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Whoops…done that before too.
Dave, I trust you made it home OK with the Lincoln?
Not only had a great time, but learned a lot, and met a lot of new people. Hanging on one more day to attend the Hillsborough Concours, then back home on Monday.
Well, that works both ways. I sent my radio off to a repair shop near San Francisco, as it needed repairs beyond what I could do myself. The communication with the shop has been excellent, and they advised me that the control head was pretty bad, and I should look for another one. I obtained one, and while out in Rohnert Park for the PAS Annual Meeting, made arrangements with the shop to meet and drop off the head. Turns out we know a lot of people in common. Radio should be done soon, and glad I took the effort to meet personally
Couple of suggestions when sending parts off for repair:
1) Run the company through the internet. Don’t only look at their website, but look at review websites such as Yelp, etc. Be wary of reviews that are too complimentary.
2) Just about every state now has court records and corporate records online. If the vendor is a corporation, check the states secretary of state database and get the officers names. Then go to the online court records of the county where they are located and see if the principals are involved in any lawsuits over breach of contract.
3) Check the local online newspaper for any information on the company or its principals. Might well not be a fraud situation, but sickness, death, fire, etc. and there might be a plausible reason for them not contacting you.
A little checking in advance might save you a lot of trouble.
Of course, ask your friends on the PAS website, too! (before sending anything!)
This has really been a wonderful trip. Not only the cars, and the sights, but getting to meet all of these people. Since we were a little short on seats one morning, I wound up riding with Cliff, who was driving the service truck. Turned out to be the best thing that ever happened. I had eight hours plus of learing new things about my car, tricks of the trade, little things I never would have learned in a book. It’s this kind of communication that really makes this club so valuable. I strongly suggest that you try to arrange things to come along on future tours. They are extremely family friendly, and the kids get involved in all kinds of things along the way. A great, clean vacation for the whole family. The group planning the tour makes all kinds of arrangements for any possibility, so come along!
After thirty five years of this, do you wonder why I’m retiring?
Yes, I’m planning on it. I am going to bring the car over to Bill’s and let him drive it and see if he can find anything wrong with it. I really don’t want to drive it there, about 175 miles, and I can’t find a trailer long enough to haul it. I do have a tow vehicle, but the only trailer rental I can find is U Haul, and their longest trailer is 139 inches, the exact wheelbase of the car. I’m reluctant to buy a trailer at the moment as I have absolutely no place to store it. Anybody have any ideas? Can I have a car carrier bring it to the museum and have it held there?
And to think that I was right in front of him, with my beautiful 1933 1236, good looking, articulate, and nobody interviewed me. I guess it must be because you can’t balance a nickel on a V12….
With all the help I’ve received from members over the past few years, I am just glad to help out someone else for a change. Call anytime you need something.
Bill,
I spoke with the lady from the show and I’m all ready to go. I hope they aren’t really too fussy at this show while the car is washed and waxed, and I’m going to go over it again Saturday, I haven’t had the time to go over all the chrome with polish. More than happy to stand guard on your car while you get the second.
Ken
See you in Oakbrook on Sunday! I’ll try to bring some cannoli. You finally get to see my car.
Just for the others, VAT is a value added tax, added on to the purchase price of something sold within the European Union. It’s 20% of the sales prices. VAT does not apply on sales outside of the EU. They are to be “zero rated,” and no VAT is applicable. The seller merely needs to maintain copies of the export documents.
Any luck with the suggestions in our conversation Saturday?
This kind of brings up a question I have. Last Friday, I took my Pierce to it’s first local car show, in nearby Park Ridge, IL. I was wedged in between a 1970s Buick Grand National, and some sort of hopped up Corvette. Needless to say, the Pierce really made an impression and the organizers asked me to return to their monthly shows. What I was really happy to see was the interest from young people in the Pierce, and I was asked all kinds of questions about the history of the car and company. Would it be possible to make a little trifold flyer about the history of Pierce, and mentioning the museum, that we could hand out at these local shows? The kids like superlatives, so I would mention the Model 66 with the largest engine in a passenger car, and I mention how Ab Jenkins set all kinds of world records with a car with the same chassis as mine. I’d be happy to buy a case or two to hand out at local shows, or even to neighbors when they stop by to chat when waxing the car. Any thoughts? I think it would be a great idea to increase interest in Pierce Arrows.
Also, in reference to self clearance versus hiring a broker. I am assuming that you are importing this vehicle for personal use and ownership, and not for resale or commercial purposes. A commercial importation is much more complicated. I suggest you CBP website, http://www.CBP.gov, click on the “Trade” tab, and look for a publication for new importers entitled “Importing into the United States.” It will give you a good overview of import procedures.
Also, in reference to self clearance versus hiring a broker. I am assuming that you are importing this vehicle for personal use and ownership, and not for resale or commercial purposes. A commercial importation is much more complicated. I suggest you CBP website, http://www.CBP.gov, click on the “Trade” tab, and look for a publication for new importers entitled “Importing into the United States.” It will give you a good overview of import procedures.
Both RO/RO and containerization have advantages and drawbacks. A 20 foot container would afford more protection than RO/RO, but unless the car is properly blocked and braced within the container, it might be damaged just from bouncing around in the container. Remember, a ship at sea goes back and forth, side to side, as well as up and down over the waves and anything in the container would have to be braced to prevent this movement.
Marine insurance is a whole horse of another color from regular automotive insurance. If a ship were to suffer a loss or sinking at sea, if you’re not covered for marine properly you might wind up owing the owners of the ship prorata for their loss of the ship. I would check your Hagerty policy very closely or otherwise contact your commercial insurance broker. A forwarding agent arranging transport overseas should be able to arrange proper marine insurance coverage.
Bill clearing the car through US Customs should be relatively straightforward. There should be staff on hand who will assist you in clearing the car. Is the car of US manufacture? Also, being built in 1908 it would be considered an antique over 100 years old. Are you located near the port where it will be cleared? If so, you should be able to clear the car easily. If you are not near the port, you might want to hire a broker as finding a bonded carrier to bring the car to a port near your home might be troublesome.
Grrr…one weekend they’re not sending me to Harpers Ferry!
Can I interject with a question here? My 1933 1236 has an electric fuel pump added. When I was first looking at the car, the mechanic who kept the car up, Bob Burkhardt of the Franklin museum, told me just to use the electric pump for starting the car. I’ve driven another member’s V12, and the electric pump was used whenever the car was running. Going back to my uncle’s Cadillac in Chicago’s pre expressway days, I remember vapor lock hitting the car when caught in rough traffic on hot summer days. He had to carry a 5 gallon can of water in the trunk, and put cool damp rags on the fuel pump to get running again. So, my question is, should I use the electric fuel pump in hot weather? The car does run fine with it off. It was 85F here today, and I got caught in a massive traffic jam with my 1236, and had no problem with either the fuel or overheating.
