Journey has started, useful info?

[Malc]

It's been a while but I have finally got the  230 moving on it's long trip to Scotland from New Jersey.
Poor thing is in sad shape (I'll post pics soon) so it is classified as "inop"  

For those of you thinking of shipping a car here in a nutshell is my experiences so far.....

1) 99% of shippers only want a car that runs.
2) Most will not quote an all in price for pickup for delivery to the dock.
3) Unless you use a container no parts bar jack, spare wheel and wheel brace should be in the car. Stuff will get stolen and the shipper will not be resposible.
4) Shipper needs a lot of paperwork including the original title.
5) Delivery to your house at destination extra
6) "handling" charges at destination port not included.
7) Marine insurance is a joke

As the car is coming into the UK I contacted UK Customs (oh dear)

As the vehicle is coming from outside the EU it will be subject to import duty (10% value of the vehicle) and VAT (17.5%)
However if the car was running and in good condition it would officially be classified as "historically" important and would not be subject to import duty or VAT, but because it is in need of restoration it is!!! (why???)[!]
However as the vehicle was given to me as a gift (as long as I restore it) by my sister in law the duty and VAT will be based on the shipping costs.

Expected arrival in the UK around the end of August... Can't wait

Cheers
Malc

[mdsalemi]

Malcolm and everyone,

In a former life I did a considerable amount of shipping by both air and ocean of very heavy equipment.  Though I did not ever ship a car or other vehicle, I can tell you without hesitation that the best experiences in shipping I have ever had were those handled by SeaJet Express of Boston:

http://www.seajet.com/mainmenu.htm

Note that I referred Cees to these people last year when he needed to get his 113 engine(s) from Joe Alexander's place to his place in the Netherlands, and I understand that Cees' experience with Seajet simply mirrored my own--they were great.  Gabriele--the general manager, I believe--is simply the best!

Therefore anyone need to ship anything large and bulky across the ocean would be well advised to give these people a call.  If they can't help you I'm sure they'll put you in touch with someone who can!



Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[hauser]

Malc speaking from experience the best way to ship a car is in a container. Parts of the car always seem to disapear and then there are the dents and scratches that the insurance will not pay for. My father shipped a car to Europe this way (he's always trying to save money) they helped themselves to the gearshift knob and everthing else that wasn't bolted to the car. To top it off three dents in the door. When we tried to have the insurance take care of it they only covered major damage :? .

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.