In reply to Ian F:
That's fine. I never said you should.
In reply to Ian F:
That's fine. I never said you should.
In reply to bravenrace:
Besides that... the website you linked for those cars is terrible and doesn't really tell you a damn thing about what they're trying to build... 
OK most of these have been mentioned already, but this is my list and it assumes I either win the lotto or really improve my investment skills
6R4 in white. Some exist in this country already, but are even more $$'s than in the UK
Quattro sport, ditto there are some here already, but mega $$$"s
XJR15 Never homolgated as a real car, but some out there. Many used for racing
XJ220
That's some of the mega money dream cars. Next post more realistic stuff.
Ian F wrote:bravenrace wrote:Fixed again.Ian F wrote: No... I didn't read...as I didn't give a flying berk about an ugly-ass car.FTFYTo me, there are 2 TVR models: The early ugly versions, and the later, wedge-shaped, less ugly versions. I don't mind seeing them and the owners are friendly enough, but I otherwise have no interest in them.
You missed the final stage of TVR: the hallucinogenic era.
Ian F wrote: In reply to bravenrace: Besides that... the website you linked for those cars is terrible and doesn't really tell you a damn thing about what they're trying to build...
This is a thread about cars we'd like to import. That's one I'd like to import, not one I'm forcing you to import. What's your problem?
BTW, all the specs are there if you just look for them.
http://www.cwrcars.com/showroom/index.php/showroom/51-showroom-titan-specifications.
Oh, and while I'm picking on you, the TVR Taimar was a hatch back, not a fixed window.
Affordable cars. As you will see, I obviously came of age in Britain in the 80's
Opel Manta GTE. I chose this horrible gold color for the pic to post as the one I had was gold. It was one of my favorite cars, and top of 'I wish I'd never sold it' list. Agricultural 2.0L 4 banger with non cross flow head, but they take boost well and there are plenty of later, better GM 4 cyl engines you can drop in easily. Much better rear suspension than the Capri, still live axle, but with coil springs, a panhard and torque tube standard. I'd have one in white, with 15x8 Revolution wheels on it. Great car, I miss it.
Brooklands Capri 280. These are getting pricey now inthe UK, but a regular 2.8injection Capri could would as well, as long as it was post 84 (I think, could be wrong) when 15" wheels, 5 speed and LSD were standard. The British Mustang. They stayed in production just for the UK market after exiting other markets.
LAnd Rover Defender one-ten. In the 90's Land Rover sold the Defender here, but only the two door nintey. Having grown up driving many Land Rovers, I really prefer the way the longer wheelbase drives. I know there is an exception to the 25 year rule for Defender 90's, but I'm not sure it it also applies to the one-ten. Also Defenders are crazy nut's prices over there, much much cheaper back 'home' (This is absolutely home for me now.)
Ops, did a 60's VIN accidentaly fall onto my mid 09's Cooper! how did that happen.
Peugeot 205GTi, with those wheels that one is a 1.9, but I prefer the classic pepper pot wheels form the earlier 1.6L Drop in the engine from the Mi16 405 for much magic to happen.
Mk III Escort RS Turbo
Yes, you can get XJ's all day long for pennies here, but I'm not sure you ever got this state side. I could be wrong though. It's an 85 Cabriolet 3.6 AJ6 with, most importantly a 5 speed manual. This was my fathers car and I'll never forgive him for letting it sit for 15 years and deteriorate.
BTW, Land Rover did sell the 110 in the US. There were 500 of them, all white, all with an external cage. And thanks to that, you can bring in the 110 from that year legally. Even a diesel.
Of course, all mid-90's Land Rovers in the UK need a new frame by now, so keep that in mind when pricing them.
I think the Land Rover guys have figured out what the Mini guys already knew - the VINs fit. Lots of surprisingly new looking Defenders for sale on eBay as 109s and 88s...
Oh, I also forgot the LANCIA STRATOS!!!!!!!!!!
The Stratos has been legal for import for years. That's why it wasn't on my list :)
Keith Tanner wrote: I think the Land Rover guys have figured out what the Mini guys already knew - the VINs fit.
Yeah, it's amazing how advanced those late sixties Minis were with their EFI and all that .
Tuna55; Those people would only be seeing tire smoke after they call me a Yuppy! LOL. Some of the newer Ruf CTR's would be great fun to own as well. However there are still so many cars and so little time. Other than the two I already posted maybe a Holden Commodore from 1986 era. It is different but still uses some GM parts from the bin.
Mike Kirby
Bring me a Brera S. Then I can hit on the ladies with my eye-tali-an sports car. 
. Plus, I would finally own an Alfa and be a true petrol head
carbon wrote:
You sir have most excellent taste.
Also I know that they never really made them but
Keith Tanner wrote: BTW, Land Rover did sell the 110 in the US. There were 500 of them, all white, all with an external cage. And thanks to that, you can bring in the 110 from that year legally. Even a diesel.
Ooohh, I did not know that. What year?
Also I live in Michigan, there is no inspections, if it's solid enough to pass a British MOT test it will be in better condition than 99.9999999% of vehicles over 3 years old in this country. If something like the MOT test was suggested over here the militia would rise up and overthrow the gubberment instantly. Personally I wish we did have something like that to get some of the scary E36 M3 boxes off the road.
I really don't get the GRM fascination with diesel's, gas is so ludicrously cheap over here there is no point in most of the diesels you can get in Europe, especially the chronically slow lump that was shoved into Landies.
BTW I met a guy at a car show who imported a Capri 2.8i in SE Michigan. He said it was stupidly easy being over 25 years old. He had it shipped to his house, called the Police to do an inspection, they came out and inspected it. The guy who came out checked exactly two things, the speedo to make sure it was in mph not kmh and that the VIN was the same as on the paper work. He never even checked the headlights which were still RHD units so would blind oncoming traffic, he never popped the hood, nothing. Here’s your paper work, go get a plat and off you go. Even the price was written in pounds to when he went to plate it they read the GB Pounds as $"s and charged tax on that. I don't know if this was a one off, a Michigan thing or nationally, but it does sound easy.
Adrian_Thompson wrote: Affordable cars. As you will see, I obviously came of age in Britain in the 80's
From the firewall back, it looks like a 70's Monza. Thats a good thing.
Gearheadotaku wrote:Adrian_Thompson wrote: Affordable cars. As you will see, I obviously came of age in Britain in the 80'sFrom the firewall back, it looks like a 70's Monza only better . Thats a good thing.
Fixord!
It's the same floor pan as the Euro Ascone and obviously the same basic car as the Gropu B Manta 400, although that wasn't on my affordable list!
wearymicrobe wrote: Also I know that they never really made them but
Let's be greatful for small mercies. Pixar called, they want their props back
Adrian_Thompson wrote: Also I live in Michigan, there is no inspections, if it's solid enough to pass a British MOT test it will be in better condition than 99.9999999% of vehicles over 3 years old in this country. If something like the MOT test was suggested over here the militia would rise up and overthrow the gubberment instantly. Personally I wish we did have something like that to get some of the scary E36 M3 boxes off the road.
The "scary" stuff now isn't 1/2 as bad as the 'scary' stuff of 25 years ago. I vividly remember watching the road go by through holes in the floors of rotted out 70's cars in the 80's as a kid. Holes in quarter panels smaller than 8 inches across were considered 'minor'.
Inspections are evil, we will deport you.
Gearheadotaku wrote:Adrian_Thompson wrote: Also I live in Michigan, there is no inspections, if it's solid enough to pass a British MOT test it will be in better condition than 99.9999999% of vehicles over 3 years old in this country. If something like the MOT test was suggested over here the militia would rise up and overthrow the gubberment instantly. Personally I wish we did have something like that to get some of the scary E36 M3 boxes off the road.The "scary" stuff now isn't 1/2 as bad as the 'scary' stuff of 25 years ago. I vividly remember watching the road go by through holes in the floors of rotted out 70's cars in the 80's as a kid. Holes in quarter panels smaller than 8 inches across were considered 'minor'. Inspections are evil, we will deport you.
Oh, I agree it's better, I remember being completely horrified 20 years ago seeing cars running down the road with a completely bald mini spare at about -45 degree camber and absolutely no rocker panels left. You still see them, just not as often.
You won't be able to deport me once I'm the benevolent dictator. I will benevolently impose strict safety inspections on all cars. I will also free up the silly CARB rules for those states so afflicted. Give a little take a little, remember I will be benevolent.
OK, enough of this talking crap, let's get back to cool cars to import. There was TVR talk up thread, here's one that was missed, it's probably my favorite TVR
Cheap chearful Rover V8 for lot's of options, carefully designed body that hides shut lines so panel gap is less important and a great looking bod in the classic tradition. Old enough to be simple and cheap to work on, new enough not to be a horse cart.
Now for some spicy garlic to prove that even the Brits can love the Froggies sometimes (also 205gti I posted previsouly)
Renault Alpine GTA or just Renault GTA in the UK as the Froglets couldn't use the name Alpine as the Roots group owned the rights there. These things were the 'other' rear engined turbo monster of the 80's. The trouble is they live up to every stereotype about build quality ever used for any continent. They may be plastic, but everything falls off them, interior quality was beyond awefull. But look at that awesome 80's vibe man.
Adrian_Thompson wrote:Keith Tanner wrote: BTW, Land Rover did sell the 110 in the US. There were 500 of them, all white, all with an external cage. And thanks to that, you can bring in the 110 from that year legally. Even a diesel.Ooohh, I did not know that. What year? Also I live in Michigan, there is no inspections, if it's solid enough to pass a British MOT test it will be in better condition than 99.9999999% of vehicles over 3 years old in this country. If something like the MOT test was suggested over here the militia would rise up and overthrow the gubberment instantly. Personally I wish we did have something like that to get some of the scary E36 M3 boxes off the road. I really don't get the GRM fascination with diesel's, gas is so ludicrously cheap over here there is no point in most of the diesels you can get in Europe, especially the chronically slow lump that was shoved into Landies.
The 110s came in 1993. They're known as 110 NAS - North American Specification. Easy to spot due to the external roll cage and the white paint. Not cheap - 10 years ago they were $50k. Currently, there's one listed on eBay for $109k. I think he picked the wrong price there.
The series LR guys like the 200TDi and 300TDi engines that were used overseas because they're a straight bolt-in. Diesels make good off-road engines. The 2.25, not so much.
Keith Tanner wrote: The 110s came in 1993. They're known as 110 NAS - North American Specification. Easy to spot due to the external roll cage and the white paint. Not cheap - 10 years ago they were $50k. Currently, there's one listed on eBay for $109k. I think he picked the wrong price there. The series LR guys like the 200TDi and 300TDi engines that were used overseas because they're a straight bolt-in. Diesels make good off-road engines. The 2.25, not so much.
That’s very interesting, thanks Keith. BTW, what counts as a 93 Land Rover though? Only North America, forced by the US does this silly concept of a 'model year' for a car exist. A model year is a totally arbitrary thing based on Job 1 and Job last dates that could run from August of 92 to July 31st 93 for a 93 ‘model year’. For the rest of the world a '93' was a car built between Jan 1st and Dec 31st 1993. So how would you buy a '93' One-ten to import? Could you buy a Dec 92 car or will they say, No, that's a 92? On the other side could you buy a Dec 93 car, or would they say 'No, they stopped making 93's in July? How do you know? In a worst case scenario you could be stuck looking for a car made in a 6-7 month window to be considered a 93.
Diesels night make good off roaders for serious off roading, but for 99.9% of people 95% of the time a gas engine will be a far better bet with cheap gas here. Even when I go off roading, it's at Silver lake sand dunes where I fail to see much if any advantage in an oil burner. Now, you guys trying to climb the North face of the Eiger out in Colorado I do consent it's different, but I'd want a V8
I'll let you take that conversation up with the NHTSA :) I don't know how it's specified exactly, but there's paperwork in place to allow a 110 of that general age to come in without the assistance of a spare VIN tag from a rusty Series. It wouldn't surprise me if there was a VIN range specified. The 1997 D90 paperwork does give a production date cutoff (Sept 1 1997) and a VIN range. The 1993 D110 paperwork isn't available online.
If you think the model year thing is odd, you should try to figure out the plate system in the UK from afar
All my off-roading has always been the slow, plugging along type. The sort that Series Land Rovers like - horsepowering your way out of a difficult spot is not an option with them. No four-wheel rooster tails. As an added bonus, also fewer broken parts So the diesels do well there. All Land Rover owners like to pretend they're on expedition as well, so the improved fuel economy is a bonus.
In reply to bravenrace:
Yesterday was a bad day... sorry.
Yes... I forgot the more recent curvy TVR's. Those aren't too bad.
re-VIN classic Mini's... wow... there's a sore subject in the Mini world... although every year more cars are eligible for import. Just think - in another 11 years even the last ones produced will be legal!
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