Cost to ship a 914 from Germany to US? Options

[JeffBowlsby]

This is why...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...&category=18303

[JeffBowlsby]

Thanks for your encouragement y’all…

I did some searching and calling around and here is what I found out about importing cars to the USA:

1. A 1974 car is exempt from certain but not all requirements for safety and emissions.
2. The car still has to meet EPA emissions (and California emissions) requirements this first time it is registered (then it is exempt from testing), so a GB code engine, might not meet the requirements as it is, unless a catalytic converter is installed.
3. Certain DOT safety provisions are mandatory. Safety glass, side door beams, bumper height, headlights and ‘anti-theft’ (key buzzer) provisions.
4. A Registered Importer (RI) MUST be hired and the contract shown to customs, before anybody will do anything. The car is imported to Oxnard, CA, then ground shipped to Oakland, CA where it is ‘federalized’…equipment changed out, certifications obtained, dyno tested.
5. All the German equipment will be GONE…a US windshield, a MPH speedo, sealed beam headlights…all those toys that make it a German car…that’s the point isn’t it?
6. Total costs including shipping and duties start at about $3500 and could easily go up if it doesn’t pass the first time. Of course, that this particular car does not currently run is a problem…

This RI I spoke with called the 914 a piece of____…he really hurt my feelings, but he is loser as I see it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) He was hot to advise me multiple time to ‘not bring a sandwich to the banquet…bring roastbeef’…his way of wanting me to import a $100000 AMG…not a 100,000th V-dubPorsche…

One thing that he surprised me with though FYI…is that he said that the 914 was BANNED from Switzerland, and has been for about 15 years…why?…because they are pieces of _____” cars…’everyone knows that”. Any truth to this by someone that knows (the banned part)? What other countries is the 914 banned?

Hmmph. Unless Bernard can make these problems go away…seems like to bring a German car in German form into the USofA…is not-likely by this middle class American…

Denied as the BradMeister likes to say.