Hey guys,
Does anyone have an idea what it would cost,and if it is even feasible to import a car from Ireland? It is a 30 year old car,so the import rules should be cool,but I don't know so I am asking. I am on the East Coast(near Boston) if that matters.
Chris
I've brought in a couple of older cars from Canada. The paperwork would be the same. I have to admit I simply handed it over to the company that handles the import paperwork for FM. Given the very small amount they charged me ($30 sticks in my head) it was simple. Then I had to go for a VIN check at the state patrol office and apply for a title. Simple. A car over 25 years old sidesteps a lot of problems.
The shipping part is easy enough to arrange, although you'll have to undergo a certain amount of pain at customs I expect. My Canadian cars simply drove across the border.
I guess I'm not really that much help 
But it shouldn't be difficult.
the Mini forums probably have a good how to on this since they are still importing them from the UK, EU and AU
East coast should make the shipping slightly cheaper. IIRC in the other direction (USA -> UK), shipping for a single car is usually quoted at around $1000-$1500 so I would expect that shipping going the other direction would be vaguely similar.
May I ask what sort of car you're looking at importing? Ireland's a little, shall we say, damp so you tend to have a few corrosion issues over there. Same as in the UK, over here they chuck a lot of salt on the roads when it's snowing 100 miles to the north so I wouldn't be that surprised if Ireland's not too dissimilar.
http://inertialabs.com/Diesel-Import-CAN.htm <-- good overview of the process with canada... should be the same for a car over 25 years old...
Watch for rust from any British isles vehicle... The forums are full of folks importing land rovers that are more rust than metal.
I've also just remembered that cars tend to be noticeably more expensive in Ireland than they are here in the UK so unless Mazdax605 already owns the vehicle or it's super rare, I'd look in the UK instead.
Unless you have a trusted person over in the UK or Ireland to inspect the car I'd be a little reluctant to open the wallet too far. As ignorant rightly points out, cars do tend to rust a lot over here and the repairs can be quite "interesting" once you start prodding an unrestored car.
Unless you have a trusted pair of eyeballs to lay on the car there, I would be very hesitant to undertake this. Rust being issue #1. Owning a Mini, I know a sliver about the process. It's about $1500-$2000 to ship to the docks here. Most of the Mini community uses a service called Phoenix in the UK. You'll need a V5 form (UK) for the car to import it. Getting it across the pond usually isn't that hard. Dealing with customs can be a PITA, and the longshoreman find creative ways to delay delivery to charge additional storage fees. I would ask over at the Mini Mania forum for specifics if you plan to do it.
Here's a link to the UK's equivalent of the DMV that explains the paperwork required when exporting a vehicle. The process is slightly different when you're not the registered owner of the vehicle (which you can't be unless you have a UK address) inasmuch as the current owner of the vehicle is supposed to give you the whole V5C form and send a letter to the DVLA stating that they sold the car to you. A lot of sellers don't know about this or don't want to do this due to the additional hassle involved.
The car I am thinking about is a 79 Mazda 626 Montrose coupe w/9,000 original, miles. It looks very clean in the few pics I have seen,but I need more detailed pics for sure,and someone to put some eyes on it. What could I expect with learning to drive a RHD manual transmission car here in the US?
Chris
Mazdax605 wrote: The car I am thinking about is a 79 Mazda 626 Montrose coupe w/9,000 original, miles. It looks very clean in the few pics I have seen,but I need more detailed pics for sure,and someone to put some eyes on it. What could I expect with learning to drive a RHD manual transmission car here in the US? Chris
Getting used to RHD takes no more effort than getting used to any other new-to-you car. It's no problem at all. The pedals are in the same order and the gear pattern is the same.
+1 to what Jay said. I regularly switch between driving RHD and LHD cars, plus I drive RHD cars on the wrong (right) side of the road every time I go to Continental Europe. You'll get used to very quickly. I wouldn't start out in NYC rush hour traffic though.
Question: If you plan to use the car as a display item - and for racing use only (never register it) is there any issue? It seems like it should be just shipping a large package to yourself from wherever.
You'll still need to fill in this form:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CARS/RULES/IMPORT/ShowDisplay/ApplShowDisplay.pdf
I've actually looked into this for the Elise depending on the ifs and whens of my move but decided it was a little too much hassle for a garage ornament that I could only drive a couple of thousand miles a year, if that.
My parents bought an 81 brand new. It was a great car and well cared for, but still rusted out by 1989. I was shopping for a used one in 85 and it was hard to find a good one then. Even with a low mileage car, I'd be very careful before I spent too much cash.
Woody wrote: My parents bought an 81 brand new. It was a great car and well cared for, but still rusted out by 1989. I was shopping for a used one in 85 and it was hard to find a good one then. Even with a low mileage car, I'd be very careful before I spent too much cash.
I had an 80 that I bought new. It was rustproofed from the dealer, stored during the winters and well cared for but it still rusted out pretty badly.
stuart in mn wrote: I had an 80 that I bought new. It was rustproofed from the dealer, stored during the winters and well cared for but it still rusted out pretty badly.
Yeah, as I recall, my parents' car had a Rusty Jones sticker on it. I loved that car, but that was a long time ago.
to think, the Lancia Delta integrale is now elegible for the 25 year import loophole
Stop giving me ideas, willya? 
Actually, the Integrale didn't come in until '87 or '88, but the earlier HF should just about sail in. If you can find one that is.
I just want two fiat products from Europe that we never got. the Delta integrale.. and the strada/ritmo tc125. The 130 may have more HP.. but the 125 was prettier
I've used Pheonix to bring several Minis in over the years and they were really good.
To each his own...but if I'm going to the trouble of importing something cool from Europe, it ain't gonna be a pedestrian Mazda with a pickup engine. I'd be all over a genuine Ford Capri, rwd Escort or the Lancia Delta Integrale.
Anyhow, about RHD...it's really not that hard. Takes a few drives to get used to being on the curb side (I found trouble making left turns for some reason). I sometimes turn on the wipers to indicate a turn. And I frequently go to the wrong side of the Mini to get in. But that's part of the fun.
I didn't ask if anyone liked the car I was thinking of,but rather if it is something that is doable. I like Mazdas I can't help it.
I didnt know what it looked like so I found one and figured I'd share.
I agree with ddavidv, to each their own, I'd shoot for a rwd Escort or a 4wd Sierra...actually a bunch of those old ford cars would be cool...
Here's a picture of mine, circa 1982 or so:
it's going to be interesting.. a lot of neat cars are reaching that age
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