europe

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Bluestraveler

10 Year
Joined
Dec 20, 2013
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Location
Billings, MT
I'm headed to Europe this spring for some time off and would like to ship the LC so I can drive it instead of a rental.

Anyone know if lift kits and mud tires are allowed there??? I can't find any info, but heard everything has to be OEM to be legal.
 
Bluestraveler said:
I'm headed to Europe this spring for some time off and would like to ship the LC so I can drive it instead of a rental.

Anyone know if lift kits and mud tires are allowed there??? I can't find any info, but heard everything has to be OEM to be legal.
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You still got your USA plates and a insurance you will be fine.

Have a picture of the rig?
 
that is a good question to ask and a concern indeed. I imagine every country has its own rules and most are probably very conservative. The countries I know have these very strict tech inspections every year or 2. I would be very surprised if they would automatically allow a vehicle from another laxer country to drive their roads.

Anyway, if you're going to spring for transportation costs to there and back, would it not make sense to buy something desirable out there and bring it back instead?
 
How much is it to ship your rig, pay for insurance and fees etc vs. rent a truck?
 
Thanks for the replies.

I finally figured out how to search using google translator and found a lot of info, all in German. If you are there less than a year, (I will be) just buy the insurance and keep your USA tags. At one year you have to tag in a European country and they have crazy restrictions. Smog check and technical inspection. The technical inspection gets hairy. If you have made ANY changes from OEM you have to commission an engineering study to prove it is safe. Suspension alterations are allowed, but only with an engineer's approval and I guess it's quite expensive, as I've seen no photos of European 4x4s that are not stock. The technical inspection even includes a cabin inspection for cleanliness and neatness. ABSOLUTELY no oil leaks are allowed anywhere. They seem to be anal about everything.

The cost to ship is $2200 one way, which is real cheap. I think it will be cool to be able to drive my Cruiser on 2 continents rather than rent a truck there.
 
Lift springs, wheels, and tires not on yet in this photo. It was 21 below when this photo was taken.

DSC_0288.webp

DSC_0288.webp
 
Bluestraveler said:
Thanks for the replies.

I finally figured out how to search using google translator and found a lot of info, all in German. If you are there less than a year, (I will be) just buy the insurance and keep your USA tags. At one year you have to tag in a European country and they have crazy restrictions. Smog check and technical inspection. The technical inspection gets hairy. If you have made ANY changes from OEM you have to commission an engineering study to prove it is safe. Suspension alterations are allowed, but only with an engineer's approval and I guess it's quite expensive, as I've seen no photos of European 4x4s that are not stock. The technical inspection even includes a cabin inspection for cleanliness and neatness. ABSOLUTELY no oil leaks are allowed anywhere. They seem to be anal about everything.

The cost to ship is $2200 one way, which is real cheap. I think it will be cool to be able to drive my Cruiser on 2 continents rather than rent a truck there.
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Thanks for the good info. Cost to ship doesn't seem too bad and it will be especially cool to drive your truck around Europe. That will be a fun adventure!

Cool 40 too. Post some pics of the recent work you've done. And keep us updated with some of your adventures in Europe!
 
Yeah, definitely keep us up to date. I would love to know what shipping company you use and how it turns out. I read on Horizons Unlimited that the best place to bring your vehicle in is England. Cheaper and a bit more lax on things...
 
That looks like zero problems for me, no extra ordinary killer rig so no trouble to await.

On the other hand.....what about buying a vintage diesel 40 in europe, take it back home and sell it for a fortune? :hhmm:
 
VidereStudios said:
Yeah, definitely keep us up to date. I would love to know what shipping company you use and how it turns out. I read on Horizons Unlimited that the best place to bring your vehicle in is England. Cheaper and a bit more lax on things...
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I'd be happy to show some photos of adventures later this year.

I found Schumacher Logistics to be the cheapest and most reliable. They specialize in vintage autos, ultra valuable exotics, and museum pieces. They are a German company so they are beyond top notch.
 
onemanarmy said:
You changed the wheels and tires? They look so much better and are more valuable when stock. They are beautiful when stock, like the pic you posted.
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It has 1960's chevy 16" wheels on it. They were on there when I got it, all I did was powder coat them.

Everything else is bone stock except for the mirrors, spare carrier, and front bumper. I made the front bumper out of 2x4 .250" wall tubing and modified the spare carrier to take the jerry cans.

When I got it it this summer it was a barn find so to speak. It didn't run, and a tree had crushed the drivers side rear , So I tore it all down and did a complete rebuild and paint from green to red. EVERYTHING is new. And my wife is not happy with how much it cost. LOL! I did all the work myself, so at least I saved labor dear. That didn't fly either!
 
FJ40-GARAGE said:
That looks like zero problems for me, no extra ordinary killer rig so no trouble to await.

On the other hand.....what about buying a vintage diesel 40 in europe, take it back home and sell it for a fortune? :hhmm:
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I'd love to have a diesel! I will be looking for one and who knows?, might be able to work a trade.
 
Cough (bezel), excuse me.
 
Do you already have a route, plan or must see idea?
Beware of most German cities having a green sticker for environment, without you cannot enter the centre.

Like in Berlin I mostly stay at generator hostel as it is just in front of the first green zone and has a parking and subway (tram) in front.

The strange thing is that for a German car to get an old-timer licence the car needs to be strictly original.
But the other normal licences are not very strict, never heard of interior check, they do check the seatbelts for wear.
Germany wants snow tires during snowy weather but if you don't have them the fine is 35 Euro. Mud tires I don't know but I have a 2 inch lift and BFG 32x11.50 r15 113R m+s lt and that is no problem.

So the dutch prices:
1985 hj60:
insurance 100 Euro (included passengers)
Road test (APK= smog test, tire test (minimum 2mm) rust check, wiggle/wobbly wheel bearing test, etc.) 60 Euro
Road Tax (was 0, now 2500 Euro every year)



In the Netherlands some adjustments to American cars are not allowed (like front brake disk conversion) but then they go to the German test (TUV) and get an german licence, and then back to the Netherlands with the TUV and then it is approved (idiot rules, but it works that way)

From 01-2014 an oldtimer in the Netherlands must be 40 years old (europe is 30 years) and most hj60 are now 40% lower in price so you might want to buy one and ship it back?

http://www.marktplaats.nl/z.html?qu...=&distance=0&searchOnTitleAndDescription=true

http://occasions.autoscout24.nl/?vi...e&pool=1&mmvco=1&mmvmk0=70&mmvmd0=2056&desc=0
 
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hj 60 said:
snip
1985 hj60:
insurance 100 Euro (included passengers)
Road test (APK= smog test, tire test (minimum 2mm) rust check, wiggle/wobbly wheel bearing test, etc.) 60 Euro
Road Tax (was 0, now 2500 Euro every year)

snip
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Interesting. Here in the US, insurance is usually relatively expensive, especially if you are young or driving a costly car, say something between a few hundreds and a few thousand dollars per year. Although there are lots of different levels of coverage available. The equivalent of road tax OTOH is not very much at the State level, say between $50 and a few hundreds per year depending on car value. But of course, we do pay plenty of taxes (although not as much as Europe obviously) with our gas purchases. In California, there is no tech inspection except for emissions, though, and the latter is around $50 or so, every year or 2 for older cars.
 
insurance in Germany is also pretty expensive if you don't have a driving history there

and yes, the TÜV checks older vehicles quite thoroughly - one rust spot in the floor and you are done; my brother's VW Passat suffered demise at the hands of the TÜV - the funniest thing was that it was stolen a few days before the prior TÜV certification on it expired, so that saved him the hassle of having to dipose of the car :hillbilly:
 
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