Foley SV and advice on importing rebuilt Defender

[BenH]

Folks,

Sorry about this being yet another post requesting import advice but I am sure that there is some good advice out there and I feel I need to ask...

I was recently in the UK and had a very nice meeting with Stuart Foley from Foley SV (http://foleysv.com/). They seem to be capable of doing some very nice Defender build-ups to any specification.

I have studied on this forum and others the kind advice that many owners have shared about importing from the UK into Canada and feel reasonable comfortable with tackling this. However, I still have a niggling question about how customs will react to what could basically amount to a completely rebuilt vehicle. Basically Foley would take a 15+ year old 'donor' vehicle and totally rebuild this starting ground up from a galvanized chassis, new 300 tdi, transmission, body + interior, etc, etc. As you can imagine this costs a fair amount of money but results in a very nice, virtually new vehicle arriving in Canada. The vehicle would be fully UK registered and, I am assured, this kind of ground up rebuild is totally legal. However, it feels to me quite a lot like dodging the 15 year import rule. Hence, I am very interested if anybody has any experience with importing a vehicle in such a 'new' condition.

Also if anybody has any experience of working with Foley (they seem very nice and knowledgeable to me), it would also be great to hear.

Many thanks in advance!
Ben

'76 Lightweight, Ex-Saudi police force (so far...)

[rayhyland]

My 110 was original but in almost new condition when I brought it in, other than the long list of modifications.

Customs didn't seem to care. The only things I needed to do were get the RIV paperwork done, the inspection at Canadian tire, and the ICBC guy wanted to see the VIN number where it was stamped into the frame.

Ray

[robert m]

I agree with Ray. Who is to say you aren't importing a 15 year old truck that was stored as a collectible and rarely used, hence the new condition? By the same accord, there is no law that prohibits updating the interiour, engine or body for that matter...or restoring a 15 yr old vehicle to NEW... providing the VIN is still stamped on the chassis and is that of a 15 year old vehicle.
My experience when I brought my 110 over here, was pretty straight forward and the only concern was the VIN. Literally took 2 hrs including the provincial inspection.
Keep in mind though, that when ICBC insures it, it will be based mainly on its vintage and what you paid for it, and not necessarily what a 'new' condition Defender would fetch on the open market here.

Good luck, and don't be intimidated by the process, its really quite simple and straight forward.

- Robert

[spoonfed]

Keep in mind though, that when ICBC insures it, it will be based mainly on its vintage and what you paid for it, and not necessarily what a 'new' condition Defender would fetch on the open market here.
- Robert

Are you not able to insure it with a declared value? what one pays for their vehicle may not be its actual value. The premium would be higher though.

[LandyAndy]

Hi,

Foley are well respected in the UK LR community, they do alot of conversion & specialist work for utilities & I also think LR sub work to them. Another option is Liveridge 4x4, they do excellent work also and good for a second cost.

Cheers,
Andy

[larry emrick]

Gentlemen: Where would one expect to find the vin number stamped on the frame of a '74 series 3?

Larry

[LandyAndy]

BTW, Foley have some 'new' 2006MY ROW spec 300tdi's on Ebay at present.... they'd make an ideal donor vehicle for a rebuild :wink:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2010-LHD-LAND-ROV ... dZViewItem

Andy