924Board.org

Peter_in_AU · Joined: 29 Jul 2001 Posts: 2745 Location: Sydney, Australia

Does anyone have first-hand or even second-hand experience with importing a US car into Australia?

The thing I'd really like some info on is the shipping costs. The local taxes and duties I know.

What prompts the question is I'm thinking of doing a suspension, brake and transaxle upgrade on my 924 and wondering if it might just be cheaper to buy an early dead 944 in the US and ship it out here.
_________________
1979 924 (Gone to a better place)
1974 Lotus 7 S4 "Big Valve" Twin-cam (waiting)
1982 924 (As featured on Wikipedia)

Learn to love your multimeter and may the search be with you

CMXXXI · Joined: 05 Nov 2002 Posts: 1939 Location: Vicksburg, MS

No first or second hand knowledge, but it would stand to reason that if the car you want to import is just a dead, junked car, that you'd just be importing "scrap metal". Do you think that just because the object used to be an operating vehicle, that you'd have to import it as an actual car?

Just a thought...
_________________
'79 Eurospec 931

Paul · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:24 am Post subject:

I'd be glad to pick up a 944 that you have bought and dismantle whatever you want and send it over to you. I've done this for other board members.

Peter_in_AU · Joined: 29 Jul 2001 Posts: 2745 Location: Sydney, Australia

The standard method for importing parts cars into Australia, especially from Japan, is a "half cut". They basically just slice the car in half behind the windscreen and then just import the front section whole. I assume that way you only get charged tax on the purchase price of the car and not the additional duty imposed on motor vehicles.

Paul, that's very generous of you. Perhaps when the time is right we could work out a deal.
_________________
1979 924 (Gone to a better place)
1974 Lotus 7 S4 "Big Valve" Twin-cam (waiting)
1982 924 (As featured on Wikipedia)

Learn to love your multimeter and may the search be with you

Khal

sandgroper · Joined: 07 Dec 2002 Posts: 108 Location: in limbo

Best way is by the cubic metre,plywood crate,Brennan international in long beach do Fremantle for US$95 a cube plus $50 for documentation,so brake upgrade and trans easy under a cube,cube being the minimum charge,i imagine sydney is even cheaper cube rate,so you need a mate in L.A. eh Pete

Peter_in_AU · Joined: 29 Jul 2001 Posts: 2745 Location: Sydney, Australia

wow! US$95 per cubic metre seems really reasonable. Thanks for the tip sandgroper. BTW what's with the "in limbo" location?
_________________
1979 924 (Gone to a better place)
1974 Lotus 7 S4 "Big Valve" Twin-cam (waiting)
1982 924 (As featured on Wikipedia)

Learn to love your multimeter and may the search be with you

924aussie · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:31 pm Post subject:

Bumping this right back up to the top after 5 years....

Is there anyone out there that is in the importing exporting business ?

I am still looking at importing a 1979 EV Porsche from Florida to Australia.

I intended to convert the 924 to electric but I know have the chance to purchase a 911 already converted, yes I know its LHD

Alan
_________________
green 924 .. 1980 rego 924PSH
1998 Mopar Neon ... sick
2003 Challenger / Montery 4WD
1995 Hyundai Scoupe ... sold
1998 Nissan Silvia ... sons back from OS he has taken it
BIG BLOODY MOTORHOME 300zx Sold
1980 Fire truck Sold

daniel · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 686 Location: Sydney, Australia

3 years ago we brought in a 914. I cant remember the details, but the sale price of the 914 was $5000US and the landed price was around $12,000 AUS. This was when the dollar was at 98 cents...

I can dig out the paper work and tell you who we used if you need it.
_________________
Over the top of skyline, total brake failure.... hit the wall at over 200 kp/h at the dipper, so anyone who has to brake for the esses is a pussy.
1977.5 Race Car, CAMS Group S Spec
1989 944 Cabriolet

924aussie · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:15 pm Post subject:

If you could dig out the paper work that would be very helpfull

So far I have been quoted about $3000 drive on drive off by a major shipping company, they are not sure if is allowed to be driven on with batteries or if it has to be in a shipping container. If it is in a shipping container without batterries then it becomes a parts car

Tax man is a bit confused of how to charge as it doesnt have a "normal" motor and also about the batteries.

These guys are shipping an Australian EV back soon so I mights contact them as well. http://teamtrev.com

http://teamtrev.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/pa033128-large.jpg?w=500&h=375
Alan
_________________
green 924 .. 1980 rego 924PSH
1998 Mopar Neon ... sick
2003 Challenger / Montery 4WD
1995 Hyundai Scoupe ... sold
1998 Nissan Silvia ... sons back from OS he has taken it
BIG BLOODY MOTORHOME 300zx Sold
1980 Fire truck Sold

daniel · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 686 Location: Sydney, Australia

Heres what I remember:
Car cost about $5000US + another $350US odd to truck it to the port in LA. From there it sat on the dock for about 4 weeks while the US rego was cancelled. The freight was around $2500US roll on roll of. I used these guys: http://www.cargoonline.com.au/ - highly recomended.
With regards to tax, we had to pay 10% GST on car and freight but no duty as it was more than 30yrs old. Battery was in the car when we got it, because I got in it, started it up and drove it onto our tralier. Also you can apply for a rego permit (cost $100 I think), if not then it is a parts car and it can never be rego'd.

If you send me your email, I will foward all the emails that went back and forth,

Daniel
_________________
Over the top of skyline, total brake failure.... hit the wall at over 200 kp/h at the dipper, so anyone who has to brake for the esses is a pussy.
1977.5 Race Car, CAMS Group S Spec
1989 944 Cabriolet

Joes924Racer · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:07 am Post subject:

Course the bat. was in the car.. they might of unhooked it though
during transport, man thats exspensive.
_________________
1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.

924aussie · Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject:

I better explain the batteries

Instead of a gasoline engine, twin electric motors power the car. Yes, it is an electric Porsche with 1,200 foot-pounds of torque off the line — that’s not a typo ,with 216 volt of 2150amp batteries
_________________
green 924 .. 1980 rego 924PSH
1998 Mopar Neon ... sick
2003 Challenger / Montery 4WD
1995 Hyundai Scoupe ... sold
1998 Nissan Silvia ... sons back from OS he has taken it
BIG BLOODY MOTORHOME 300zx Sold
1980 Fire truck Sold