I took a day out of the business to go to a Trade Only Japanese Car Import Auction at Southampton Docks. Ok, ok, enough of the Blackadder jokes… but a very good day out with an old trade friend and interesting to see these cars just off the boat being snapped up despite some pretty obvious hurdles to overcome. For example:
Newer cars, from memory under ten years old, require an SVA type approval test before they can be registered in the UK. So, you have to watch out you don't buy something that you cannot 'rent' the paperwork for. An individual SVA test costs a fortune and would make it uncommercial to buy anything that hasn't already been tested.
Even older cars, ten years or older, such as the very retro Nissan Figaros need all sorts of modifications just to pass an MOT, let alone be roadworthy to even be entered for one. Then there's the slight problem that despite being right hand drive like our own cars, they have an odometer in KMs. At the minimum you have to get the face of the speedo changed to read MPH. Once you start to add all this up some of these cars must just become a labour of love.
Mustn't forget the smog. It was pointed out that the seats and trims of the majority of the cars didn't start out life quite as grey/brown as they have ended up. Ten years or more stuck in Tokyo and you get a fairly smog ridden car which I am told literally drips off once you apply the correct chemicals to remove it. So we better add at least another day's work for a valeter to clean them up to sell.
Add in damage in transit, one key, strange specifications and a real penchant for hyper modifying the engines of performance cars (Nissan Skyline GTR, Mazda RX7, Mitsibishi 3000 and Toyota Supra) and you end up with a mix akin to the Seven Samurai being gradually worked through.
There are some gems though. One or two lower mileage Mitsubishi Shogun 2.8 Turbo Diesel 5Dr (badged Pajero) with Automatic and Leather. Lower mileage being about 40000 miles from new, some warranted, some not. After preparation would come out about £8000 which is a lot of car for the money. Ditto, Toyota Lucida, some nice examples and a very clean Mazda Eunos (MX5) in a lovely kingfisher blue colour, with unblemished alloys and a cool 150000 KMS, 94000M which sold for about the same as a UK car. The Japanese car having a higher specification including air conditioning then it's UK equivalent.
I'm still on the look-out for Japanese spec Honda Civic Type R and Integra DC2 and DC5 Type R, but may need to buy direct from Japan and have them shipped over. So more of that later.
Otherwise it's been a week of buying and cleaning up my stock. Cleaning up as in reducing the cars that for some reason haven't sold despite my careful initial picking. Out with a Clio Automatic and Clio Dynamique. In with a 52 plate Volkswagen Beetle 1.6 in silver £7495, an immaculate throughout N reg (yes, 1996) Volkswagen Golf 1.6 CL one owner with just 26000 miles and twelve service stamps £2495, and a lovely one owner 2000 W reg Volkswagen Golf GTI 5Door in black, yours for £6995. All will be with me and prepared by mid-next week.
There's an obvious trend amongst that batch. Volkswagens may cost more than your average mass produced car both new and second-hand, but you really do get what you pay for with trims as good as new after ten years or more. If you don't believe me, take a look at my 1996 Golf once it's been through the workshop. They also age well.
In the meantime, here's an identical 1991 J Reg Nissan Figaro 1.0 Turbo Automatic to a carefully chosen one purchased on Tuesday, direct from Japan. One of just 20000 made which are now spread worldwide. Available through my friend's business (as recommended by 'Honest John' in the Telegraph) for £5995, with a 3 month warranty, six months tax and lots of TLC before it's offered. Specification includes Power Steering, Air Conditioning, Fold Back Sun-Roof, Retro Dashboard and Controls and Cream Leather. Carefully driven back by yours truly, they are great fun to drive. Please contact me if it's of interest.
