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Need Advice- Euro Import Docs

Discussion in '308/328' started by slvr993, Jan 18, 2015.

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  1. slvr993

    slvr993 Rookie

    Aug 16, 2013
    49
    West Chester PA
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    #1 slvr993, Jan 18, 2015
    I'm looking at a Euro '84 QV GTS ( First Ferrari) . The current owner passed away after 20 years of ownership and his son is selling the car. It was imported by someone in Nevada and then sold used to the current family. Its been titled here in Pennsylvania for the last 20 years, but he doesn't have any import paperwork and I don't see any import sticker on the car.

    My question is, should there be documentation with the car?

    My concern is resale / value down the road. I'm not too concerned about titling in PA, but if in 5 years or so I'd like to sell it, will it be that much more difficult or with a car this old maybe it doesn't matter??

    Thanks in advance

    Jeff
     
  2. ztarum

    ztarum Formula 3

    Mar 30, 2008
    1,302
    South Jersey, USA
    #2 ztarum, Jan 18, 2015
    I have a euro in NJ and was never asked for any importation documentation when I purchased the car from out of state (even though I had the documents). I think that from a practical standpoint as long as the car has a valid title from a US state it should't be an issue. That said, it still may impact resale value if you don't have the papers. Although extremely unlikely, the car could technically be seized and crushed if it was imported illegally. There use to be a number at the DOT that you could call to see if an imported car was legit, but I don't know the procedure now. I would think that with VIN number you could probably do some digging to see if it was properly imported.
     
  3. slvr993

    slvr993 Rookie

    Aug 16, 2013
    49
    West Chester PA
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    Jeff
    #3 slvr993, Jan 18, 2015
    ztaram - Thanks

    Is there a decal that's supposed to be on the car to show it was properly imported?

    Jeff
     
  4. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
    5,326
    Montana
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    Kim
    #4 308 milano, Jan 18, 2015
    I have an 84 Euro QV with all the import paperwork. I know these cars are 30 years old but for me personally, it's got to have the doc's as it WILL be tougher to sell later on. My 2cts. Don't let the "red mist" cloud your judgment.
     
  5. slvr993

    slvr993 Rookie

    Aug 16, 2013
    49
    West Chester PA
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    Jeff
    #5 slvr993, Jan 18, 2015
    Also - without the paperwork, how do you know actual miles if the odometer was changed to an MPH unit? Do they roll the new odometer forward to the actual mileage or simply start at zero..in which case you'd need the paperwork to know what it was before it was federalized.- correct??

    Point well taken Milano...I do have a red mist issue.

    Thanks
    Jeff
     
  6. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,064
    Savannah
    #6 thecarreaper, Jan 18, 2015
    Dick Merrit. Has has to be in his bound book or its here illegally. One of my euro cars they had no record of. But as was said, only some States care about emissions and euro VIN's. Mine is not one of them, so I have enjoyed euro Lambo's, 911's and Ferrari's. Would love a euro Qv.
     
  7. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
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    Kim
    #7 308 milano, Jan 18, 2015
    LOL! I must admit, the red mist is hard to shake! Service records through the years should give a pretty good indication of the mileage on the vehicle.I wouldn't put too much credence in an odometer reading, look for overall condition. Jeff, Not saying that this wouldn't be a good QV, but items such as import doc's, Service records, are a huge bargaining chip. Good luck!
     
  8. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
    12,665
    South East
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    Jimmie
    #8 greyboxer, Jan 18, 2015
    Taking an outsider's point of view : surely if you can now bring in anything over 25 years old none of the previous certification matters provided it passes state inspection now - which is sort of another way of putting Kim's point above
     
  9. Hannibal308

    Hannibal308 F1 Veteran

    Jan 3, 2012
    7,177
    Arizona / Hawai’i
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    Hannibal
    #9 Hannibal308, Jan 18, 2015
    When I wanted a euro dry sump 308 (6 months ago), I just went to where one was for sale, made sure it had a valid title, bought it, brought it to my state (AZ) and titled it. There was no hassle of any kind. No import paperwork or stickers or anything to show. The car has all original cluster in italian and Kph on the speedo and Km on the odo. It did get inspected, by the way, with all the above noted. It just didn't matter. I'm glad I didn't read this post first! Ignorance is bliss, I guess. Of note, there are several RHD foreign cars rolling around my neighborhood on nice days. It must just not really matter here.

    I'm sure every state is different.

    Ciao!

    Hannibal
     
  10. detroiter

    detroiter Karting

    Apr 30, 2013
    200
    Munich, Bayern
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    Carter
    #10 detroiter, Jan 18, 2015
    If it's a good car, just buy it and enjoy it. If the Euro gets stronger again, some european will buy it off of you and bring it back over anyway. :)
    In retrospect probably what I should have done (I live in Germany) instead of buying the crappy US car I bought and spending the past year getting it sorted (red mist victim).
     
  11. slvr993

    slvr993 Rookie

    Aug 16, 2013
    49
    West Chester PA
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    Jeff
    #11 slvr993, Jan 18, 2015
    Great advice - thank you guys. It is a good car. My mechanic has known the car for quite a while although the last 5 years it's been off the road as the owner fell Ill and has passed. It shift, runs and stops great. But... It needs a major and some interior TLC. There was quarter panel paint work that was done at some point and not done perfect. No cracks or anything but the blending sucks and there's some orange peel. I think a good sanding and polishing will take care of the orange peel. No structural damage and no filler. It's at my mechanics shop and we've been through the car. I'm a sucker for a car that needs saving. My issue is the owners son can't seem to locate any documents other than the title. He's a local guy and known by my circle of car friends so I trust his story but it's still gonna be a no documented history car. Gotta give it some thought - all additional input welcome.
     
  12. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

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    #12 308 milano, Jan 18, 2015
    The gentleman owned this car for 20 years, that tells me he cherished it. The fact that his son cannot find any paper work, I find suspect. if he was anything like the rest of us (which sounds like he was,) there should be a stack of paperwork on this car in a special corner of the house or in a drawer. Sounds to me like he's not looking very hard. OR, it's a very good way to not have to divulge something.
     
  13. slvr993

    slvr993 Rookie

    Aug 16, 2013
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    West Chester PA
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    Jeff
    #13 slvr993, Jan 19, 2015
    All is good. Import documents and service receipts were found going back to importation in 1999. Hopefully I can finalize the deal by the end of the week. Thanks for all the input and advice!

    Jeff
     
  14. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
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    #14 308 milano, Jan 19, 2015
    Excellent! And welcome to the Euro QV owners club! Be sure to post some pictures of your new acquisition! All the best! Kim
     
  15. hyenahf

    hyenahf F1 Rookie

    May 25, 2004
    2,603
    #15 hyenahf, Jan 20, 2015
    Ive had 3 euro cars in Cali. Still own one. No records on any.
     

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