The Camaro Club (UK)

Hi everyone, and apologies that my first time on this forum is connected to a boring topic!

I recently imported a 68 and am still making it road legal over here so I can register it. My shipping agents put it through customs as a collector's item, which was fantastic as it saved me a fortune in import duty. But now Big Brother has got in touch with me asking for proof that's it's something collectable as vehicles by default are utility items and therefore liable for full commercial duty.

I've managed to satisfy 2 out of 3 of their criteria, but the fact that it's a close copy of an iconic race car (Smokey Yunick's) isn't sufficient as it doesn't have race history itself. My last chance is to prove its rarity in the UK, otherwise I owe the inland revenue a couple of grand!

So... does anybody have any figures as to how many 68 Camaro's are in the country? Has anybody else been brave/daft enough to import their own muscle car?

Thanks guys

Hi & welcome to the site, I think the best person to talk to about this would be Tim Boles (Topcat on here). Send him a PM & have a chat with him & hopefully he can help you out. Have you got any pics of your car it sounds great. I really have a soft spot for Trans Am cars as you'll no doubt find out , cheers....Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

DVLA might be able to provide figures of 68 Camaros?

If you have trouble getting hold of TIm Boles (TOPCAT) let me know and I'll hunt him down.

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Steven
Webmaster
83 Chevy G-20 A-Team Van 305/700R4

Any pics & info of the car??? cheers...nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

Thanks Nige, and Topcat's email so I can pm him would be really useful Steven, thanks. I'm gonna contact DVLA tomorrow.

I've been a tad busy and really should've posted some pics of 'Smokey' already. This is the walkaround clip from the States that was attached to the original advert:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFLpjzTLP5g

It came without a horn or any windscreen washer equipment, so I'm waiting for a few OE bits to come from the States before I can MOT it. Not that I can register it yet because the inland revenue have put a block on it until they're satisfied. Gits. It was in Illinois (Chicago district) but is a CA registered car, and sure enough - no rust! Bliss! Not a speck of underseal or waxoyl either - but then why would they want that?!

I'm not very knowledgeable on historic trans-am, but I'm staggered how nobody over here seems to have even heard of Smokey Yunick. Needs to be a TV documentary on him...

Si

Hi Si, thanks for the video, cool looking car. As you say not many people in this country are aware of the history behind the Trans Am series or the drivers. There's a good book you can get called "The Pony Car Wars" 1966-1972 by Dave Friedman, which documents all of the Trans Am races during that period with loads of pics & info. It's my regular bed time read. I assume that you're aware of this web site, http://www.trans-amseries.com/ which again has loads of pics & info from the day & current racing. There's info/pics about Smokeys car which, if you want, will enable you to make it an even more accurate replica. Looking forward to seeing this car in person, maybe I should have turned mine into the Penske/Donohue "Sunoco Camaro" car like I was going to after all. cheers.....Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

I have asked Tim Boles to email you directly about Smokey.

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Steven
Webmaster
83 Chevy G-20 A-Team Van 305/700R4

Cheers peeps. With yours/Tim's help I might get this thing on the road pretty soon - just in time for the roads to get salted!

I think I'm gonna put the pony car wars book on my Christmas list (the one I haven't made yet. My sons are too young to buy independently so my presents are chosen exclusively by women, who haven't the first clue how or where to locate the sort of stuff I'd want ie. tools & car bits! Anyone else have this problem?)

I think we have another reason for holidaying near Laguna Seca now, in addition to MotoGp. I can't imagine ever being able to afford to do what Tim's doing but I intend to spectate more next year now that I own one of these things. I did a bit of race mechanicking in 2007 & 8 and saw a white 1st gen being campaigned against MK1 escorts and the like, but never got to speak to the owner/driver. Anyone know anything about it?

Smokey isn't a very good replica despite looking incredibly wicked in the flesh, so with a standard interior, no cage and a decidedly not race 302 with a cross-ram, I won't be expecting to fool anyone. Not even the IR, I guess. That said, I reckon a blue 69 Donohue Penske copy parked side by side with it would've taken limelight at any UK event!

Si

Hi Si, thanks for posting that up, any more pics & info, I just love Trans Am cars Any joy with the authorities as yet? cheers...Nige

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Too much power...not enough hands!!

Hi Swisslestick, try writing an e-mail to intenquiries@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk. Include a little about the history of Muscle cars and the American after market options. Gives examples of the rarity of real Yenko's, ZL1's and Baldwin Motions. Then state that yours is a collectors clone. That should convince someone. Back it up with your photo and some orignal photos of the real one's. Its a long shot but it may work!!!!

I've not imported a car yet but have had some joy from this email address for various imported parts.

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Nice car, it'll be worth the hassle.
Cheers

David

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP2Y2UOxUAY

What happens on the street. Stays on the street!