Many thanks Greg, I`m a brit all my life, and had a 1991 200 TDi for 10 years as my daily driver, and trust me I know my Diesel Landrovers, mine was correctly set up after a cam belt change as i made all my own setting tools for the all important diesel pump Injection timing and It WOULD DO 90 Mph and not slow at all.. you CAN make modifications simply to the diesel pump but I never done that just left It stock but did adjust the turbo boost actuator slightly to make it come on to turbo boost slightly quicker.. The engine was so oil tight its engine pan went rusty on its OUTSIDE even at 240.000 MILES when I sold it after 10 happy years as I became disabled and the "mans clutch" became too heavy it heavy traffic, I was gutted to sell It, believe me, but the guy who purchased It had a barn full Of early discoveries and said after his 5 hour drive home, it was the best early discovery he has ever driven so made me feel a bit better.. In the end I purchased a freelander 1 with its BMW engine but all important auto gear box, but was supposed to buy a TD5 auto box but the seller let me down so on the way home saw this shiny freelander in black, side steps, HSE edition interior complete with a FBH (fuel burning heater) for easy cold starts (dont really need it living right on the coast) but its comfy, quiet, easy to drive, but TBH I`m looking for an immaculate Discovery TD5 that all have rotten swiss cheese chassis (have welder - can fix) -lol/ Am 72 years old but love to keep active If I can/ thanks for your videos as many Americans have never heard of REAL defenders and think they are like the latest "Car" with a Landrover Badge on piece of cr*p, so its about time someone put them right with FACTS, you have now done this.. Thanks again, Ian.. North Essex Coast - UK.
Ever since I layed eyes on one, I have fallen in love with it and is the only truck I prefer, nothing else will do and being in the US has become a curse of somewhat that I can not get one or have to buy one here that is priced so so very high, aha, I will eventually do what you did, just scary. I have noted the sites and points you made, PS I also love the classes mini cooper!
So I wonder if the 3 thumbs down are from: east coast, west coast, and homeland security. Thanks, Greg, very useful video do you have links for the references you provided?
Great presentation on the import of the defender, the price of airline tickets to Europe are pretty cheap to go and inspect these rovers , I think that is the best way to find a good one, I owned a 68 series IIA rebuilt a 2.5 Diesel engine for it and had a overdrive, talk about slow on the highway that was slow!,
Bulletproof - The importation laws are Country specific and so you will have to start from scratch in terms of how the Canadian laws are structured. It would be great if they were based on the US laws but I have no idea if that’s the case. Canadian law allows you to import a newer truck under their laws - something like 11 years or older rather than 25 years or older per the US laws. I have seen some newer Defenders advertised on EBay from Canada that would not qualify for importation into the US because they are too new per the US laws but that is about the extent of my knowledge. Good Luck and I am envious that you can import a newer truck than we can in the states!
Gregory Beams yes 15 years it has to be so I'm looking for a 2001 or 2002 I just love the iconic defender..I own the range rover autobiography but as I get older I'm liking the primitive stuff lol
Greg, Great job on your video. I would have liked to see the costs associated with buying your defender and links or form names, for the import application, however, that isn't a big deal. What is interesting is that a far greater threat to the US is the EXPORT of stolen vehicles or vehicles obtained through bank fraud, that have had their VIN numbers swapped. Another slightly vintage pop culture reference that might help is the scene in Rain Man, where Tom Cruises character is trying to import exotic autos that don't make it past customs because they are held up over emissions. Thanks again for the great content. I w
Daniel - thanks for the comments. I will take a look at the costs of the pieces of the import process - attorney fees, import duties, shipping, etc., and see if I can put something together. I agree that would be helpful for folks to get an idea of the costs because it can add up. Liked your Rain Man reference! I had forgotten that he had emission issues - which is funny because under the antique car import regs, there are no emission requirements. I didn't have to pass any emissions checks, safety requirements, air bag requirements (Defenders don't have them), nothing, and so I assume Tom Cruise was importing vehicles under the normal importation rules - and not the 25+ antique car exceptions? But hey, it's Hollywood! Best, Greg
Sorry about the links - here are the full links that wouldn't fit in the video: East Coast Defenders: "eastcoastdefender.com" West Coast Defender: "facebook.com/westcoastdefender/" William Hedrick "www.linkedin.com/in/william-m-hedrick-4a014233" Customs Import Regulations "help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/278/~/importing-classic-or-antique-vehicles-%2F-cars-for-personal-use" Defenders Source - forum about Defenders: "www.defendersource.com" Hope that helps - cheers!
Great information! Thank you! Are you from Seattle? I would love to check out your Defender in person. Also spotted one Defender overseas that I'd like to import, so would like to meet up if possible and discuss.
Hi Greg, great video. I've just bought a 300 tdi and it is sitting in the U.K. for the next year until it reaches 25 yrs of age. I personally bought it myself and the engine serial number and VINs all match the log book. The mail gear box and transfer gear box are also original. Do you know if Customs goes as far as to check the serial number on the axles? Was this part of your import paperwork? Thanks, Chris
I think it only made sense in terms of the airbag requirements being broadly applied to reduce automobile deaths and the US Government taking a “one size fits all” approach and since Defenders didn’t have airbags then they were banned from the US for that reason. Having said that, Defenders, because of their size and construction, are much safer than many of the small “tin can” vehicles on the road at that time and still today that have airbags. If we want to focus solely on the safety factor then it starts to make a lot less sense to keep Defenders out of the Country.
Hi Greg, thanks for the very informative videos. Quick question, what if the overseas truck has been fitted with a replacement engine or gearbox that is the same specs as the original. Would that fall under the modification clause?
Thanks for the comment. I believe if the replacement parts are of the same specs as the original, then you will be okay but you should reach out to Will Hedrick (see my other responses for a link to his contact info) to make sure - he is an attorney that works with imports and can validate if you are okay.
Hi Greg. Excellent videos. Many thanks for sharing your experiences. (1) My friend in the US wishes to purchase a Defender and has asked me to to look out for him. I understand the basic conditions that it has to be an unmodified vehicle at least 25 years old. Clearly the engine, the chassis (frame), and gearbox, must be at least that age, to avoid the regulation compliance that exists for more modern vehicles, and there can't be other major changes like switching over from RHD or altering the original basic body style from when it left the factory. But what about changes or mods to less significant items? I'm thinking about things like the wheels, the interior, such as upgrading to more modern seats, or changes to the dashboard instruments and panel layout, having additional exterior spot lamps, installation of a breather snorkel, changes to the main lamps and front grill and so on. Do you have any advise or comments about these more minor changes, based on your experience or knowledge? (2) Another thing I noticed is that there are a number of ex- UK military spec. Land Rovers in original factory configuration for sale to private owners. Can I assume that they would be acceptable for US import based on the fact these are original spec (albeit UK military) and over 25 years old? I'd really very much appreciate your feedback on both these 2 points. Thanks and regards, Bob.
Bob, Great questions. The challenge becomes that the cosmetic things that you are describing, for the most part SHOULD be OK, but the problem becomes that there isn’t a set of hard and fast rules that I am aware of that you can point to that dictates that this particular mod is okay, while this other mod is not. A lot depends on which port your Defender comes through and their familiarity with Defenders. The more mods you make then the more modern the vehicle appears, which can then result in more questions/concerns from customs because they become more worried that you are trying to import a newer Defender. If you have also replaced the tranny or engine, even with a period correct replacement, they are more likely to hold the vehicle. If you consider the costs of your vehicle sitting in customs while you dig up more paperwork to support the modifications, it can quickly become an expensive proposition. That is why my advice is generally to do less things before you import the truck and save them for later, after its Stateside and licensed. That isn’t to say that you might not make all of the modifications you noted and then breeze through customs - it could happen. My point is only that you increase the risk of something getting held up. Again, there are no definitive rules for us to look to in order to dictate if things are okay (only some prior rulings, which you noted, that Customs has said are NOT OK). Sadly, I have no experience with military vehicles. As I have advised others, shoot Will Hedrick an email and get into the particulars as his experience is greater than mine and I relied on him to keep the process simple and pain free. Best, Greg
Greg great video lots of helpful advice I bought a land rover 110 and after a little while realized I had to replace the engine as it was completely worn out I am station here in Germany and will import in the next 3 to 4 years my question is in the video you mentioned not to change the engine does that mean not to upgrade the engine or is it change at all. As you know engines go bad anything over 20 something years old and if they weren't treated very well will fail I want to know if swapping out 1 TD5 engine for a nother TD 5 engine if that is acceptable
Troy, I encourage you to reach out to Will - the attorney I mention in the video because he is better able to outline the latest facts on your question. I believe you can replace your engine with the same engine type - but you also may be able to update your engine to one that is consistent with Defenders that are now importable - which could be a better engine since the Defender engines improved over time. I believe that if you put in an engine that is not yet importable (i.e., TD-5 not in Defenders that can be imported today) then you will have a problem getting it through Customs. Hope that helps - but check with Will.
Thank you for sharing, you are right. There is limited amount of useful tips on the topic, so thanks a lot. I'm interested in importing a Ford '48 from South America ( a Hot Rod). Do you know if I can import it if I remove the engine (Chevrolet)?
Brynja, I think you should be okay if that's the only change to the original vehicle but keep in mind, the more things that are changed then the less the vehicle fits into the classic car category. You should check with Will Hedrick - check Linkedin for his contact information - as he can tell you for sure if you will run into any issues. Good Luck.
Adam - IMHO Arkonik is one of the better importers and so you should be in good hands. They have been refurbishing Defenders for a long time and while they had a few issues very early on in the process (as did most importers) they seem to have long ago ironed out the quality control issues. They are one of the importers that I would point to as doing a full frame-off rebuild as opposed to a refresh. The frame-off rebuild uncovers and fixes any rust, frame, etc., issues where as the refresh only addresses the visible issues. Thus, a refresh is only as good as the existing state of the Defender whereas a rebuild can address any and all issues that might exist. This is also what drives the cost difference between the two - rebuilds are easily $100K+ whereas refreshes can be closer to $50K/60K for the base vehicle (not including importation). Good luck with your Defender - I still drive mine almost every day and still get people stopping me to ask about it.
Hi Greg, I'm curious: I've seen Defenders already in the US but still with foreign registration. Once in the country are they subject to scrutiny for originality for initial title/registration, or has that already passed and I don't have to worry any longer?
Jason, Unfortunately I am not sure what the right answer is. I am not sure why a Defender would not have the appropriate registration and I would worry that it was brought into the US improperly. While I haven't heard of anyone doing it, I could see someone driving a Defender across the border from Canada with a valid Canadian registration as if they were coming down for a visit and then "selling" the Defender to an American buyer. If the new owner tried to register the truck, the department of licensing would require the appropriate customs forms showing that the truck had been properly imported. If the owner didn't have those - then the truck would NOT be registered and would risk being impounded as an improperly imported truck. On the other hand, if the owner imported it properly and just never bothered to register it in their home state, then I expect the buyer would be able to register it once they bought it. I am not an attorney but I think you would want to see the import/customs paperwork to make sure the truck was properly imported. You should be able to check on your State's department of motor vehicles web site to see what forms they would require to register the truck and then make sure the seller has them and that they have all of the proper customs stamps. Best of Luck!
Raf - there are a number of buyers that start to talk about buying a truck with a shop (like Defenders Direct) in the UK but before they initiate the purchase, they fly over, check out the truck they are thinking about buying, check out the shop that is doing the work, etc. Others will contract with a shop in the UK, pay them some amount as a deposit but before the truck is shipped, they fly over and make sure everything is done up to their expectations, and then make the final payment. The challenge is that it is usually cheaper to have the restoration work done in the UK where there are lots of Defender parts available and experienced Defender mechanics and then after some amount of restoration is done (up to you how much), then have the truck shipped over. That means you have to decide when you want to fly over to check things out - early on before you send any money and hope they completed all the work you agreed for them to do .... or at the end, which means you had to pay them something up front (easily can be 75% of the total cost) and hope that they aren't going to do a crappy job that when you get over there to sign-off on the completed truck you have to argue and fight with them to redo work, etc. That is why I stress that working with someone you trust is REALLY important - the horror stories are out there and they are very real. Best of Luck!
Fantastic video! Question, I tried to reach west coast defender a number of times I don’t believe they are in business anymore. Does anyone have a reputable recommendation for a custom shop here on the west coast?
Anthony - unfortunately I have no ideas as West Coast Defender was it for a company dedicated to importing Defenders on the West Coast (some small shop operations around but nothing dedicated to Defenders that I have heard of). Realistically though you can ship a truck cross country for not much more than $1,000 and so I would focus on getting the right truck from a reputable seller anywhere in the US and then just have them ship it to you. Best of luck!
MC - Not sure but you can find Defenders for sale on European auction sites (gets you left hand drive) like Auto Scout "www.autoscout24.com/" and others. The prices are tempting, and certainly if you took a trip to Europe to pick the car up and then get it to the docks for shipment you could make sure the numbers matched, but obviously not without risk - best of luck.
Lo ranger - having them rebuilt should not be a problem but try to make sure that the numbers on the engine and transmission are not removed during the process. Also, I would keep the paperwork related to the rebuilds and take pictures of the numbers on them before you send them off or have the work done so that if the numbers are hard to read for any reason, you have both the receipts to show the work was done and the before pictures to show the numbers. While it shouldn't be a problem, taking a few minutes to gather and retain documentation related to the work can make your life easier later if someone questions them later. As always, you can reach out to Will if you have any concerns.
Hi Gregory Beams. I have another question. Could you restore your whole car, but keep the same frame, engine and gearbox and still be able to import that car to the us?
@@loranger6447 Depends on what you mean by restore. If you mean paint, refinish the seats, the interior, etc., then yes and I did a lot of that before I imported my Defender. If you mean change things out for upgraded seats, upgraded interiors, etc., then you get into more of a gray area. While I personally think you would still be okay, if you get a customs agent that is concerned because your Defender looks too new - then they could hold things up and you get into a little legal battle about what you did. Keep in mind, they are looking for people trying to import new Defenders as old Defenders and so the newer your Defender looks, the more likely they are to become suspicious, even though you are following the rules. If you are going to update pieces of the Defender, then I would have you reach out to Will just to talk about what you are doing and he can advise you on any potential pitfalls - he is more current on how Customs is approaching Defenders these days. Best of luck.
Mac 10 - I suspect you can, assuming you are asking about importing a 25 year old and older Defender without the engine and gearbox, but I am not certain - send a message to Will Hedrick and ask him as he probably knows more about importing incomplete vehicles. I know that Customs gets concerned if someone tries to import newer Defender parts (less than 25 years old) and at some point the parts becomes a vehicle and they deny it, but otherwise I suspect you will be fine but check with Will.
Ron, I didn't care too much where the Defender came from as long as it was in good shape (little to no rust, matching numbers, solid exterior, etc.). My main focus was on identifying someone I could trust to source the vehicle, someone who wasn't going to take my money and ship me a rust-bucket. My Defender came from France and the seller provided me the French license plates - just for fun. I would have no problem getting one from South Africa. BTW - as expected, the import laws apply all the same regardless of where the Defender is sourced from. Best of Luck, Greg
Cameron - I don't. As I indicate in the video, I used Will Hedrick, an experienced lawyer with experience importing Land Rover defenders, to coordinate the forms with the seller in the UK and to handle all of the communications with customs at the port of entry. He was very reasonable, communicated thoroughly with me throughout the process and everything went extremely smoothly. BTW it was much cheaper for me to ship the defender to Baltimore and then have it trucked across the Country to my home on the West Coast. Will coordinated all of that effort as part of his fee. If I would have tried to do it myself, the additional cost of shipping the defender to the West Coast would have been more than I paid Will to manage it for me. It also matters which port you bring your defender into since some (like Baltimore) have more experience with Defenders and so are quicker to recognize that everything is on the "up and up". My defender was out of customs in a week. If you ship it to a port with less experience, they may take multiple weeks before they are satisfied that everything is as it should be. Best of luck.
Ed, I have seen it talked about on the forums - you can see a long thread about putting a Cummins into a Defender here "nas-row.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18" - but it wasn't something I considered because I needed more horsepower than the Cummins produced. If you go that route then obviously you will want someone that has dropped a Cummins into a Defender before so you aren't paying for their learning curve. I had a Range Rover 4.6L V8 dropped into my 110 and I couldn't be happier. I wanted to keep the engine within the Rover family so that I could continue to use my Land Rover mechanic. While you can always switch to a mechanic that is familiar with Cummins engines, Defenders have so many quirks and idiosyncrasies that I wanted to keep with my same mechanic (he did the engine swap for me and was able to effectively mate up everything flawlessly). Check out the discussion thread above, it looked like it contained a lot of good information from others that were thinking about the Cummins r2.8 for their Defenders. Best of luck, Greg
Hello Greg, I have been asked by a good mate in the U.S. to get him a decent condition 110 Left Hand Drive Defender. It's not too hard, but after watching both of your Video. I am left with a question. After successfully Importing a 25 year 110 Utility (3 Door) Vehicle, would my mate be able to Legally change it in to the more desirable 110 County Station Wagon (5 Door) Defender? Thank you for a very informative Video.
Tony, You should check with Will Hedrick, the attorney I highlight in my video and links herein to make sure but my understanding is that once the vehicle is in the US and properly licensed, your friend can modify it any way he chooses. The challenge on a modification of that type is simply the cost of modifying the body, obtaining the doors, parts, etc. There are much fewer parts easily accessible in the States and so every little part will need to be purchased or imported. There are no quick trips to the parts store or the “junk yard” to source parts and so the larger, less common modifications can be much more painful and costly than they would be in the UK where a quick trip to the parts store can solve a simple need. Best of luck!
Hello Greg, thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me. I will get in touch with Will. I would like to ask him if Galvanising the frame before shipping is a good idea. I Have already sourced a Rear Station Wagon Tub, B. Post's, Second Row Doors and many small parts. Thank you again Greg.
Many thanks Greg, I`m a brit all my life, and had a 1991 200 TDi for 10 years as my daily driver, and trust me I know my Diesel Landrovers, mine was correctly set up after a cam belt change as i made all my own setting tools for the all important diesel pump Injection timing and It WOULD DO 90 Mph and not slow at all.. you CAN make modifications simply to the diesel pump but I never done that just left It stock but did adjust the turbo boost actuator slightly to make it come on to turbo boost slightly quicker.. The engine was so oil tight its engine pan went rusty on its OUTSIDE even at 240.000 MILES when I sold it after 10 happy years as I became disabled and the "mans clutch" became too heavy it heavy traffic, I was gutted to sell It, believe me, but the guy who purchased It had a barn full Of early discoveries and said after his 5 hour drive home, it was the best early discovery he has ever driven so made me feel a bit better.. In the end I purchased a freelander 1 with its BMW engine but all important auto gear box, but was supposed to buy a TD5 auto box but the seller let me down so on the way home saw this shiny freelander in black, side steps, HSE edition interior complete with a FBH (fuel burning heater) for easy cold starts (dont really need it living right on the coast) but its comfy, quiet, easy to drive, but TBH I`m looking for an immaculate Discovery TD5 that all have rotten swiss cheese chassis (have welder - can fix) -lol/ Am 72 years old but love to keep active If I can/ thanks for your videos as many Americans have never heard of REAL defenders and think they are like the latest "Car" with a Landrover Badge on piece of cr*p, so its about time someone put them right with FACTS, you have now done this.. Thanks again, Ian.. North Essex Coast - UK.
Excellent video Gregory! Hopefully people that want to jump through the hoops to import one will stumble across your video.
Ever since I layed eyes on one, I have fallen in love with it and is the only truck I prefer, nothing else will do and being in the US has become a curse of somewhat that I can not get one or have to buy one here that is priced so so very high, aha, I will eventually do what you did, just scary. I have noted the sites and points you made, PS I also love the classes mini cooper!
So I wonder if the 3 thumbs down are from: east coast, west coast, and homeland security.
Thanks, Greg, very useful video do you have links for the references you provided?
Great presentation on the import of the defender, the price of airline tickets to Europe are pretty cheap to go and inspect these rovers , I think that is the best way to find a good one, I owned a 68 series IIA rebuilt a 2.5 Diesel engine for it and had a overdrive, talk about slow on the highway that was slow!,
Once again a cracking video chap! Really helpful and insightful 😊
thanks for sharing your experience and expertise!
Thank you very much for taking the time to make this video and do it so well. This was extremely useful! Thank you.
Greg thanks for the info. Im importing a 81 series 3. This was very helpful
Thanks Greg! Very helpful!
Thank You!! This info was super helpful. Seriously thinking about importing a D90 as a fun project.
great video..Im in Canada any advice for that thats different. I want to import one from Holland or Germany
Bulletproof - The importation laws are Country specific and so you will have to start from scratch in terms of how the Canadian laws are structured. It would be great if they were based on the US laws but I have no idea if that’s the case. Canadian law allows you to import a newer truck under their laws - something like 11 years or older rather than 25 years or older per the US laws. I have seen some newer Defenders advertised on EBay from Canada that would not qualify for importation into the US because they are too new per the US laws but that is about the extent of my knowledge. Good Luck and I am envious that you can import a newer truck than we can in the states!
Gregory Beams yes 15 years it has to be so I'm looking for a 2001 or 2002 I just love the iconic defender..I own the range rover autobiography but as I get older I'm liking the primitive stuff lol
Many thanks for your input, very useful
Thanks for doing this sir thanks for
No doubt, there are many fans here of Land Rover Defender. Please help us to introduce us to the trusted locations from which we can buy Land Rover.
Greg,
Great job on your video. I would have liked to see the costs associated with buying your defender and links or form names, for the import application, however, that isn't a big deal. What is interesting is that a far greater threat to the US is the EXPORT of stolen vehicles or vehicles obtained through bank fraud, that have had their VIN numbers swapped. Another slightly vintage pop culture reference that might help is the scene in Rain Man, where Tom Cruises character is trying to import exotic autos that don't make it past customs because they are held up over emissions.
Thanks again for the great content. I w
Daniel - thanks for the comments. I will take a look at the costs of the pieces of the import process - attorney fees, import duties, shipping, etc., and see if I can put something together. I agree that would be helpful for folks to get an idea of the costs because it can add up. Liked your Rain Man reference! I had forgotten that he had emission issues - which is funny because under the antique car import regs, there are no emission requirements. I didn't have to pass any emissions checks, safety requirements, air bag requirements (Defenders don't have them), nothing, and so I assume Tom Cruise was importing vehicles under the normal importation rules - and not the 25+ antique car exceptions? But hey, it's Hollywood!
Best,
Greg
Sorry about the links - here are the full links that wouldn't fit in the video:
East Coast Defenders: "eastcoastdefender.com"
West Coast Defender: "facebook.com/westcoastdefender/"
William Hedrick "www.linkedin.com/in/william-m-hedrick-4a014233"
Customs Import Regulations "help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/278/~/importing-classic-or-antique-vehicles-%2F-cars-for-personal-use"
Defenders Source - forum about Defenders: "www.defendersource.com"
Hope that helps - cheers!
Great information! Thank you! Are you from Seattle? I would love to check out your Defender in person. Also spotted one Defender overseas that I'd like to import, so would like to meet up if possible and discuss.
Hi Greg, great video. I've just bought a 300 tdi and it is sitting in the U.K. for the next year until it reaches 25 yrs of age. I personally bought it myself and the engine serial number and VINs all match the log book. The mail gear box and transfer gear box are also original. Do you know if Customs goes as far as to check the serial number on the axles? Was this part of your import paperwork? Thanks, Chris
Do you think these import laws are justified, and well intentioned?
As far as I know, in the UK, you can import and run anything that's roadworthy.
I think it only made sense in terms of the airbag requirements being broadly applied to reduce automobile deaths and the US Government taking a “one size fits all” approach and since Defenders didn’t have airbags then they were banned from the US for that reason. Having said that, Defenders, because of their size and construction, are much safer than many of the small “tin can” vehicles on the road at that time and still today that have airbags. If we want to focus solely on the safety factor then it starts to make a lot less sense to keep Defenders out of the Country.
we have these Land Rover in Colombia they are there like rice, and you can get one for 500 usd.
Those are the Santana’s though. Very nice and practically the same, but Spanish made versus UK.
Hi Greg, thanks for the very informative videos. Quick question, what if the overseas truck has been fitted with a replacement engine or gearbox that is the same specs as the original. Would that fall under the modification clause?
Thanks for the comment. I believe if the replacement parts are of the same specs as the original, then you will be okay but you should reach out to Will Hedrick (see my other responses for a link to his contact info) to make sure - he is an attorney that works with imports and can validate if you are okay.
Hi Greg. Excellent videos. Many thanks for sharing your experiences.
(1) My friend in the US wishes to purchase a Defender and has asked me to to look out for him. I understand the basic conditions that it has to be an unmodified vehicle at least 25 years old. Clearly the engine, the chassis (frame), and gearbox, must be at least that age, to avoid the regulation compliance that exists for more modern vehicles, and there can't be other major changes like switching over from RHD or altering the original basic body style from when it left the factory.
But what about changes or mods to less significant items? I'm thinking about things like the wheels, the interior, such as upgrading to more modern seats, or changes to the dashboard instruments and panel layout, having additional exterior spot lamps, installation of a breather snorkel, changes to the main lamps and front grill and so on. Do you have any advise or comments about these more minor changes, based on your experience or knowledge?
(2) Another thing I noticed is that there are a number of ex- UK military spec. Land Rovers in original factory configuration for sale to private owners. Can I assume that they would be acceptable for US import based on the fact these are original spec (albeit UK military) and over 25 years old?
I'd really very much appreciate your feedback on both these 2 points.
Thanks and regards, Bob.
Bob,
Great questions. The challenge becomes that the cosmetic things that you are describing, for the most part SHOULD be OK, but the problem becomes that there isn’t a set of hard and fast rules that I am aware of that you can point to that dictates that this particular mod is okay, while this other mod is not. A lot depends on which port your Defender comes through and their familiarity with Defenders. The more mods you make then the more modern the vehicle appears, which can then result in more questions/concerns from customs because they become more worried that you are trying to import a newer Defender. If you have also replaced the tranny or engine, even with a period correct replacement, they are more likely to hold the vehicle. If you consider the costs of your vehicle sitting in customs while you dig up more paperwork to support the modifications, it can quickly become an expensive proposition. That is why my advice is generally to do less things before you import the truck and save them for later, after its Stateside and licensed. That isn’t to say that you might not make all of the modifications you noted and then breeze through customs - it could happen. My point is only that you increase the risk of something getting held up. Again, there are no definitive rules for us to look to in order to dictate if things are okay (only some prior rulings, which you noted, that Customs has said are NOT OK).
Sadly, I have no experience with military vehicles. As I have advised others, shoot Will Hedrick an email and get into the particulars as his experience is greater than mine and I relied on him to keep the process simple and pain free.
Best,
Greg
Hi Greg,
I really appreciate your fast response and your thoughts and comments. It is definitely very helpful.
Best regards
Bob
Hi Greg, can you please advise me on how much Tax or any other Expenses i have to pay once the vehicle has arived into the US - Miami in a container?
many thanks great advise
Super helpful video. Only one question, once you purchase the rover in the UK what is the cost to get it from there to your home?
Good from south africa love them her too
Greg great video lots of helpful advice I bought a land rover 110 and after a little while realized I had to replace the engine as it was completely worn out I am station here in Germany and will import in the next 3 to 4 years my question is in the video you mentioned not to change the engine does that mean not to upgrade the engine or is it change at all. As you know engines go bad anything over 20 something years old and if they weren't treated very well will fail I want to know if swapping out 1 TD5 engine for a nother TD 5 engine if that is acceptable
Troy, I encourage you to reach out to Will - the attorney I mention in the video because he is better able to outline the latest facts on your question. I believe you can replace your engine with the same engine type - but you also may be able to update your engine to one that is consistent with Defenders that are now importable - which could be a better engine since the Defender engines improved over time. I believe that if you put in an engine that is not yet importable (i.e., TD-5 not in Defenders that can be imported today) then you will have a problem getting it through Customs. Hope that helps - but check with Will.
Thank you for sharing, you are right. There is limited amount of useful tips on the topic, so thanks a lot. I'm interested in importing a Ford '48 from South America ( a Hot Rod). Do you know if I can import it if I remove the engine (Chevrolet)?
Brynja, I think you should be okay if that's the only change to the original vehicle but keep in mind, the more things that are changed then the less the vehicle fits into the classic car category. You should check with Will Hedrick - check Linkedin for his contact information - as he can tell you for sure if you will run into any issues. Good Luck.
Hey Greg! I saw a image at the beginning of the video of Arkonik land rovers. That's who I am working with right now. What do you know about them?
Adam - IMHO Arkonik is one of the better importers and so you should be in good hands. They have been refurbishing Defenders for a long time and while they had a few issues very early on in the process (as did most importers) they seem to have long ago ironed out the quality control issues. They are one of the importers that I would point to as doing a full frame-off rebuild as opposed to a refresh. The frame-off rebuild uncovers and fixes any rust, frame, etc., issues where as the refresh only addresses the visible issues. Thus, a refresh is only as good as the existing state of the Defender whereas a rebuild can address any and all issues that might exist. This is also what drives the cost difference between the two - rebuilds are easily $100K+ whereas refreshes can be closer to $50K/60K for the base vehicle (not including importation). Good luck with your Defender - I still drive mine almost every day and still get people stopping me to ask about it.
the shortened url links do no good. And the other websites listed have DNS errors. Thanks for trying though.
Hi Greg, I'm curious: I've seen Defenders already in the US but still with foreign registration. Once in the country are they subject to scrutiny for originality for initial title/registration, or has that already passed and I don't have to worry any longer?
Jason,
Unfortunately I am not sure what the right answer is. I am not sure why a Defender would not have the appropriate registration and I would worry that it was brought into the US improperly. While I haven't heard of anyone doing it, I could see someone driving a Defender across the border from Canada with a valid Canadian registration as if they were coming down for a visit and then "selling" the Defender to an American buyer. If the new owner tried to register the truck, the department of licensing would require the appropriate customs forms showing that the truck had been properly imported. If the owner didn't have those - then the truck would NOT be registered and would risk being impounded as an improperly imported truck. On the other hand, if the owner imported it properly and just never bothered to register it in their home state, then I expect the buyer would be able to register it once they bought it. I am not an attorney but I think you would want to see the import/customs paperwork to make sure the truck was properly imported. You should be able to check on your State's department of motor vehicles web site to see what forms they would require to register the truck and then make sure the seller has them and that they have all of the proper customs stamps. Best of Luck!
What if you want to travel to the UK and check things out for yourself, and then import... I'm assuming that would be a lot easier right?
Raf - there are a number of buyers that start to talk about buying a truck with a shop (like Defenders Direct) in the UK but before they initiate the purchase, they fly over, check out the truck they are thinking about buying, check out the shop that is doing the work, etc. Others will contract with a shop in the UK, pay them some amount as a deposit but before the truck is shipped, they fly over and make sure everything is done up to their expectations, and then make the final payment. The challenge is that it is usually cheaper to have the restoration work done in the UK where there are lots of Defender parts available and experienced Defender mechanics and then after some amount of restoration is done (up to you how much), then have the truck shipped over. That means you have to decide when you want to fly over to check things out - early on before you send any money and hope they completed all the work you agreed for them to do .... or at the end, which means you had to pay them something up front (easily can be 75% of the total cost) and hope that they aren't going to do a crappy job that when you get over there to sign-off on the completed truck you have to argue and fight with them to redo work, etc. That is why I stress that working with someone you trust is REALLY important - the horror stories are out there and they are very real. Best of Luck!
@@beamsgr Thanks!
Fantastic video! Question, I tried to reach west coast defender a number of times I don’t believe they are in business anymore. Does anyone have a reputable recommendation for a custom shop here on the west coast?
Anthony - unfortunately I have no ideas as West Coast Defender was it for a company dedicated to importing Defenders on the West Coast (some small shop operations around but nothing dedicated to Defenders that I have heard of). Realistically though you can ship a truck cross country for not much more than $1,000 and so I would focus on getting the right truck from a reputable seller anywhere in the US and then just have them ship it to you. Best of luck!
What's the site that you show at 6:25?
MC - Not sure but you can find Defenders for sale on European auction sites (gets you left hand drive) like Auto Scout "www.autoscout24.com/" and others. The prices are tempting, and certainly if you took a trip to Europe to pick the car up and then get it to the docks for shipment you could make sure the numbers matched, but obviously not without risk - best of luck.
If you rebuilt the engine or transmission, but not replaced it. Could the car still be imported to the USA?
Lo ranger - having them rebuilt should not be a problem but try to make sure that the numbers on the engine and transmission are not removed during the process. Also, I would keep the paperwork related to the rebuilds and take pictures of the numbers on them before you send them off or have the work done so that if the numbers are hard to read for any reason, you have both the receipts to show the work was done and the before pictures to show the numbers. While it shouldn't be a problem, taking a few minutes to gather and retain documentation related to the work can make your life easier later if someone questions them later. As always, you can reach out to Will if you have any concerns.
Gregory Beams thank you so much!😁
Hi Gregory Beams. I have another question. Could you restore your whole car, but keep the same frame, engine and gearbox and still be able to import that car to the us?
@@loranger6447 Depends on what you mean by restore. If you mean paint, refinish the seats, the interior, etc., then yes and I did a lot of that before I imported my Defender. If you mean change things out for upgraded seats, upgraded interiors, etc., then you get into more of a gray area. While I personally think you would still be okay, if you get a customs agent that is concerned because your Defender looks too new - then they could hold things up and you get into a little legal battle about what you did. Keep in mind, they are looking for people trying to import new Defenders as old Defenders and so the newer your Defender looks, the more likely they are to become suspicious, even though you are following the rules. If you are going to update pieces of the Defender, then I would have you reach out to Will just to talk about what you are doing and he can advise you on any potential pitfalls - he is more current on how Customs is approaching Defenders these days. Best of luck.
Hey, can I import a defender into the US without an engine and gearbox?
Mac 10 - I suspect you can, assuming you are asking about importing a 25 year old and older Defender without the engine and gearbox, but I am not certain - send a message to Will Hedrick and ask him as he probably knows more about importing incomplete vehicles. I know that Customs gets concerned if someone tries to import newer Defender parts (less than 25 years old) and at some point the parts becomes a vehicle and they deny it, but otherwise I suspect you will be fine but check with Will.
Did you ever consider importing from South Africa? Any opinions?
Ron,
I didn't care too much where the Defender came from as long as it was in good shape (little to no rust, matching numbers, solid exterior, etc.). My main focus was on identifying someone I could trust to source the vehicle, someone who wasn't going to take my money and ship me a rust-bucket. My Defender came from France and the seller provided me the French license plates - just for fun. I would have no problem getting one from South Africa.
BTW - as expected, the import laws apply all the same regardless of where the Defender is sourced from.
Best of Luck,
Greg
Do you have much experience with which forms must be completed to get it through US customs?
Cameron - I don't. As I indicate in the video, I used Will Hedrick, an experienced lawyer with experience importing Land Rover defenders, to coordinate the forms with the seller in the UK and to handle all of the communications with customs at the port of entry. He was very reasonable, communicated thoroughly with me throughout the process and everything went extremely smoothly. BTW it was much cheaper for me to ship the defender to Baltimore and then have it trucked across the Country to my home on the West Coast. Will coordinated all of that effort as part of his fee. If I would have tried to do it myself, the additional cost of shipping the defender to the West Coast would have been more than I paid Will to manage it for me. It also matters which port you bring your defender into since some (like Baltimore) have more experience with Defenders and so are quicker to recognize that everything is on the "up and up". My defender was out of customs in a week. If you ship it to a port with less experience, they may take multiple weeks before they are satisfied that everything is as it should be. Best of luck.
What are your thoughts for a defender, engine swap to a Cummins r2.8 diesel
Ed, I have seen it talked about on the forums - you can see a long thread about putting a Cummins into a Defender here "nas-row.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18" - but it wasn't something I considered because I needed more horsepower than the Cummins produced. If you go that route then obviously you will want someone that has dropped a Cummins into a Defender before so you aren't paying for their learning curve. I had a Range Rover 4.6L V8 dropped into my 110 and I couldn't be happier. I wanted to keep the engine within the Rover family so that I could continue to use my Land Rover mechanic. While you can always switch to a mechanic that is familiar with Cummins engines, Defenders have so many quirks and idiosyncrasies that I wanted to keep with my same mechanic (he did the engine swap for me and was able to effectively mate up everything flawlessly). Check out the discussion thread above, it looked like it contained a lot of good information from others that were thinking about the Cummins r2.8 for their Defenders. Best of luck, Greg
Hi Greg
I’m here in the Uk
If you want another contact this side of the pond who’s a defender nut feel free to message me
what part of the uk are you in? looking to import to canada
Hello Greg, I have been asked by a good mate in the U.S. to get him a decent condition 110 Left Hand Drive Defender. It's not too hard, but after watching both of your Video. I am left with a question. After successfully Importing a 25 year 110 Utility (3 Door) Vehicle, would my mate be able to Legally change it in to the more desirable 110 County Station Wagon (5 Door) Defender? Thank you for a very informative Video.
Tony, You should check with Will Hedrick, the attorney I highlight in my video and links herein to make sure but my understanding is that once the vehicle is in the US and properly licensed, your friend can modify it any way he chooses. The challenge on a modification of that type is simply the cost of modifying the body, obtaining the doors, parts, etc. There are much fewer parts easily accessible in the States and so every little part will need to be purchased or imported. There are no quick trips to the parts store or the “junk yard” to source parts and so the larger, less common modifications can be much more painful and costly than they would be in the UK where a quick trip to the parts store can solve a simple need. Best of luck!
Hello Greg, thank you so much for taking the time to reply to me. I will get in touch with Will. I would like to ask him if Galvanising the frame before shipping is a good idea. I Have already sourced a Rear Station Wagon Tub, B. Post's, Second Row Doors and many small parts. Thank you again Greg.