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MG TD TF 1500 - Importing a car into Canada

I recently purchased a 1954 mgtf that was driven up to Canada from Texas in 1981 and came through the border in Vancouver BC. I am in possession of all of the paper work for this car including the sale and subsequent Motor Vehicle test in Texas, border documents etc. The problem is that it was never registered in Canada but was put into long-term storage and remained there until I bought it earlier this year.

To get the car registered in Canada I must take it to a Government approved testing station and they will verify the VIN number etc. That is the easy part! I am told that I must also present any factory recall notices for this model and despite the fact that it is a 1954 and the factory is no longer in business this appears to be an important part of the process (cash grab!). The next stage is for the car to pass a 100 point British Columbia safety test and this will only be possible once the car is restored. No registration....no insurance!

Does anyone know if there was ever any recall notices for the MGTF in the 50's and are there copies available?

Brian

ps - I was told that I can restore a wreck and as long as it was previously registered in the Province it doesn't need to have any sort of safety check. Only in Canada!
Brian Smith

Brian...

Did you get a second opinion (from another beaurocrat?) sometimes one is having a bad day....
I would then call Alberta and see if it can be registered there and then brought back...or Sask, or Man or even Ontario...
All the provinces seem to have diferent rules...
That is a shame as importing cars here is so easy... pay the taxes and get the ownership changed...
In Ontario the safety /emissions equip only have to be what was standard in '53.
gordon lawson

I was not under the impression there was such a thing as a recall system in the 1950's?
Bruce Cunha

On the form there will be a box that says Factory recall notices, just write "none"
S Best

just write "none" ...sounds like a better idea than trying to explain the "entire factory" was recalled!
Or ...have you tried writting to M.G. now and asking for it? I would be afraid that since they have brought back the "TF" name you would end up with "recall info" for items our cars never had! Does not sound like much fun dealing with a
beaurocrat trying to explain there is no "mass-air-temp-regulator" or "windscreen washers" on a 54!
Cheers,
David 55 TF1500 #7427
David Sheward

Thanks for the comments. Even if they had recall notices back then I am sure that any problems would have been rectified many years ago.

I was stunned by the comments from the Government testing station and the unwillingness to budge. Obviously I don't want to begin the restoration process on this 42000 mile original car (yes it does need at least cosmetic restoration) until such time as I am sure that I can register it and begin using it.

I will let you know what becomes of this as soon as I can find anything out. Too bad it wasn't registered when it was brought across the border back in 1981!

Brian
Brian Smith

My future daughter in law works for an importing / exporting firm here in the States. They handle beaurocrats all the time. Why don't you look up a firm near you, and ask their opinion. For a fee, they may be able to guide you through the maze. Alternatively, talk to your elected officials. They tend to relish in displaying their grasp of government by doing battle in special cases to help a constituant win against beauracracy.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Great idea... go to your MP's office... they are usually really bored and love to "fight" for their "voters".
gordon lawson - TD 27667

G'day Brian,

If you haven't done so already, perhaps you could enquire through your local MG Car Club Registrar about what is required? Local Clubs are usually pretty good. In Australia, and certainly in Canberra, our experience with the roads and traffic mob is that they are usually only acquainted with the rules and legislation applying to modern cars, they rarely have any knowledge of the rules applying to 'classic' cars. In fact, the advice I got when I bought my TF in '98, was to not take it to the inspection station operated by the RTA, instead, take it to a local garage which is familiar with these cars and with the rules. It didn't mean that they overlooked anything, but they weren't as anal as the RTA blokes. So, it might be worth your while to contact your local MG Car Club and see if they have someone who can advise you. Secondly, if your local service station, garage, mechanic (or whatever you call them over there) is authorised to conduct roadworthy inspections on cars, then use them to conduct the roadworthy inspection.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Phil
Phil

Brian - Have you looked at any of the Govt. of Canada sites? If not, here's several that may worth a look:

http://tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/tp/tp12957/menu.htm#Importation
From the main menu (left side column) click on both *Importations and *Publications.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/menu.htm
Here you'll find sdveral Phones no's. and Websites.

http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf
Here, in Section 2 - General you'll such wondrous things like: 'Vehicle Types' - "All vehicles (except busses) 15 years old or older" Under 'Admissible' - "All are admississible. See Notes" ... and under 'Notes' - "importer must be able to prove vehicle is 15 years old or older ...". Well, DUH! On pg.20, another list of Departments/Addresses/Phone no's/Internet sites et al.

Somwhere in my vast "Collection O'Stuff" (according to my better half ... : "#*&#@ packrat" - whatever ... I have a copy of the Govt. pamphlet "Importing a Vehicle to Canada". I think, however, it is pre-NAFTA, which, as you know, changed everything regarding customs and tax and duty etc. This is almost a "been there done that" scene - When I returned my TD back to Canada (from whence it came) in '92 - after having done ALL the paper work, crossing ALL the t's and dotting ALL the i's ... long story. Anyway, perhaps the above sites will prove useful. Good Luck, Ron
Ron Linden

Brian: Try "The Urban Garage" in West Van, 604.913.1999 - the bring lots of old E-Type and Mk. II Jags, BMW 6's, 356's and 911's up from California and they're experienced in the hassles of BC certification. Also try Weissach Motors, also in West Van, 604.738.3911, They're the RUF shop and also bring in a lot of non-certificated Porsche/Euro stuff and legally convert them. I'm not sure why, but the Alberta process seems to be much easier - but the BC process is do-able, because my RHD TD was a BC car before it came to Alberta.

Good luck,
Dave Jorgensen
Leduc, Alberta
Dave Jorgensen

Thanks, I will pursue all angles.

Brian
Brian Smith

I have imported all sorts of cars into Canada from a 1956 Porsch Carerra (yes, the rare one), a Morgan, MGs, Sprite and from Broadspeed, the first 970 S (actaually a 999) Cooper S into North America, 2 750 Abarth Zagatos, other Alfas, and on and on - can't remember them all. I've also exported a few, the most recent (July) a one-off 1949 Pinin Farina bodied Bentley drop head.

So Brian it all depends from which country, your going to import because the rules vary. In Canada we have the North American Auto Pact covering vehicles manufactured ONLY in Canada or the US. Bringing in a car from another country is an entirely different kettle of fish.

It would take up just too much space to cover it on this BB, not to mention that is probably of little ot no interest to anybody outside Canada.

Contact me off the BB with more details. I may be able to help. If you're planning to bring in a (new)MG TF, it is do-able, but tricky. I've seen 2 in Montreal - both rhd.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

Brian,

I have imported cars in to Manitoba. No big deal. You will, however need to deal with the Federal people for customs. They do not want to see anything other than your export documents from the US. I suggest you try to find a border broker and pay them the $'s they want and get them to do the negotiating with both sets of government agencies.

Once into Manitoba, just a simple safety check, which I believe is valid for registration in BC is all I needed.

If you have found a good TF which has been sitting for 25 years, the export/import issues will be a small price to pay when the car is being driven.

Have fun, and congratulations on your find. If you get adventerous and want to travel to Manitoba, the coffee and soft chairs are always available.

Regards

Glen Lucas
Glen Lucas

Thanks once again.

After sitting for so long I will need to recondition all of the mechanicals but it is the body that has suffered the greatest from the long lay up. Appears that all of the wood will need replacing but I have been given all of the wood to be used as templates. After doing the wood in my TD's body I am ready to tackle a new project and this is it.

The BC tests shouldn't be too tough mechanically but some of the demands for the body will require restoration before they will approve it.

Brian
Brian Smith

Can the ownership not be transferred without plating the car...when i got mine i had papers marked "unplated". Didn't have to go for any safety check until i was ready to plate it?
(this was in Ontario)
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Brian:
Found the Import Guide Brochure previously mentioned - and after a little web searching, the RIV (Registrar of Imported Vehicles) website which proved to be the "Mother Lode" of who, what, why, when, where - plus the before, during & after procedures re importing a vehicle from the U.S or overseas. http://www.riv.ca

Another website to check regarding this - and a lot of other related and interesting material - is found at:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/mj/import.htm

I'm sure you'll find both sites both informative and interesting. Good Luck, Ron
Ron Linden

Gordon / Brian,

A car is like any other import. You can import it, pay the duites. if any of course, then the GST. When you present it for the Fedeeral inspection, you must show that you've paid the above.

When you go to get it inspected provincially, its then, that you pay the Provincial Sales tax. Only when that is done can you plate it. However if you choose to not plate it at that time, then that's your perogative.

But be carefull. I know that in Québec, we can only go one year before plating it, then it has to be re-inspected. So in one instance, I didn't present the car to the provincial inspectors right away, as there was work to be done. In fact as I recall, there were almost 7 months between inporting it and taking it for provincial inspection.

Unlike other provinces (what else is new?) Québec doesn't have Vintage or Classic car registrations (25 years or more). Instead we have a 'Carnival' classification which restricts driving to non-freeways, and 75 kph. Also, it means we can by-pass the full provincial inspection, but the vehicle must nonetheless meet all requirements for what is described as a "passenger car" (eg; fenders, lights, horn, etc), and 'safe' in operation. This is done for special interest groups including the Menonites, so they can drive on local roads and still carry insurance.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A. Clark

This thread was discussed between 08/10/2005 and 06/11/2005

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