MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - importing a car from england

has anyone imported a car from england lately? (i know the current value of the euro and pound don't make it as attractive as it has been) my son-in-law asked me and i told him someone here may have an idea on how to go about it. regards, tom
tm peterson

I haven't imported from the UK since 1973 ('47 MG TC), so a lot has changed. However, although this may be obvious, I seriously hope that the vehicle has either been personally inspected by your son-in-law, or by someone he trusts completely. I found way back then that one side of the pond's definition of "restored" meant that the owner's hand made white shag carpet floor mats had been removed and the dirt "shaken out" :-) Just my advice.
L Karpman

I not sure but I might get a little info soon. My cousin is in the Air Force and has a 79 midget here that I recently did a lot of work on for him and my uncle says he is looking at buying a 65 Sprite to bring home through his new English bride. He is allowed to bring home as many vehicles as Adults coming back to the States. Told my uncle to forget the Sprite as he was asking me what it would take to convert it to left hand drive and have him bring home a TF(new version) if it would clear customs and then he would have something really unique here.

LaVerne
LED DOWNEY

Friend of mine runs a Taxi/Limo service...he has brought 7 London cabs back and a few Mini's/etc.
Although this is located in Canada... am not sure if the company he uses is based in the U.K.

I will get their importers name later today...thought they had email service but its not listed on the site.

Their website is at: http://www.niagaraclassiccabs.com/london.html
gblawson - TD#27667

thank you everyone. a note to l karpman, i am sorry for your experience, but how you told it here was very funny! thank you for the tip and your presentation of same. i will watch this posting for more info. thanks again to all. regards, tom
tm peterson

Not so sure about the description Mr Karpman is giving about European way of restoring cars.

It is certainly not a commen thing to restore in the way he mentions.

Actually we over here in Europe are flooded with cheap import of ex USA MG-B's, TR 6, Jaguars etc which were "proffesionally restored" in the USA.

In reality they were only badly resprayed and never restored.

It makes always sense to inspect a car before you buy where ever it is coming from.

Unfortunately the car trade is very attractive to all sorts of bad people only interested in a quick profit.

Bas
Bas

Bas, my comment was meant to be "light hearted" and not directed at any "side of the pond" in particular. It was just so in my case some 33 years ago. I'm quite sure it works both ways, but my description is exactly what I received for a vehicle advertised in Road & Track magazine as "fully restored." My fault for not checking out first.
L Karpman

Indeed cars are often advertised being better then reality:

"From elder vicar who never went out in the rain"

sounds suspicious to me......
Bas

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. I await with relish the next ebay "One owner, highly original MG TD" with a VW motor hanging from the back - probably located in Texas.


Cheers


Jan t
J Targosz

"People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones"

I'll repeat, as in my previous post, there was no finger pointing intended. I was trying to offer some advice on checking the car first, especially one on the other side of the ocean, as the description of vehicles for sale are in the eyes of the seller no matter which side the seller is on. I was not implying anything other than recounting my importing experience a long time ago.
L Karpman

On a more positive note: If at all possible, title the car in the US before importing it. I did that in 1987 when bringing my J2 in from Europe. I bought it and restored it in the UK while living there. Then drove it in Denmark for two years. When I returned to the US, it was already registered as a US car, so I avoided any duty and a lot of questions.

Cheers,
Lew Palmer
Lew Palmer

This thread was discussed between 14/09/2006 and 15/09/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.