What’s the most lucrative car to import from the UK to the US?
Posted by Ok_Window_9423@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 59 comments
Currently living in the UK and I’ll have the opportunity to bring back 2 cars to the US in a year or so. Moving with the military so they’ll pay for the car import. I want to bring back a cool car you can only get in the EU/UK and then flip it back in the states. Knowing myself I’m sure there’s a real possibility I just end up keeping it but still… I know Defenders used to be huge but the resale has fallen off. Any recommendations are appreciated. Thanks in advance!
InfluenceEfficient77@reddit
If you get a manual Sprinter that's over 25 years old, you would definitely appreciate having it around, especially with the housing prices in the US you might end up building it into a place to live/camp
JolyonWagg99@reddit
Land Rover Defenderor other vintage Land Rovers like series 3 LWB models I’d think.
Just have to be sure about which models can be imported. People seem to pay top dollar for them.
Dedward5@reddit
Americans go crazy for Defenders, especially with the “drove through the accessory shop” look.
Ok_Window_9423@reddit (OP)
This was my original plan, I’ve heard the market has fallen off a bit?
Opposite_Ad1408@reddit
It has fallen off a bit, but I suspect there is still money to be made.
porchprovider@reddit
TVR
fmeupfam14@reddit
Beat me to it. I can't wait for sagaris to be legal. Probably immediately be too expensive.
db2901@reddit
Underrated shout
BarberNo9798@reddit
Good luck finding anything LHD that isn’t cheaper in the states
therealharbinger@reddit
By a LHD Clio V6 from France... Profit.
But in a rare colour, not arctic blue. You want Liquid Yellow. And a phase 2. These are only 21 years old at present.
Any car exporter with half a brain, would be snapping these things up right now.
KaleidoscopeRound721@reddit
MGF
mantasv@reddit
Yaris gr
El_Pollo_Del-Mar@reddit
Find me at clean, low mile RS4 Avant. Left hand drive please. DM me when you land. Cash buyer.
Cornelius-Figgle@reddit
Not gonna get a LHD from the UKDM are you?
El_Pollo_Del-Mar@reddit
Who said it had to originate in the UK?
Cornelius-Figgle@reddit
OP said they were living in the UK. I assumed that meant they were importing cars from the the UK?
El_Pollo_Del-Mar@reddit
Ever heard of the EU? Channel Tunnel?
Ok_Window_9423@reddit (OP)
Not against driving a car up from France/mainland Europe. Not sure what the import laws are into the UK from other EU countries but probably doable especially for a 25+ YO car.
R2-Scotia@reddit
If you are planning to export to USA don't paper it in UK. Taxes, and mods you'll need to switch back.
CollenOHallahan@reddit
Not finding LHD in UK. Plus a B7 can't be imported without federalization yet.
If you want a B7, find one in Canada and drive it across the border and illicitly register it.
El_Pollo_Del-Mar@reddit
B5
CollenOHallahan@reddit
Check with Open Air Imports.
If you are serious about getting one they are the ones to do it
pimpbot666@reddit
They’re likely to be super rare and even super expensive in the UK. I would be surprised if you could flip it for enough of a profit here in the US to make it worthwhile.
Suydans_Imports@reddit
I sent you a message
airmantharp@reddit
Nothing British for sure
Hawk833@reddit
Rolls Royce?
Evening-Tomatillo-47@reddit
No.
That's one of the reasons our classics are going up in price, and leaving fewer for us.
If you wanted one for you, to keep and use, that would be a different matter
NoWastegate@reddit
Ferrari 550 maranello. Limited numbers here and selling for good $. Make sure it is LHD thiugh
gunsdrugsreddit@reddit
Dacia Sandero
Ok_Window_9423@reddit (OP)
That’s the #1 car my buddies back home say I should buy…thanks Jeremy Clarkson.
Sad_Mall_3349@reddit
You mean James May, right?
tylers65@reddit
Toyota Land Cruiser 80 series (Particularly anything with the 1HZ or 1HD-FTE) or 95 to 97 Hilux 3.0.
They are expensive to buy from Japan but were plentiful in the UK and never sold in the US.
Legendary reliability and durability and people “in the know” will pay big money for them.
Ok_Window_9423@reddit (OP)
Would love a Hilux myself, like a diesel Tacoma. Hard to justify with fuel prices now…you’re right could be good resale in the US.
fatpad00@reddit
Ok_Window_9423@reddit (OP)
Love the look of a TVR Tuscan. Hard to nail down a good resale price in the us. Found a 2003 with 25k miles in the UK not long ago for $48k. Any idea what that would go for in the US?
MattTheMechan1c@reddit
Lotus Carlton.
skibbin@reddit
Del Boy Reliant
No-Sherbert-9589@reddit
Remember UK cars are RHD. The US makes importing cars difficult if not US type approved. They have to be over 25 years old and even that can be an issue.
TheOtherAkGuy@reddit
All of the old rally legends. Lancia delta integrale, Renault R5 Turbo, Ford Escort RS Cosworth.
Most imports here are JDM but I’ve seen these cars go for crazy money here. People love them
toefungi@reddit
E36 wagon
E36 euro spec m3
Agile_Session_3660@reddit
I’d do a lotus Carlton personally. That or any TVR.
rich_clock@reddit
RS3 Hatchback!
eldredo_M@reddit
Rover 3500 SD1
jojowasher@reddit
old AWD VWs are always cool since we didnt get them here, like a MK4 Golf 4motion diesel if you can find one.
RHS1959@reddit
Something like a ‘50s or ‘60s Rolls or Jaguar I think would be most marketable here, and for a classic like that people will be more tolerant of RHD.
HousingSmart4426@reddit
I would love to get my hands on a Lancia Delta Integrale.
stulogic@reddit
There’ll be a very well documented and fully restored (by a very well known UK shop for Lancia) Evo 2 with 370hp listed on BaT in the US towards the end of the summer.
cactusjackalope@reddit
Vintage land rovers in good shape have a big market and will probably be the easiest to resell.
stulogic@reddit
25+ Y.O. JDMs and classic euros that didn’t make it to the US originally. My GTR and integrale both came from the UK, as did I many years before them.
__slamallama__@reddit
E30 touring would probably double your money but it's not a ton of money lol
2fast4usky@reddit
escort cosworth or a m3 seems to sell well here.
nueroticalyme@reddit
Audi rs trims like the audi rs4. There where some carbon editions not sold in the us. The parts alone go for big money. Higher end volvos like the v70R or s60R will have some special trim models you cant get here.
SyntheticOne@reddit
Steering wheel on wrong side of vehicle matter to you?
I'd like a Morgan.
Potential_Stomach_10@reddit
Depends on how deep your pockets are. Any of the small Ford RS models that we couldn't get here would be good sellers
TweeksTurbos@reddit
You guys got 5 door saab 900s alot longer than we did. But not lucrative.
PiedsterT@reddit
There’s a plethora of options from the UK depending on your preferences/budget. I’d stay away from a lot of the JDM cars as they tend to be more expensive in Europe than they are in Japan. However if you can find a car that isn’t rusty is going to be key. Cars: BMW E30 or E36 tourings are nice, early Audi a3/s3, ford escort cosworth, ford sierra sapphire cosworth, VW golf country, VW golf estate, turbo ford escort, first gen lotus Elise are all good examples to name a few. Trucks, I’ve always been partial to the 3 door discovery 1’s, especially with a 300tdi there are good choices already mentioned too.
Equana@reddit
You do know the cars must be 25 years old or older or they cannot be registered, right?
Early Defenders would be cool. An original Mini, too. Other than that, cool collectable Brit cars were made in the late 40s and early 50s. The industry turned to shit in the middle to late 60s and all but died by the late 70s.
Yakb0@reddit
Caterhams are incredibly expensive in the US.
Not something you'd buy for resale though.
Duukt@reddit
A Jaaaaag! Very lucrative (for the mechanic).
More seriously, I'm going to guess one of the diesels like a Hilux but unsure of the legality if it's below 25 years old.