Border Patrol checks 308GTB for contraband

I was afraid they were going to tear it apart. Then I thought... Parts car!

 

Look at how little they respect the car, allowing a dog to jump all over the paint work. How many scratches do you think were left? I imported a car from Europe years ago, I assume going through a similar inspection, they tore out the spare wheel cover and rubber pieces Left me to have everything put back together.

 

I bet if it was an old Honda Accord, it would get better treatment.

 

The dog was wearing soft booties....

 

Second look, didn’t notice that.

 

They must of seen the Breaking Bad episode with the 308 with the hidden compartment.

 

You should see what the Australians do ripping out everything they think might be made of asbestos.

 

Yeah, a Ferrari crossing a border just screams "I am a drug smuggler" to authority's. Best not to attempt a crossing (at least drive across) if you value your car.

It reminders me of the story (probably back in the 1980's when the EPA was waging war on the importation of non US spec cars) told by Ferrari royalty Dick Merritt who was bringing in a 250 SWB. The authority's pried open the hood with a crowbar because they couldn't figure out how to open it. All they had to do was walk into the waiting room and ask but when you are a government employee with power why not exercise it.

For those who were not around back then Dick Merritt was not only a leading Ferrari expert, co-author of the historical Ferrari book by Merritt/Fitzgerald and one of the founders of The Ferrari Club of America, he was also the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Compliance Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation. If they could mess with him then we have no chance.

 

So much about this I love!
The moment they start swabbing the interior for drug residue makes me think of old top gear. I mean the chances of some powder substance in there from the 80s from a multiple owner 308 ?!?

Checking the gap between the firewall and the gas tanks and there being so little room. Possibly suspecting the saddle gas tanks as hidden compartments.

Free x-ray inspection to make sure the spare has no cracks - you'd normally have to pay money for that!

 

Yes, Importing a car Down Under is a real punish

 

Did they check the passenger side foot rest panel. There is a BIG place to hide something there behind it.

 

And I thought old 911's were the smugglers choice with all the little compartments they have.

 

Yep. They're complete arseholes. Holes drilled, wiring looms cut - definitely went to Screw U.

 

Well face it. You have very strict laws to protect your home auto industry against cheap used imports not to mention the environmental laws. Customs plays a hand in both and uses one to encourage compliance with the other. Government is about forcing behavior at the point of a gun. Canada is strict too but less dramatic trying to keep our large numbers of rust free cheap used cars out of their country.
Its about protecting the interests of industry.

 

No auto manufacturing industry here anymore - the unions killed it. But the green-left bureaucracy has been getting more and more powerful, and a lot of private contractors have sprung up to do their bidding. And then there's the union thugs on the wharves...