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Importing an American car into the UK - can I make a profit?

I'm a Brit who's lived in the US for the last seven years. We are relocating next year to the UK and can bring two cars tax free - one for me and one for the wife. We have to own them six months here in the US and then 12 months in the UK I think before we can sell. I plan to bring my 2013 Dodge Durango RT back and keep it in Spain but what else should I buy now with a view to selling it after 12 months and making a profit? I was thinking Chevy Colorado/Ford F150? Or a Dodge Charger Hellcat? All I would buy new. Or I could buy a US spec Range Rover LHD? Alternatively I can buy a classic? 50/60's Ford/Chev/Dodge trucks fully refurbed at mid $20ks seem good value but no tax advantage here. Any thoughts?

Asked on 7 September 2015 by sphumph

Answered by Honest John
A lot of American classics, particularly resto-mods and super muscle cars are worth considerably more in the US than they are in the UK. You could also run into all kinds of Type Approval problems with hot rods if they are not in original all-steel bodies, and a body alone for a '32 Ford 3 window coupe is $40,000. If buying for Spain I'd be thinking 1950s Jeeps and Jeep variations as well as old pick-up trucks. Spain and Portugal are very unfriendly to big, gas guzzling modern American vehicles and to avoid changing things for UK Type Approval, then changing them back for Spain it would be better to import directly to Spain. New Mustang 5.0V8 GT coupes are from around £35k in the UK. A 2.3 Eco auto convertible might make some sense as a cruiser for Spain, but they are only about £32,500 here. A Hellcat has very limited appeal, which might not last. A fully loaded high power Corvette might make more sense.
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