Grey Import Registration

[Lancashirelad]

Hello all.

I post on behalf of a friend who isn't a member here.

In 1990 he bought a new sports car in Australia and immediately legally imported it to England (his home land) where it was registered and used as a second (summer) car.

About 6 years ago he shipped it to Thailand. Unfortunately he didn't do his homework first or ask me.

When it came time to get it released from the docks he was asked for his residency permit. He didn't have one. A large amount of tea money saw the car released from the docks and delivered to his house in Jomtien where it has sat in the garage unregistered and unused ever since.

He then employed the services of a local Thai lawyer who could, for - you guessed it - a large amount of tea money, make the problem go away.Unfortunately the only thing that went away was the lawyer!

There is apparently no official record of the car ever having been imported.

He is getting older and beginning to lose interest in driving in Thailand, but he loves the car.

I would like to assist him to get the car registered and insured. Number plates and blue(?) book.

He does have a permanent address in Thailand owning a house. (via company).

He has a retirement visa (permission to stay).

He does not have a close relationship with any Thai.

He has even considered shipping the car back to England and then back again, this time importing it legitimately, but how can you export something that has never been imported? I doubt such a drastic measure is necessary.

What options are available?

Do you have any knowlegeable, factual suggestions?

[thaicbr]

Blimey. good luck.

what car?

[funcat]

What a story...looks like a classic for now...sell it for parts...maybe can get some money back this way...

[DJH77]

What make of sports car is it and what Province is it in. Seems strange to by in Oz and move it to England unless it's a Bolwell or something like that. If it's in the NE i have an idea how to do it.

[Lancashirelad]

Not that it makes any difference to the situation, its a Ford (Australia) Capri - does not bear the least resemblance to a Ford (UK) Capri. Its a Mazda engined convertable a little bit similar in style to an MX5.

1600cc front wheel drive auto. Made from 1989 - 1994 predominantly for the export market. Many went to North America. Only 1 in 8 stayed in Oz.

DJH77 as mentioned above the car lies in Jomtien, which is in Chonburi.

The owner had lived in Australia for a while, saw it, likedit and thought it would be an unusual and fun car to drive in the UK. Which indeed it was. (drove it myself on numerous occasions).

[thaicbr]

what about smuggling the car over to Cambodia then bringing it in on the UK plates as a temp import. then visa running it. not sure if can be done or not.

otherwise maybe go down to the land transport office and ask the question.

[Jobo]

Well what a story and identical to mine - but with a motorbike,not a car.

Mine sits in my garage now for 15 years. A classic collectors item for which similarly there is no record of it ever having entered Thailand.

Cost me bag loads of money to get it out of customs too and when then I wanted to get it registered they told me to bring it back. I know what that would have meant! So it never left my house.

I did it correctly according to my customs broker but as I found out he was in on the rip off as well.

There is no way you can re-export it as a complete item as you need to hand in the Blue(Green) book and number plates to get the export certificate from customs.

Only in spare parts might it be possible.

[Jobo]

What make of sports car is it and what Province is it in. Seems strange to by in Oz and move it to England unless it's a Bolwell or something like that. If it's in the NE i have an idea how to do it.

Could you PM me on "how to do it"?

[krusty]

If possible, find a similar car with registration and swap the chassis number...

[kartman]

If possible, find a similar car with registration and swap the chassis number...

So you start with a car you can't use on the road and end up with a car you can't use on the road

[bobfish]

Unfortunate position. That model of Ford Capri isn't really ever gonna be collectable in the proper sense, nor are the spares in demand. Mechanically, it's more closely related to the Mazda 323 than any tenuous link to an MX5.

http://www.goauto.co...A256D6E00148A59

[Lancashirelad]

Yes you are right Bobfish and that's a good link, thanks. Mentioning the MX5 I was just trying to make it so the guys didn't have an image of a UK Capri.

Come on guys, a lot of collective knowledge and contacts here at TV, no other ideas?

Nobody have a Thai gf/wife who has a friend who works for customs or the Land Transport Office?

[kartman]

Sad but true Post #3 is the the only future for it Bang Na is your best bet.

[chweech]

Sad but true Post #3 is the the only future for it Bang Na is your best bet.

I will say the only way is to get it out of Thailand, do a turnaround in UK and then legally import again.

I do have a friend who is in parallel import car biz, but again, the cost of doing that makes no monetary sense.

I have to stress again, it is not cheap at all to do it.

c.

[Jitar]

Importing another similar cheap Capri from Australia with documentation and making one good car with legal documents out of the the two might work. The second car with out documents would be spares available for the future?

[kartman]

Importing another similar cheap Capri from Australia with documentation and making one good car with legal documents out of the the two might work. The second car with out documents would be spares available for the future?

Why import? you can buy them here.

[Jitar]

Importing another similar cheap Capri from Australia with documentation and making one good car with legal documents out of the the two might work. The second car with out documents would be spares available for the future?

Why import? you can buy them here.

Really, I have not seen them around. Wonder why the OP's friend does not buy a cheap one and make up one good car out of the two.