MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
Will your collection include the MG Metro and Metro Turbo, the MG Maestro and the MG Montego and Montego Turbo, is it possible to bring these cars into the US. The MG Metro Turbo engine was popular to transplant into Minis (you had to cut the firewall a little for the turbo), or any plans for the new re-badged beefed up Rovers.
Being 29 these MG's are the main MGs I grew up seeing ( the B was always a cool car I would see a few of and lust after)
Now that is a car I would love to own & compete with.
The Metro 6R4 is SO outrageous ......................
Not legally possible to bring them into country....the 6R4 was a real hoot.....I'm trying a different tact on my new TF thoughts....got a friend who's still a Mexican national even though he's married to an American Hispanic....when he goes back this summer to visit his mom, he's gonna check to see if he buys one can he drive it here & register....then, we'll think through how he sells to me...
Tony: Interesting idea - my wife wants one too! We were in England two years ago and she really fell in love with the MGF - she looked into buying one and the bottom line was she could buy a Euro model (left hand drive), tax free (!) in England, keep it there for six months (I think) then ship it here. Only problem is you then cannot sell it! If I remember rightly, shipping was about $1,000 and, all told, it was not a bad deal. We decided against it because of the issues of parts and she bought the B instead! I still have relatives in England - my sister lives within 5 miles of the MG club headquarters in Swavesey - so if you get stuck for a part that you can find in the U.K. let me know and we can get it shipped over!
I take it your wife is a British subject? Think the prohibition on selling will also apply to my Mexican friend
I am the Brit! (Actually, dual!). The restriction does not apply to any nationality. Anybody can do it - the problem is selling the car here. The answer may be for him to import it to Mexico, you buy it there and bring it into the US.
Keep us posted - they are great little cars!
No, last time i was in the UK, they told me I couldn't import the car to US...US customs told me the same thing....car doesn't meet US specs & I'm not talking about left hand drive....he can't sell a car to an American in Mexico....we've gone over this lots of times on the bbs, I've had lawyers look into what it'd take to import one (there's a guy doing it in California but its costing a fortune to convert them to US specs)....no reason to go into it all here...I'm still looking & have a couple of options
.....but, unless you're a Brit, a new TF would languish at the port alongside Bill Gate's Euro Porsche!
Hmmm - I'll check with a friend who has a Lotus Elise here - somehow!
It's here as a demonstrator or show vehicle - turns out you can do this BUT you have to post a bond with Customs which you don't get back until you send the vehicle back - Damn!
Told ya....I've been through this from every angle...even bringing it in as a 1957 TF woth American title (old VIN plates) & license plate already affixed!
Next trick is to get somebody to take it apart and import it as a kit! In Michigan kit cars do not have to meet EPA or DOT regs to get licensed!
Looked that route also...most feasible...problem is getting one out of Mexico....might be more feasilble to do it out of the UK....next time I go over, we're gonna explore that route....buy a left drive, take drivetrain out, ship in 2 containers, assemble here & register as kit car.....
By the way - Lotus agree that an MGF (same motor and layout as the Elise) with suspension upgrades will out perform the Elise! The TF should be even better - I drove the Elise and it is a slick little car!
