May 4, 201114 yr I am curious if anyone has ever imported a classic car from the US or any other Country, but under the Thai wife's name or another Thai persons name, or an importer? I have a 1960 Chevy truck and a 1969 Nova that both need restoration and look rough and worthless, so I am wondering if I would ever get them out of Custom's or wherever they may end up? I am guessing doing it in my name would mean they would be held up, disappear etc. Also, if anyone has used a good importer to do the same, please let me know the results. I would be in heaven to live in Thailand and still enjoy my cars and hobbies since I can't seem to find anything reasonable and interesting to restore here. Thanks in advance!
May 5, 201114 yr Trying to import them to Thailand under your Thai wife's name won't make a blind bit of difference. Your valuation is also of no bearing on what the customs decide they want to charge you. Do a search for importing cars and then decide. The general concensus is it just isn't worth the time and effort and at the end you still may not get your car here. An option is to import it to Singapore or Malaysia where it is a little easier to do then drive them to Thailand. You then need to visa run the car every 6 months but to the guys I know who have done this they love this part of it
May 5, 201114 yr When I drive my car (not so classic honda city) around in pattaya I listen to fm 105 which is one of the english speaking programs. There is an advert on which they mention a company that can import a car for you but dam_n if i can remember the name, maybe pattaya based member knows? I will try listen harder next time i go in the car.
May 5, 201114 yr a 1969 Nova that need restoration and look rough and worthless Looks can be deceiving..
May 5, 201114 yr I imported a WRC Mitsu Evo as a right off for Spares, i trailered it here with the Malay genuine right off papers and a Thai friend had no problem at the border,when he had rehearsed all the answers they hardly looked at it.. Its took 10/13 years to re-build,its now in occasionall use,and no works paint job. A Bit Vague, but i relied on a Thai National, doubt if i would have got away with it,its re registered as an ordinary Mitsu, again a bit riskey.,with Cheap Charley insurance. I wouldnt risk it again. I sold it 3 years back.
May 6, 201114 yr Doesn't matter whos name its imported in, the only legal way is to import as spare parts. Even with that, you need to know someone in the customs department in order to get it through safely or else it will get impounded. There are many grey market cars that are done this way, and are being registered legally - but with lpg/ngv installation. This is the loop hole they jump through when registering the car to evade the XXX% car tax. If you really want to owned a 1960 Chevy truck and a 1969 Nova, best bet is to buy one here. There is a dealer that has parts for old american trucks, cabs/beds, etc, I don't have his contact but I've seen his ad on thaiscooter.com, have you wife surf that website for you. You will most likely have to use a Japanese truck chassis for the frame. If not, there are still some old classic trucks around the country, you just have to comb thai websites in order to find them. Or you can try bangkokclassiccar.com a forum dedicated to classic cars for some help. Cost for a junker will probably run around 600,000 baht, a good condition one will run for 1 million baht and up. Trying to register a old american classic is pretty much impossible nowadays.
May 8, 201114 yr Isn't Bangkok classic car.com a Thai language website? Yes it is and so is Thai American Car Club website but use your google translator and you can get an idea of whats being said.
May 8, 201114 yr Isn't Bangkok classic car.com a Thai language website? Yes it is and so is Thai American Car Club website but use your google translator and you can get an idea of whats being said. I tried, it really doesn't work too well for conversation and certainly no chance to ask a question or get further info.. Sadly too much work for too little result ..
March 8, 201313 yr If your wife (Thai national) lives O/S for 18 months and she has a car registered to her in another country for that time she is entitled to bring the car back as long as she pays the appropriate fees. The second car......your sh1t out of luck!
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