Selling Defenders to US

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jimllshiftit

jimllshiftit

Active Member
Posts
229
Location
Warwickshire
At risk of sounding like a traitor to the green oval marque I've been considering the future of my factory 200tdi Defender 90 SW and come to the conclusion that it should be sold to the US. It's LHD for one thing as it was originally in the Canary Islands and it's still on its original chassis... I had planned to convert it to RHD and build it on galv chassis this year but I believe I'm actually going to devalue it by doing that. I also have two earlyish 110 SW's which I had planned to use for spares for the 90 project but are also on their original chassis'. These two are not MOT'd but they are running and driving and complete... Maybe these should also go to the US.

So how do I go about doing this? Should I offer to get them as far as the docks and let the buyer on the shipping thereafter? How do I accept payment? If I was a US buyer I'd feel a bit wary of sending a relatively large sum of money to a foreign bank account but neither would I want to accept PayPal (for example) as they seem to retain control of the payment for months afterwards.

Has anyone here got experience of doing this and did you make the transaction as straightforward as possible? Looking forward to hearing from you, and seasons greetings.
 
Anaconda said:
As far as I am aware it has to have original chassis to export to US, so check if you are thinking about swapping on a new one.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that.

That's why I say I believe I'm devaluing the vehicle if I continue with my plan. Currently all three vehicles have their original chassis' and I think they should stay that way for the time being.
 
I am a long way from an expert, and I know they are worth more in the US than here, but i believe the era of being worth vast amounts is possibly behind us. To be US exportable it has to be over 25 years and all original when they were worth huge amounts there weren't many that fell into that category mainly based on age. These days early td5's fit the bill and it wont be long until nearly every defender is old enough for export so the supply is much greater than it used to be.
 
dag019 said:
I am a long way from an expert, and I know they are worth more in the US than here, but i believe the era of being worth vast amounts is possibly behind us. To be US exportable it has to be over 25 years and all original when they were worth huge amounts there weren't many that fell into that category mainly based on age. These days early td5's fit the bill and it wont be long until nearly every defender is old enough for export so the supply is much greater than it used to be.
Click to expand...
I am based in the USA and have imported two Defender 110's from the UK. I played it straight and chose to import completely original 25+ year old cars (i.e. no replacement chassis).
You will need cars Titled and registered in the USA to get the most for your car.
The prices / demand for Defenders has dropped significantly since the interest rates started to go up. I would check out https://www.hemmings.com/ to get a sense of retail prices in the USA.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have
 
Evening Jimllshiftit, I am actually looking for an older Defender to take with me to US. I am going this summer and my Defender is "too new" to take ...gutted as Ive spent quite a bit sorting it just so to my liking. Anywho, If you still have your Defenders would you be so kind as to send me photos? Kind regards Ady
 
jimllshiftit said:
At risk of sounding like a traitor to the green oval marque I've been considering the future of my factory 200tdi Defender 90 SW and come to the conclusion that it should be sold to the US. It's LHD for one thing as it was originally in the Canary Islands and it's still on its original chassis... I had planned to convert it to RHD and build it on galv chassis this year but I believe I'm actually going to devalue it by doing that. I also have two earlyish 110 SW's which I had planned to use for spares for the 90 project but are also on their original chassis'. These two are not MOT'd but they are running and driving and complete... Maybe these should also go to the US.

So how do I go about doing this? Should I offer to get them as far as the docks and let the buyer on the shipping thereafter? How do I accept payment? If I was a US buyer I'd feel a bit wary of sending a relatively large sum of money to a foreign bank account but neither would I want to accept PayPal (for example) as they seem to retain control of the payment for months afterwards.

Has anyone here got experience of doing this and did you make the transaction as straightforward as possible? Looking forward to hearing from you, and seasons greetings.
Click to expand...
Evening Jimllshiftit, I am actually looking for an older Defender to take with me to US. I am going this summer and my Defender is "too new" to take ...gutted as Ive spent quite a bit sorting it just so to my liking. Anywho, If you still have your Defenders would you be so kind as to send me photos? Kind regards Ady
 
Speaking from the west side of the Atlantic ... I have imported from South Africa to the USA but never from the UK. I can only speak to the law on our side, which varies greatly from state to state. As far as our federal government goes it must be 25 years old. Here in the Free State of Florida - all they care about is identifying paperwork confirming that it is over 25 years old and that the serial number of the vehicle you are presenting in person matches that which left the exporting country. So the "inpsection" will be matching the export VIN to a number stamped somewhere on the physical truck. The export paperwork needs to show a date of mfr that is 25 years or more older.

They do not care whether it is remotely original and would not know how to figure that out anyway. It can be in poor condition (my old truck from SA had a chassis like Swiss cheese) - They don't concern themselves with that.

We have no vehicle inspection program here (in Florida that is; California probably makes the EU look friendly) but each owner is of course required to ensure that the imported vehicle is roadworthy.

I have always used a customs broker and gotten paperwork lined up before the vehicle left the exporting country.
 
Further to last - The vehicle does not have to be roadworthy at the time of import. My old South African Truck (a 1974 Series III LWB) had to be carried to the top of my driveway - which fortunately has a nice slope. Gravity moved it to my workshop, where I put it back in good shape before it hit the road.
 
l've noticed that recently prices for "US exportable" Land Rovers has gone down, possibly since the first TD5's became eligible
 
wileycat said:
Speaking from the west side of the Atlantic ... I have imported from South Africa to the USA but never from the UK. I can only speak to the law on our side, which varies greatly from state to state. As far as our federal government goes it must be 25 years old. Here in the Free State of Florida - all they care about is identifying paperwork confirming that it is over 25 years old and that the serial number of the vehicle you are presenting in person matches that which left the exporting country. So the "inpsection" will be matching the export VIN to a number stamped somewhere on the physical truck. The export paperwork needs to show a date of mfr that is 25 years or more older.

They do not care whether it is remotely original and would not know how to figure that out anyway. It can be in poor condition (my old truck from SA had a chassis like Swiss cheese) - They don't concern themselves with that.

We have no vehicle inspection program here (in Florida that is; California probably makes the EU look friendly) but each owner is of course required to ensure that the imported vehicle is roadworthy.

I have always used a customs broker and gotten paperwork lined up before the vehicle left the exporting country.
Click to expand...
Thank you Wileycat for the information provided, very insightful as there are quite a few 'rumours' regarding the import requirements. Would you recommend importing to Florida...if so would I be required to be a resident of Florida?

I am interested in the M57 conversion and had been researching it quite extensively until I read that the engine had to be the original in order to import. Is that not the case...can I import it with an engine conversion completed?

Finally, would you be so kind as to provide the details of the customs broker you mentioned so that I can reach out to them? '

Kind regards
 
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