Shipping from US to UK

[jdnathan]

Hi guys, I am in the process of shipping my vette from the US to the UK - the seller in the US I believe told me everything I should know, and I ran through a list of questions from this forum.

It's arrived at the ship my car premises here in the UK, and they have done an MOT - and the following issues are showing:


Ship my car seem quite keen to do the DVLA registration and the work - which gives me odd vibes...

Given the car looks pretty solid when I bought it: That’s the car; 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

Any everyone I speak to, says "These guys make money by failing it"

Has anyone ever used them? And any advice on the MOT/DVLA stuff?

 

[Roscobbc]

Hi guys, I am in the process of shipping my vette from the US to the UK - the seller in the US I believe told me everything I should know, and I ran through a list of questions from this forum.

It's arrived at the ship my car premises here in the UK, and they have done an MOT - and the following issues are showing:
View attachment 30299

Ship my car seem quite keen to do the DVLA registration and the work - which gives me odd vibes...

Given the car looks pretty solid when I bought it: That’s the car; 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe

Any everyone I speak to, says "These guys make money by failing it"

Has anyone ever used them? And any advice on the MOT/DVLA stuff?

C3 parking brake.........at a size you'd expect to see on a moped they are close to useless......especially on a automatic vehicle where people simply don't use them (sticking tx in 'park') - given the're not used they rust-up, shoes crack-up..........useless. Answer will be new shoes and internal components plus a new brake cable. Having said all that one should never take a C3 to an MOT station that hasn't ever tested a C3 and knows how bad they are. If in good order or re-newed they are reasonable if adjusted properly.
Number plate light and windscreen washer can be addressed conventionally.
Red rear indicators.......rear back-up lights cab accept amber bulbs and re-wired for use as indicators.......common conversion.
Steering column - don't know - perhaps tester being 'picky'
Wheel bearing - hoprfully simply adjustment needed.
Integral body structure corroded etc etc..........sounds like a load of cobblers tbh.
I've noticed with many MOT failure of notifications the same terminology being used systematically by MOT stations......its almost that they are trying to proved to the DVLA that they are being fastidious in their work when in reality there is nothing actually wrong.
It re-inforces the fact that you need to take the car to someone who knows C3 Corvettes and really understands some of the differences with American cars.
Where in the UK are you?

 

[jdnathan]

Kinda what I was thinking.

These are the guys that are importing my car, so not sure on the MOT quality - but not getting good vibes so far…

Based in Richmond, Surrey.

 

[Roscobbc]

Feel like doing it all yourself?

 

[jdnathan]

I’ve got the time, just not the know-how!

 

[Oneball]

You don’t need an MOT to register a car made/first used in 1973. As for what us actually safe/wrong I want to see it myself rather than trust them.

 

[Mad4slalom]

You don’t need an MOT to register a car made/first used in 1973. As for what us actually safe/wrong I want to see it myself rather than trust them.

Same as oneball, I would get it home and registered , insure it and use it with no mot, ( perfectly legal) to do some shakedown runs to find your way around the car. Tackle the parking brake , maybe adjustment or new stainless parts and new shoes etc. then make a list of things to do and which you can or cant handle At least you are not in the hands of a garage and with no control over runaway charges. Enjoy your new purchase, it will be one of the best choices you ever made. Nothing cant be fixed, ask Tim P. .

 

[jdnathan]

Appreciate that guys. So I asked Ship My Car for images of the things that they listed on the MOT as failures - pretty amusing that as soon as I ask for images, I get this from one of their staff members:



They have now sent me a price - to investigate the work - even though that's already been done - clearly for the MOT, having previously stated this:



And since sent me prices to 'investigate' the work...really starting to think that this is a money making operation!!

This is the email from the previous owner too!



Anyone planning to use Ship My Car, please do your own research!!

 

[CaptainK]

My car came in via Ship My Car too, and it failed on MOT too with lots of little bits - lights, washer not working, rear parking brake etc. I mentioned it to the seller and they seemed surprised. Didn't think much of it at the time as the seller could have just been fobbing me off too.

The rear parking brake is 100% correct though - they just are rubbish in C3s. I've had it adjusted for MOT passes before, but it generally just means the brakes bind. Some MOT people are happy to pass rubbish C3 parking brakes when its an automatic, because when parked you would be in PARK. So that also keeps the car still. But in a manual you might not be left in a gear, so they fail it - even though I always leave it in gear as mine is a manual.

 

[Oneball]

If they’ve performed an actual MOT on it and it’s failed you will have to get a pass on it now.

 

[Mad4slalom]

If they’ve performed an actual MOT on it and it’s failed you will have to get a pass on it now.

Yes , I guess that is correct because although due to it’s age it does not require an mot test, that does not mean you can drive it around in an unroadworthy condition. Definitely sounds like they could be milking the job for as much as possible. I would want it back and sort it myself or by someone I know. Frustrating but you will get there then it will all be water under the bridge and you will be cruising around cheshire cat style