[stueeee]

My brother and I have had a 1949 F3 truck stuck in the US since last July because the USPS w*nkers lost the title when we sent it "special delivery" to the US shipper. We're told that you can't export a vehicle without an original title document (we do have colour photocopies).

It's becoming increasingly clear that as a non-US resident/citizen it's going to be impossible to get the truck re-titled due to US bureaucracy which is truly worthy of a Kafka novel.

What is the minimum we need to do to the truck to be able to ship it in as spare parts, so that we can export it from the US without a title. Obviously we don't want to strip any more parts off it than we absolutely have to.

I know that the lack of title and the correct UK customs docs. etc. is going to cause a nightmare here in the UK when we come to register it, but I think that getting a V5C for the truck (which is bone stock) is a surmountable problem.

Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[dutchrod]

wouldnt it be better if a american friend re aplied for a title? i bet some hotrod guy over there you know would do it for ya.

pascal

 

[shoebox]

As Pascal said, the easiest way is to get a US title for it. Many companies specialise in this and it shouldn't be a problem. That is the easiest and best way to ship. I think a complete vehicle will need at the very least a bill of sale - there has to be proof of it being there as the result of a legitimate transaction before shipping. Not sure how much you have to take off before it becomes a bunch of parts. Just find an american citizen/resident willing to help you - would even be worth a drink! There are Americans on this site if you don't know anyone out there.

 

[LANCELOT LINK]

The Yanks are pretty hot on stuff being shipped as parts.....It gets messy over here too...
I have had a couple of title issues and it was always easier to get a title....there are title houses that do this sort of thing for a fee....I'd try a request for help on THE HAMB.......

 

[53catalina]

Hi

try calling Russ at R&R Hotrod Imports 07980 416785.
His colleague stateside is based in New Jersey area from memory, and would no doubt be able to help. They send across loads of containers so should be able to help you out.

Worth a phone call if nothing else.


Good luck

 

[stueeee]

Thanks for the replies to date. At the moment I still think that the easiest route is to ship the truck as parts. Some background below.

The title we got with the truck was issued in Montana in the early 1970s, crucially before Montana Department of Motor Vehicles computerised their system.

Like lots of yank vehicles, the truck has changed hands several times without bothering the authorities (or paying the sales tax that comes with a new title).

It's not possible to get a r5eplacement title from Montana, as they don't have any record of the truck on their computer system.

My understanding is that ordinarily, you can only title a vehicle in the state you live in, which will be a problem for us until the UK becomes the 51st state.

We have been trying to get the truck titled in Maine, which apparently allows "out of state" titles, but to get a Maine registration we would need.

• 
  notarised bill of sale-the bill of sale wasn't notarised

• 
  Power of Attorney for the title people (looks like this can only be set up from within the US)

• 
  Inspection of the truck's VIN by an "officer of the law" -the truck is parked in a shippers yard in New Jersey

• 
  inspection by an ASE certified technician to say that the truck is fully roadworthy -it was a running "barn find" when we bought it but has been standing in the open for 9 months now, and someones stolen the rear lights since it was delivered to the shipper.

• 
  You apparently need to supply a US social security number and a US driver's license number with any application for a title/registration.

• 
  We need to supply a road risk insurance certificate for the truck in the owners name which has at least three months to run.

We, or more properly my brother does have someone in the US who has a green card, and therefore a US social security number, and would be happy to help with getting a title, but she doesn't have a US Drivers Licence or any knowledge of the other requirements.

All this stuff looks either very difficult or impossible to fix. Hence my query about shipping the truck as spare parts, if I have to fly over and take whatever parts off it and chuck them in the pickup bed to persuade the US customs people that it's a spares deal so doesn't need a title because it's not a complete vehicle, then it would be worth the aggro to get the bloody thing into a container at last -who knows, some of the 1/2 ton or so of spares that we bought in the US and were loaded with the truck might actually still be there.

 

[dutchrod]

having imported quite some carparts i know, US customs will check very hard on where the parts come from and that it isnt a stolen car, and they digg deep for that.
or i was just unlucky that the parts/cars got checked that much, dunno for sure, took bout 4-5 weeks till they gave the stuff free for shipping. one bodyshell had to stay behind, was bought at a breakers and didnt have tittle or anything.
pascal

 

[100ev8]

might be worth speaking/pm to hemipop (john) he might be able to shed a bit of light on the subject

rob

 

[45bobber]

maybe its worth speaking to one of the companys that bring in project cars
such as california conection or tucketts they might know what is classed as a complete car or parts.

 

[Peter.]

Give this guy a call. If you need a US licensed driver to complete the deal you can register it in my name.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=386646

 

[Shedster]

Can't help at all on this one, sorry, but just wanted to add my name as someone who feels for you and hopes can you get it all sorted. Good Luck! :tup:

 

[stueeee]

Thanks to all for the supportive replies and the suggestions I have received separately. We'll be following up on these and will hopefully get the truck over here in the not too distant future.

 

[chopcoupe]

my second choice worth try H A M B website as member of hamber might got title for sale buy it save hassle good luck .