Buying Locally vs Buying from USA

[rameilb]

Hi All,

1. 1967 Mustang Fastback 302, Asking $35,000 USD
2. 1968 Mustang Fastback 347 Stroker, Asking $38,000 USD
3. 1970 Mach1 Mustang, seller asking $24,900
4. 1969 Mach 1 351W, Asking $28,000 USD
5. 1966 Shelby Hertz clone, seller asking $29,900

Now I understand the info above is not exactly detailed, but generally or approximately speaking, how much would I be looking at paying for similar cars here in Australia if I was to buy locally?

The above are all listed on Shermatt America's facebook page.

Regards,

Rameil
 

[derwin66]

Remember to add his fees and import costs.  With the Australian dollar taking a bit of a dive I would be looking here first.  Failing that go to the USA yourself for two weeks and have a look.

[67FBGT]

Well make a study of it.
Convert the US$ to AUS$, add shipping & insurance, port costs, GST on all that, on-road costs here which will require a few mods for compliance, then see what you end up with. Not as cheap as the US$ makes it appear like in your list.
And that's buying sight-unseen.
Then compare with cars already registered on-road here.
Every car is different, but you just have to try & compare apples with apples the best you can.
Hardtops will command a certain range of prices, as will CVs, & FBs, depending on year, engine, options, if GT, then of course condition as per any old car.

[VELLIN]

Check the local stuff here mate

http://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/search/type-cars/subtype-unique+cars/make-ford/model-mustang

[rameilb]

Thanks Vellin, thats a great site.

I'm really keen on a 70 Mach 1, and looking at the numbers, with the US $ against the AUS and shipping, I am thinking I'd probably only save around 10k if I bought in the US.

I am going to the States next year for a holiday (plus I have family over there) so inspecting the car won't be an issue. I guess part of me wants to go through the importing process just as much as I want the car.

I'll check out that website, hopefully I find something there.

Thanks again for the info.

Rameil

[IGALOP]

That $35k US sell price would equate to somewhere around $48-$55k here in Oz. Possibly more and sight unseen for most ?????????????? Just actual shipping alone is US $3 1/2+ K. There have been many, many disasters where inexperienced buyers trust the pics and reports from unknown and/or shady American sources keen to divest their cars.
Do contact Shermatt, of Florida USA ! (Personally I would always look locally as well). However, Shermatt are well known to most on this forum and have a very good image/record of sending good cars at fair prices to Oz.
Maybe check out Mustangs of Melbourne, Just Mustangs and interstate options too. Do your due diligence and lots of homework. Don't trust unknown or questionable sources. View the car or have someone trustworthy do that for you with as much info as you can get.
Remember if it looks like a huge, unbelievable bargain - steer clear!

[rameilb]

opinions on the below?

http://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/detail/cars/unique-cars/ford/mustang/3957

[mustang_talk]

Good looking car. 

[Tang67]

Check the Mustangs Of Melbourne website - he's got a 1969 Fastback for sale: $30K

[GLENN 70]

Good fastbacks in the USA  go between $25,000 to $35,000 on the average ,then up from that for more collectible models . Prices here well who knows you have all the costs on from those prices , dollar difference , freight ,customs charges ,GST , on road costs etc etc .

[BAC]

1970 Mach1 Mustang, seller asking $24,900

Having just been through this process with my '69 Mach 1 fastback, I might be able to help you out with a rough idea on the cost of importing the above US car:

Starting price: $25K
US road transport: $0.5K (varies by distance from port)
Ocean freight: $1.5K
Marine insurance: $0.5K

Sub total: $27.5K, converted to AUD @0.84 = $32.7K

GST: $3.3K
Local Customs broker: $1.5K

Total: $37.5K AUD

And that number doesn't include any fees for Shermatt or whichever US based agent you may choose. 

So not a cheap exercise, but you should know what you're in for!

[67FBGT]

So in BAC's case you'd take the US dollars & add 50% as a minimum.

[BAC]

So in BAC's case you'd take the US dollars & add 50% as a minimum.

About right for a USD $25K car with the exchange rate at 84c to the dollar.  Will be less if/when the exchange rate picks up again.

The other thing to remember is most  components of the import cost are fixed, so it gets cheaper percentage-wise with higher priced vehicles.

[67FBGT]

Well that's true, it's all proportional.
Once the landed value of the imported car gets to, roughly, I think it's about $67K, then luxury car tax kicks in as well. No fun for Shelby buyers.
You just need to do your homework & best have some contingency money set aside for unforeseen costs.

[StephenSLR]

about $67K, then luxury car tax kicks in as well.

The luxury tax applies only to the amount above 67k.

i.e.

If the landed cost is 68k, you pay regular tax on 67k and luxury tax on 1k.

s

[boss69hogg]

My personal advice is not to buy from the US. I have done that twice. - having both cars inspected before purchase. No names as to who had done the inspections, but is still ended up forking out more than $2k in additional repairs required before I could get a blue slip for rego. Unless I can physically see the car, I'm no longer interested.

[GLENN 70]

  if you can't see,touch, drive the car Forget it .  I know there are happy endings but wow there are a lot more unhappy endings .  Shermatt maybe the only hope . God bless the Aussies in the USA . 

[Rock65]

Remeil, There are plenty of good cars in OZ. Speaking from experience by your car here. Posters.... please do not suggest companies in the USA unless you have personal experience.

[StephenSLR]

still ended up forking out more than $2k in additional repairs required before I could get a blue slip for rego.

^ Not uncommon to spend that kind of coin on a second hand car; even the ones with rego can have some hidden surprises.

s

[BAC]

One thing I would say in support of buying from the USA is there is sooooo much more choice.  E.g. at any one time there are perhaps 30 odd '69 Mach 1s available for sale in Oz.  Maybe 6 of those are located in Vic and of those maybe 2 or 3 are in the Melb metro area.  If I want to see/feel/drive any of the other 27 I have to either jump in the car and take a substantial drive and/or hop on a plane, so not that convenient either.  Also in Oz it's a bit of a seller's market and you are unlikely to score a real bargain.

In the USA, there would be literally hundreds of the same type of car available across the country at any given time - some wrecks, some rust buckets but also some genuine bargains if you are diligent and/or lucky enough.  However, I do take the point about buying something sight unseen, even if it has been inspected by an agent.  I went this way and was lucky that the car turned out to be pretty much as advertised but it could very easily have gone sour.

If I had my time again, I would do as some others have suggested and line up a dozen or so prospects then fly over to the US for a couple of weeks and check them out in person.  By the time you either pay an agent to act on you behalf or shell out for an on-site inspection on a few prospects, you've just about paid for the cost of your airfare.

One final thing, I would fully expect to have to pay at least $2K to get an import on the road here, regardless of how good the car was.

[StephenSLR]

I would do as some others have suggested and line up a dozen or so prospects then fly over to the US for a couple of weeks and check them out in person. 

All good if you can leave at a moment's notice; good buys don't sit around too long.

s

[BAC]

All good if you can leave at a moment's notice; good buys don't sit around too long.

Same problem on a smaller scale with interstate cars out here - not everyone can choof off to the other side of the country at the drop of a hat...

[StephenSLR]

Same problem on a smaller scale with interstate cars out here - not everyone can choof off to the other side of the country at the drop of a hat...

This is where a broker such as Shermatt comes in handy.

s

[GLENN 70]

Good buys in the USA don't last long if they are any good . Last time I went I had about 18 in my book to look at and I would say 13 were sold and 5 were rubbish . I bought 2 that were for sale when I was there .  Not easy . I bought my 1st Mach 1 in 1988  in the USA and it wasn't easy back then and it's not easy now .

[krouz electrical]

I found if you want to buy something wait for an auction in America like mecum or Barrett Jackson auction's they have good cars .