicle must be declared on your return and may be subject to duty."

 

Thanks for the info! It makes sense that there would be freight forwarders specializing in collector cars.

Interesting to hear that your friend goes inside the container to check for leaks. Apparently, I am not the only one paranoid about waves of salt water crashing in over the containers!