hello i'm new to the board. i'm wondering if it's possible to import a used RHD car from the UK to US easily.


are there regulations that prevent us in the USA from having a RHD car?

do these imported cars have a VIN # , if not what do you do about it?

is it more trouble than it's worth?

what is the typical cost?


Thanks guys,

-Ray

Hi Ray
I live in the uk. Yes all car's in the uk have a vin plate. and all cars must have a mot to be on the road i.e roadworthy by law.but we have loads of rain so a lot of cars rust.. yes merc's rust as well. But i think it's more trouble then it's worth..
Hope this helps
regards karl from wet London

Need more LOTS more information.

Most important, how old is it, year and model. Newer ones, may need extensive modifications EPA/DOT: Smog, side impact beams, bumpers, headlights, dash conversion KPH to MPH, clear customs, bond posted etc.

Gray market pretty much collapsed in 1986, certainly figure $10,000 as a rule of thumb, to start, and Euro vis the dollar a total different situation than the DM v the dollar back in 1985 where it was definately worth the trouble espcially with high line models, 500SEL, SEC etc.

Also, after all is said and done, down the road, gray market parts like radiators etc are harder to source and many MB, make it most, dealers will refuse to work on them.

However lots of shady fly by night shops did shoddy jobs on the conversion.

AFAIK you can still drive a RHD car here as is, but would you want to, as a daily driving car...

Or is this some trailer car, show queen? That's a different story.

Interesting ebay story. 1941 MERCEDES, yes 1941 320 Mercedes Luftwaffe staff car, abandoned after German defeat in Stalingrad, when German army dispersed, end of 1942, reported owned by FeldMarschall Martin Fiebig, in charge of uncsuccessful airdrop operation to relieve surrounded forces in Stalingrad pocket. All records lost in the confusion, but build plate "on the body sturdiness" clearly shows bj. 1941 mfg. year and Nazi Adler (eagle)

Car declared war booty, used by Russian farmer, 535,000 kms accrued, ran on Russian gas, farmer finally died, car resurface, unrestored original, imported to USA, via Czechoslovakia, ebay.de Germany auction March 06, no bids, returned to Germany, VERY BIG interest, couple of weeks ago bids into the 6 figures. Car basically original and unrestored. Everything pretty much there even Nazi number plate on front. four door cabrio. Probably DB archives in Stuttgaqrt has more info.

Fiebig executed by Yugoslavia 1941 because he participated in Carpet Bombing of Belgrade in May 1941

Interesting stuff.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)