BUGA Community
General Category => CF Bedford Chat => Topic started by: Adrian A_Team 4 Charity on March 24, 2011, 07:42:01 AM
-
Hi guys, Does anyone have any knowledge about transporting a van from U.K. to Australia? (Melb)
There is a van perfect for my charity bash that I do which has already been done up as the A-Team van. An actual GMC G20 van already in Right Hand Drive. Just wanting to know approx costs and concerns if anyone has done it before.
Here is the link to the van. (I'll change the interior) - What do you think?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TEAM-VAN-CHEVROLET-GMC-G20-limo-limousine-wedding-car-/300537866783?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item45f973ea1f (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TEAM-VAN-CHEVROLET-GMC-G20-limo-limousine-wedding-car-/300537866783?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item45f973ea1f)
Thanks guys,
Adrian.
-
Bedfords are way cooler. I know shipping from the US is about 3k. Do a search on the net I'm sure there are plenty of places, make sure they take care of everything, pick up of vehicle, transport, import taxes etc. Or it could turn out to be a headache. There are shipping container companys where you have to sort everything yourself, and then there are car shipping companys that do it all for ya.
Good luck
Alex
-
Hey Adrian, mate i would suspect you would be looking at between 5 and 10 grand, thats through customs to your door. Because you dont have thousands to spend on custom work, it would be worth looking at, what is out of your hands is, condition, rust and mechanical unless you fly there or get someone there to inspect it.
I used to drive forlifts for TNT bonded warehouses, and we use to unload the imports from their containers, so expect a couple of weeks to clear the customs warehouse, depending on workloads. That was 20yrs ago so things may have changed somewhat. Good luck and keep us informed.
Just had a look at your pics of the van, nice, yanks do a good job with their vans.
george.
-
When I looked at importing my old custom van from the UK, 900 pounds was the best price I could get.
This didn't include duty/customs charges on this end.
There are companies that can do a full service for you. I imagine the end cost would be similar to importing from the US.
Being a large vehicle, I'd say you could do it for under 5 grand if you shop around.
-
I got a quote bout 18 months ago from my guy I use to bring stuff from usa with.
Obsession and I were gunna buy a couple at one time to bring in from UK.
Price at that time with every thing done was $8750 delivered to Fremantle.
Melbourne would be slightly cheaper, but that was for 2 vans in a container.
Suggest you try a couple internet sights for quotes.
-
Hi Adrian,
A few things to consider if shipping from overseas are customs requirements as per attached web address and also to be sure van is spotless for quarantine inside and out. Have seen cars at Aqis in Fremantle that have been stuck there for months paying storage charges due to work load and first in first served. I watched as they pressure washed car inside and out to satisfy quarantine basically killing the interior.
Also when shipping definately go the way of container as Roll on / Roll off vessels are very expensive and require a non owner to drive on and off who in most cases doesn't care cause it's not theirs.
Lastly make sure you have all correct documents for vehicle otherwise licencing can be a huge problem.
http://www.cargoonline.com.au/rulesregulations.php (http://www.cargoonline.com.au/rulesregulations.php)
There are heaps of forwarders who can take care of shipping and customs package on web but licencing is your problem so get as much paperwork as you can from seller for car specs and engineering changes.
Truck
-
Hey Adrian, mate this is an american vehicle, so make sure that your transport has something on their computer databases, laugh if you will but this is why :
Back in 04 i bought a H1 Humvee/Hummer, it had been registered in australia by a previous owner, anyhow i took it down to my local transport office, they started doing the id info, and they asked me what is a hummer, i said it is a big 4x4, they asked me where it was built, i said america, then they proceeded to ask a heap of dopey Qs. ??? ??? ;D The result was that pre H3 hummer days, they had no record of what a hummer was, so my rego sticker and paper work showed my truck as AMERICAN VEHICLE der ??? ::) they could not print Hummer because the page on their PC would not complete the sticker if they used the word hummer, I had to laugh, they went out to have a look at it in the carpark, her comment was, thats a big one, i could not contain myself and laughed like hell, i said thankyou. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
My point is that there are still a lot of yank vehicles that may not be in their databases, and because it has never been regoed in oz, you could have the fun i had, they will look only at place of manufacture, so pommy land will have no bearing on it, so i would just ring your local and see if the GMC Van is in the PC, or simular, may just save you some heart ache.
george
-
geez bro thats big, I reckon you could fit a full kitchen in it (hint) ::) ;D
-
Man that thing is HUGE :D,bloody tough looking truck george
-
Man that thing is HUGE :D,bloody tough looking truck george
Tough, just like George
-
Hi guys,
Thanks so much for all the info. I have spent all day/evening looking into the requirements of shipping this van to Melb. It seems the cost is around the $5,000 mark (which in turn will increase with extra suprises) with best price so far www.autoshippers.co.uk (http://www.autoshippers.co.uk). However, looking into the import approval process, it appears that the imported vehicle needs to be pre-1989. With this GMC being 1993, to be eligible I would need to have owned the car and be in possession of it in the UK for at least 12 months. This now makes it ineligible for import approval. The additional costs for licencing/registration/compliance may also be excessive as their is alot of uncertainty. Could be an extra $5,000, could be more or less.The only benefit is the vehicle is already converted to RHD so that will be a huge saving. I was extremely keen to bring this van home, but all your advice and knowledge brings it back to the reality that I will not get import approval. I found an excellent web page that outlines step by step the process for bringing to Aust if anyone else was looking at doing the same: http://www.moving-to-melbourne.co.uk/news/574/general-australian-news/importing-a-car-to-australia/ (http://www.moving-to-melbourne.co.uk/news/574/general-australian-news/importing-a-car-to-australia/)
Thank you Alex, George, Zeeman, pickmeup, & Truck. Your guidance have saved me heaps of wasted time and money.
You guys are great.
Adrian.
-
It's a shame it's not going to come off, but great that all the info here steered you right.
Don't give up Adrian
Warren
-
Sorry to hear Adrian, it looked ok, but the last thing you need is an expensive ornament to sit in the driveway because you can't get approval for one thing or another.
If you are looking for a a yank van, regoed here in oz, try a company down your way, AMERICAN IMPORTS, i think that is still their name, i get emails from them a few times a year trying to sell me another hummer. If your interested i can dig up an old email, but they import everything american.
BIG, let me tell you guys that humvee was giant, and awesome to drive, loved every minute of it, first vehicle i drove again after the crash, i can tell you other cars gave me a wide berth when they saw it coming. If you think outside is big, you can fit a house inside. I tried to get the ornament on the bullbar in the last pic when i bought the truck, mmmm a no sale. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D oh well. ;) ;D
george.
-
Hey George ...you forgot to take a pic of the engine. :-\ I wanna see what powers these big muthas ::) ::) ::)
-
Hey johnno, when i was sitting beside the truck in my chair i just came up to the top of the front wheel arch, the top of my head did not even clear the bonnet. ;D ;D These trucks are tall man. I may have some picks of the engine bay, i will have to dig into my cd collection of pics for you. Just so you know, the engine is a 6.2lt Chev V8 diesal motor, and they roar, the truck weighs in at almost 4ton, mine did because i had 3 fuel tanks and a heap of goodies on it, but let me tell you this at 4 ton, when you hit the gas, it use to launch, you heard that growling V8 come to life, awesome, miss it now. >:( >:( >:( ;) :D :DThe new hummers, or last hummer line had a 4 speed Allison gearbox with a 6.5lt chev v8 diesal. I will grab some picks for you john and post them, when i sold it it looked awesome inside. Stay tuned.
george.
-
6.2 LT V8 :o :o :o That bugger would'nt just climb trees it would crush them as well.... :D ;D Damn!! 4 ton :o
-
Man your missus is hot george :D :D ;D
-
Cool Rubman, mmmmm ;D ;D Here are a few more pics johnno, as for the trees, they just run for cover when they see the hummer coming.
george
-
and more.
-
And More. Put it this way guys, if you can not own a bedford, then a Hummer is the next best ride.
george
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBiyB70hMuk&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBiyB70hMuk&feature=related)
-
Hey Bas, mate next to the beddy, these hummers turn heads, even when i see a H3 hummer these days i still take a look, not as impressive as the H1 and H2, but still like to look. The only reason i sold mine was that i could not find anyone to look after it. I took it to a truck place to get it serviced one day [only place with a hoist big enough] ;D and they stuffed the sump plug up, when they put it back in, it leaked like a civ, took them 5hrs to get a new plug machined up. It was that or send to america or perth to get a new one. In the end i decided to sell it, and got the cruiser, now spare parts are over the counter. I will get another one some day, or build a replica, but b4 that happens i want to build my 4x4 bedford van. See i have my priorities in the right place. ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ::) :o
george.
-
Man ,,,,I cant beleive in the states they are allowed to drive a vehicle on the road like that ;D with those wheels and all.
-
Put it this way johnno, in a normal width lane, you have about a 100mm either side. The H1 fill the lane just like a mack truck does. The H3 is actually smaller then my 100 series cruiser, by 100mm give or take width & length. Hummer have now shut up shop, so they will be no more soon. AM General are still building the military humvee, for now, but they are looking at replacing them with something like the bushmaster. Hey johnno if you want a hummer there are a few dealerships in your neck of the woods. ;D ;D ;D They are a chick magnet johnno, not that you need help in that area, i'm just saying. ;) ;) ;D ;D :o ::)
george.
-
Nice truck but not a BEDFORD,,,,,,YOU CAN BUY A DOZEN BEDDIES instead one for each day off the week and spares,,,,,
-
Geez..I can just imagine what the misses would say if i brought one of them home :o Id be comming to live with you George :D :D :D
-
Hey Gazza, you are looking at about $80,000 to about $150,000 each, or depending on how custom they are with extras. Mine was super custom because the previous owner was the owner of a 4x4 bussiness, so they had it done up to do trips like the telegraph track and through the desert. To give you an idea of how much fun i had in it, just after i bought it, we were looking at building a new wheelchair friendly house, so went to a new estate with the agent. We drove into the street, and because they were still grading the blocks they build a 1m high dirt mound to stop people driving onto the blocks. We had to get to the other side of the estate to look at the block we were after, so as the agent took off to do a long trip round the estate, i put my shifters into gear, lined the truck up and drove up and over this 1m high dirt mound, we were sitting on the block we wanted for a while b4 the agent reached us, he had eyes like a frog watching us climb this mound. I use to go to shows with the hummer, and people just flocked to look at it, i was explaining the truck non stop for the whole day. Because the yanks had just gone to war, and the humvees were on the news every night and that peaked interest as well.
If you guys on here are interested, and have foxtel, discovery turbo is repeating a show called HUMMER NATION in a few weeks, they cover all the hummers and humvees.
GEORGE.
-
Hey john, my grandkids loved grandads hummer, my youngest wanted nothing but models and anything hummer. The kids looked like ants alongside the truck. The downside of the H1 is the sea sickness. ;D ;D ;D ;D Becuse of the independent suspension, when you stop at the lights, the whole truck would roll back and forth for a few seconds. Truth be, they are big but as easy as hell to drive. Hey gazza, try about 50 beddies. Most of the guys with hummers in oz do their own mechanicals like we do with our beddies, there just is no one in oz that knows how to work on them. Give me a beddy anytime. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
george
-
I like playing the game grand theft auto (dont ask what version/city or whatever it is) cause you can blow up hummers hehe
Only found this out cause my girlfriends boy has the game and he likes to blow up the vans when I am there so when I get a turn I get the hummers lol