Chrissptfr Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 Hi all, This is my first post, nice to meet you all. So recently, I learned about a potential opportunity to import a Triumph Spitfire from Germany, to the UK. It comes from my partner’s family who want rid of it; while some members also feel bittersweet about the decision. It would be a great shame to be forced to give it up. I’ve always dreamed of owning and working on a classic of my own, even before I got my driver’s licence, but life gets in the way and it never happened. So I am a complete newbie to this, though always had a fascination for the hobby. Not only would this be a chance to fulfil my dream, but it would also be a chance for me to bring this beauty back to life, so it can be enjoyed once again by my family who would have loved to ride in it again. The car is a Triumph Spitfire, not sure which version as of yet. I am also told that it’s in parts but mostly complete. I am now in a race against time. Trying to figure out how to import it to the UK. I thought I would search the web for some answers and came across this forum. I really hope I would be able to contribute more in the future! Now my question is, what is the process of importing a classic in this state, especially after Brexit? It would be great to gain some insight into how difficult it would be, transportation, total cost, or perhaps any recommended companies out that help take care of everything etc. Thank you all in advance for your responses. I really hope we can make this work, and I’d officially be in the Triumph Club 😆 All the best, Chris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 Chris, Welcome! Your first step will be to read this page on the Gov.uk website: Importing vehicles into the UK: How to import a vehicle - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) There are lots of other web pages about this, just search for "Gov.uk importing classic car from Europe" But these all refer to a working car! You say it's in parts, and I don't think you would need to pay duty on "car parts", so the best way would be to go and collect it yourself, armed with a trailer and a tow vehicle that can carry lots of boxes of bits. Otherwise, you would need to engage a shipper, AND someone to crate it all up, which will be very costly! But there are people who will do that for you: Importing a car of Historical Interest / Classical Cars (importing-cars.co.uk) Once you have it in the UK, then join Club Triumph, and make yourself known to your local group: Groups - Club Triumph Ltd, who I am sure will welcome you and be a big help as you rebuild the car. For more help with your rebuild, I recommend the "Triumph Spitfire/GT6/Herald/Vitesse Guide to Purchase and DiY Restoration" pub.Haynes: Triumph Spitfire, GT6, Herald Vitesse: Haynes Guide to Purchase and D.I.Y. Restoration: Amazon.co.uk: Porter, Lindsay, Williams, Peter: 9780854295838: Books and a workshop manual, either a reproduction of the original or Haynes own version. Good luck! And keep us informed, with pictures please! John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteStupps Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Chrissptfr said: I’ve always dreamed of owning and working on a classic of my own, Hi Chris. A Spitfire is a great place to start realising that dream, but maybe not one that's in bits! I've no idea about importing but best of luck with it. Where are you based and have you got a garage or somewhere to work on the car? They take up a lot more space in bits than they do intact. Pete 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissptfr Posted June 18, 2022 Author Share Posted June 18, 2022 On 17/06/2022 at 13:15, JohnD said: Chris, Welcome! Your first step will be to read this page on the Gov.uk website: Importing vehicles into the UK: How to import a vehicle - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) There are lots of other web pages about this… Hi John, Really appreciate the response. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I’ve checked out that page, but as you mentioned, it refers to working cars. I haven’t read anything on cars in parts on the Gov website, but that is probably because I haven’t done enough digging. I’ll go back on there to have a good browse. I do have the possibility to put the car and it’s bits in a trailer, so I will definitely explore this further. The only difficulty I see at the moment is the paperwork/legal processes to get the car into the UK, as I’m really unfamiliar with this! 😖 will definitely do more reading. Also, thanks for the great reads. I’m going to be diving right in. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissptfr Posted June 18, 2022 Author Share Posted June 18, 2022 On 17/06/2022 at 14:01, PeteStupps said: Hi Chris. A Spitfire is a great place to start realising that dream, but …. I can absolutely see your point here 😆 it’s daunting enough just thinking about it. I’m sure I won’t be able to do everything myself, so will have to seek help from professionals. It would be so nice to make some new friends who are also into these old timers, just to learn a thing or do. The reason for this craziness is because the Spitfire belongs to my partner’s family, so there’s a lot of sentimental value to it. I’m a sucker for that. You can say I’m a borderline hoarder 😂 I’m still in Germany at the moment but will be relocating to Hartlepool sometime around August. I don’t have a garage at the moment so I’m now on the hunt. Hopefully the property we settle down in for the long-term will have its own garage. I finally got to see the car today, so I’ll post some photos here. I’ll admit, it’s going to take a lot of work (and a few years). Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissptfr Posted June 18, 2022 Author Share Posted June 18, 2022 (edited) We went to see the car today for the first time in 20+ years; for me it was my first time. Here are the photos below. Bonus treat for you all is a Ford Taunus 12m. Chris Edited June 18, 2022 by Chrissptfr Punctuation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Wade Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 Hi Chris, Your best course of action will be to contact HMRC cars team, their email address is ecsm.nchcars@hmrc.gov.uk I'm not sure what duty/VAT will be charged but they will base it on the condition/value of the car when imported. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Wade Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 24 minutes ago, Chrissptfr said: We went to see the car today for the first time in 20+ years; for me it was my first time. Here are the photos below. Bonus treat for you all is a Ford Taunus 12m. Chris If the little bit of floorpan visible in the photos is indicative of the condition of the tub you've gut a solid starting point. It will be good for a Mk1 to be saved from the crusher. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 That will be a very good basis for a restoration if the body work and chassis are as solid as they look! What is missing? Are all the lights, the engine, seats etc still present? Good luck! John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DVD3500 Posted June 21, 2022 Share Posted June 21, 2022 Yep.. rare MKI should be kept alive! Whereabouts in Germany (feel free to PM if you don't want to post here)? There is a very active Spitfire club here that might help you before you go back to ol' Blighty... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissptfr Posted June 27, 2022 Author Share Posted June 27, 2022 On 18/06/2022 at 23:06, Amy Wade said: Hi Chris, Your best course of action will be to contact HMRC cars team, their email address is ecsm.nchcars@hmrc.gov.uk … Hi Amy, Thanks for tuning in. I’ll be writing to them for sure. Thank you!! I hope there won’t be any duties due 🤑 On 18/06/2022 at 23:38, Amy Wade said: If the little bit of floorpan visible in the photos is indicative of the condition of the tub you've gut a solid starting point. It will be good for a Mk1 to be saved from the crusher. We’ve taken a few more trips to the garage to check on the car. The floor pans are in decent shape. We’re so excited for this project. Of course, there are areas that need repair with the bodywork - bottom of both doors, damage to the front edge of the bonnet and parking lamp area (apparently from a crash back in the 80s 😅🤣), some light rusting around the car. Not to mention all the other parts that we’re going to need. Other than the obvious (engine bay equipment), there are also incomplete parts sadly. Might prove difficult to source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissptfr Posted June 27, 2022 Author Share Posted June 27, 2022 On 19/06/2022 at 12:24, JohnD said: That will be a very good basis for a restoration if the body work and chassis are as solid as they look! What is missing? Are all the lights, the engine, seats etc still present? Good luck! John I believe those parts are in good condition, if not salvageable. Though I would be scared to say anymore before we strip everything down to bare metal! It will be interesting. We do want to do a lot of the touch-up/finishing works ourselves…hope we’re not being too optimistic. Will definitely be seeking professional help for things that need it. Some lighting fixtures are there, some aren’t. For the headlights, would it be worth upgrading to newer, modern headlights? Seems like everything under the bonnet is pretty much gone. Seats and seat rails are there - we’ll be getting the upholstery of the interior custom-made, but without the existing panels, we’re having to make the templates ourselves. Lots of other little parts missing here and there though 😟 Side note: I’ve just bought a Workshop Manual by Triumph (green cover) as you had suggested. I’ll look for the DIY Restoration by Haynes once I’m back in the UK. Will probably be buying a whole lot of other books in the future too, haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Wade Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 5 hours ago, Chrissptfr said: Hi Amy, Thanks for tuning in. I’ll be writing to them for sure. Thank you!! I hope there won’t be any duties due 🤑 We’ve taken a few more trips to the garage to check on the car. The floor pans are in decent shape. We’re so excited for this project. Of course, there are areas that need repair with the bodywork - bottom of both doors, damage to the front edge of the bonnet and parking lamp area (apparently from a crash back in the 80s 😅🤣), some light rusting around the car. Not to mention all the other parts that we’re going to need. Other than the obvious (engine bay equipment), there are also incomplete parts sadly. Might prove difficult to source. You'll have to keep us up to date on your progress - both getting it over here and the restoration. I'm sure you will find plenty of help here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Dawes Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 18 hours ago, Chrissptfr said: I believe those parts are in good condition, if not salvageable. Though I would be scared to say anymore before we strip everything down to bare metal! It will be interesting. We do want to do a lot of the touch-up/finishing works ourselves…hope we’re not being too optimistic. Will definitely be seeking professional help for things that need it. Some lighting fixtures are there, some aren’t. For the headlights, would it be worth upgrading to newer, modern headlights? Seems like everything under the bonnet is pretty much gone. Seats and seat rails are there - we’ll be getting the upholstery of the interior custom-made, but without the existing panels, we’re having to make the templates ourselves. Lots of other little parts missing here and there though 😟 Side note: I’ve just bought a Workshop Manual by Triumph (green cover) as you had suggested. I’ll look for the DIY Restoration by Haynes once I’m back in the UK. Will probably be buying a whole lot of other books in the future too, haha. Should be a nice car when it’s done, nice to see it being rescued. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissptfr Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 On 27/06/2022 at 20:07, Amy Wade said: You'll have to keep us up to date on your progress - both getting it over here and the restoration. I'm sure you will find plenty of help here. I definitely will. I think it'll also be helpful for others who may also be in a similar situation and want to know their options. So they can learn from my mistakes 🤣 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissptfr Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 On 28/06/2022 at 09:09, Wendy Dawes said: Should be a nice car when it’s done, nice to see it being rescued. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. 👍 Thanks Wendy! Going to need all the luck I can get 🙏 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Dawes Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 5 hours ago, Chrissptfr said: Thanks Wendy! Going to need all the luck I can get 🙏 Everyone in the club is on hand with endless advice they’re a great bunch of people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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