Selling South African P6B - export to the U.K. or rather not?

Tor

Well-Known Member
As I’m travelling less and less to Cape Town and my car needs to be used, I’m going to sell it. The market there is very small as the P6 was never a big seller, so I doubt it’ll fetch very much. But the alternative is to sell it remotely, from Norway, to a prospective, remote, U.K. buyer, and sight unseen at that, and the idea of that is daunting. So the main question is, how desireable would a never-rusted, never-welded 1974 S.A. car with some 1971 engineering and minor blemishes be on the U.K. market where they’re otherwise plentiful?

I know it’ll depend on condition and originality. But it’ll be rare in this S.A. Rover factory shade, some local content to the interior and the general flavour and looks of it. Excuse the boot lid badge, which was committed before our time (2008). Oh, and it has since these were taken (2014-15) gained a roof aerial.

Some specs:
Not a lot of recorded service history, but all kinds of jobs done and regularly serviced by our aficionado friend with 50 years of P6 experience.
PAS
95000 kms recorded
Engine reportedly rebuilt before 2008 (73000 kms)
Crane fast-road cam
Ignitor module and sports filters
HIF6s rebuilt using Burlen parts
Gearbox properly rebuilt 2015
Golf II door mirrors, internally adjustable (popular there)
Full suspension revision, rebushing (not PU)
Full brake system revision
Electric twin rad fan arrangement
Recent Koni Classic front, good OEM HD rear shocks
Drives, stops and pulls really well.
A couple of dings acquired by dad, repaired and panels resprayed

I dunno. Waiting for fresh photos. What say people? A non-starter?

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I would think that serious UK buyers would pay a premium for a rot free car regardless of the SA spec and colour. Your only problem will be finding one of those amongst all the timewasters and dreamers.
 
I think the issues that might cause buyers concern are more likely not going to be the colour or SA-trim etc but (1) convincing any potential buyer that it isn't a scam and (2) how it's regd in SA.

I have read, but have no personal experience, that some cars in SA, where local content was added, are shown on SA papers as 'built up vehicle'; DVLA might interpret that as 'built from parts from numerous vehicles'. Not the seller's problem, but might be offputting for buyers, although they might not find out until it's been shipped! No idea if that's relevant to yours.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
 
I would think that serious UK buyers would pay a premium for a rot free car regardless of the SA spec and colour. Your only problem will be finding one of those amongst all the timewasters and dreamers.
Sure, that's a thing as long as I'm not physically near the car.

I have read, but have no personal experience, that some cars in SA, where local content was added, are shown on SA papers as 'built up vehicle'.
Oh dear, if that's the wording for a locally assembled car then that's a can of worms.
 
I think the issues that might cause buyers concern are more likely not going to be the colour or SA-trim etc but (1) convincing any potential buyer that it isn't a scam and (2) how it's regd in SA.

I have read, but have no personal experience, that some cars in SA, where local content was added, are shown on SA papers as 'built up vehicle'; DVLA might interpret that as 'built from parts from numerous vehicles'. Not the seller's problem, but might be offputting for buyers, although they might not find out until it's been shipped! No idea if that's relevant to yours.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

I doubt that's anything more than an urban myth.

My NZ-built 2000 was imported into the UK a few years ago, and as per local requirements, was built with a lot of locally sourced parts. It's never had any issues, and I wouldn't expect it to have.
 
Sure. It might have happened to one or whatever. But then, I’ve run into SA bureaucracy on many occasions and levels, and to call any of it predictable would be a stretch.
 
I cannot remember the exact wording but I I am also a member of a Land Rover Forum and a member there certainly had an issue with an SA sourced vehicle, with the terminology used being interpreted by the DVLA as to mean it was not completely original and was an assembly of parts from different vehicles as mentioned above.
 
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