I agree and have thought about a cheap ticket to Atlanta to find out !
Brian Mills
If you want any advice on importing from the USA let me know. I have brought in around 15 cars, and it is easy, cheap and not scary at all. And Atlanta is quite near Savannah and Chesapeake Bay (Newport News / Portsmouth Virginia), which is where I usually ship my vehicles from. Last car I shipped in (my Hudson) cost £900 dock-to-dock, all fees paid (in 2006), and although you then have to pay import duty and VAT (including on the cost of the shipping), there is a customs duty reduction that you can apply for on antiques (including cars) called BTI (Binding Tariff Information), and if you succeed with that (I always have) the tax is only 10% instead of 27.5%.
You have to put the case to HMRC that the item you are bringing in is a valuable and rare item (no problem with a Flam, I'd have thought - I managed with my Hudson, although that's a lot rarer and older), and that it is over 30 years old (no problem again). If this Flam goes for, say, $45000, which is £30000 at the moment, and it costs you £1000 to ship it, you would have to pay £3100 in tax - not too bad (well, a lot better than 27.5%, which would be £8500!).
Seriously, if you do want to try I am happy to help, and I would thoroughly recommend it. I have always done it for fun rather than profit - and boy, is it fun! And the best bit is you can go over there to sort it out, so you get a 'sort-of' free holiday in the USA into the bargain. If you'd like to borrow a Corvair (based in nearby North Carolina) to drive round in while you're there, just say the word...
Good luck...
Cheers
Alan
