Classic car: Is a car from abroad worth it?
IMPORTING A classic car from abroad is not only a logistical but also a bureaucratic challenge. Therefore, when buying a classic car abroad, there are some things that must be taken into account.
The dream of a red Mustang Fastback with a humming V8 engine or the rapture of a baby-blue 1957 Chevy Bel Air. On bring-a-trailer.com or craigslist.com, for example, you can quickly click your way into a dream world of U.S. sleds and land on ads that look very promising. But the reality is often different.
Be sure to include a cost buffer
Let's assume the classic muscle car is parked under a palm tree in a California suburb, the price is within budget, and the paint is in pristine condition according to the ad.
Michael Neukom, owner and managing director at Customer Cars in Rafz: "You can't be emotionally seduced, even if everything looks great at first glance."
Neukom imports cars from Germany and the USA on behalf of customers. He recommends adding a cost buffer to the budget for the vehicle itself with every purchase. The import and any repairs that still have to be made in Switzerland before the vehicle can be put on the market will involve additional financial outlay.
First check carefully and then buy
In the case of advertisements from nearby Germany, the garage owner from Rafz sometimes goes on the road himself to inspect a vehicle first. But since a trip to the U.S. is too costly and time-consuming, Neukom has a contact overseas for U.S. imports.
As soon as all formalities have been clarified with the seller and a price has been agreed, Neukom makes its customers an offer. All the costs of the transfer, including all the administrative work, are included in the offer, depending on the customer's wishes. This is why you should choose the professional option, if only because of the paperwork.
In container transport across the sea
The most cost-efficient and safest option for the transfer from the USA is sea freight. Here, the car is transported across the sea protected in a container. If you want it even cheaper, you can choose an open transport.
However, Neukom advises against it: "In the case of open transport by sea, which usually lasts several days or even weeks, rust may spread on the car due to the salt water. There is also a risk that water can enter the vehicle."
