Classic Cars Shipped Abroad

[Guest richpete1031]

Hello Everyone:

It's Rich again. If anyone read my last forum thread (http://forums.aaca.org/f169/info-needed-55-ford-country-squire-383597.html), I have been searching for my father's 1955 Ford Country Squire. I received some information from a friend of mine who stated that it was common for classic cars to be shipped to Mexico (in the 1960s and '70s), and other nations. Does anyone know anything about this. Does anyone know where to find records of these type of transactions? Thanks!

[Guest Gary Hearn]

I have heard that Belize is often the destination for stolen cars, but know nothing of an older car migration to Mexico. If it is true, it is probably nothing moe than simple economics.

[JACK M]

Our US dollars are not worth much on the world market in the recent past. Unfortunately this make foreign buyers pretty good deals on our popular American iron.

I have to admit that if I am coming out well on a deal to some guy in Germany or The Netherlands I have to go for it. I hate to do it but its simple economics.

I have often wondered what ever became of some of my favorite cars, But I like to think that someone loves them and they all have good homes.

[Spinneyhill]

There is a regular flow of cars arriving in NZ from USA. Most seem to be '50s and '60s. A significant proportion of our restored cars have been shipped out of the country, to Japan, to Oz, to UK, to USA and so on.

I amagine the only record will be when the vehicle is de-licensed before shipping, if they were licensed. Cars shipped from the junk (= storage) yards in the dry west of the USA will not be licensed any more so the only record will be any export documentation plus any import documentation and licensing in country of arrival.

Maybe there are searchable records at your state vehicle registries?

[Guest richpete1031]

Maybe there are searchable records at your state vehicle registries?

Thanks a lot for your info (and everyone else too!). I would assume that if the car was shipped, it was shipped from CA, not from Indiana where I live. This is an avenue to pursue. Thanks again! Merry Christmas!

[1939_Buick]

There is a regular flow of cars arriving in NZ from USA. Most seem to be '50s and '60s. A significant proportion of our restored cars have been shipped out of the country, to Japan, to Oz, to UK, to USA and so on

The flow of cars from country to country is very dependant on the currency exchange rate.

Today $1.00 AUD = $0.82 US. Not that long ago $1.00 AUD = $1.05 US. That's a ~25% difference

[Guest AlCapone]

the chance of locating any export records is very remote unless it was in an era where the United States required an export permit. Having said that if is highly unlikely that the U.S. Government would relinquish the information. Wayne

[Guest buickkuhn]

My uncle ships stuff in a large freight container to Africa about every 10 years or so . When they make up the contents list (for example he had a smaller CAT road grader disassembled ) It said front left tractor steer assembly , right tractor steer assembly , 12' belly blade , 4 tires and rims including hubs , and ect. The thing I thought was funny is that if it doesn't raise a flag at any time to be checked all he has to do is pay the tax on the amount the contents are worth when it gets to port in Africa. Everything has to be used though , new items have to be registered with port and he pays hefty tax then . This was about 12 years ago that I am speaking of so times may have changed some , but those containers are large and with shelving can hold a lot of cars .