As the title says: I am looking for car shipper to bring a 356 in from Oakland to Melbourne. I am overwhelmed by the different fees that are sometimes included and sometimes not... and some will allow personal stuff and parts inside the car and some won't. Some have shared containers and some don't. I am looking for somebody with recent experience to point me in the direction of somebody who can ship it for me without surprise charges. I would at least like to be able to bring some stuff inside if possible. Thanks Tony

Try these guys, I've no experience with them or bringing a car in. I only know of them because Andy's son lives across the road from me.

He is located in Old Bar NSW,


http://www.foytt.com/default.asp?sid=2&cid=27&aid= 

Cheers
Brendan

Give A to Z Imports a ring on the Gold Coast , I spoke to them at Wintersun last year and they seemed quite helpfull and they bring 3 or 4 containers a month with classic cars etc

Rod Penrose can probably help pm me and i will put you in touch

Thanks for the replies so far, I will check them out.

Which port of AU do you want it landed in? if Melbourne VIC. I have had 3 cars delivered, $3000 leach, anded & no surprises, but make sure before it leaves the states, that it has been properly pressure washed & spotless, under wheel arches, engine bay, etc. also if by chance the car is fitted with aircon ( I know its a 356) but one needs to know that all aircon gas needs to be removed and a certificate supplied by removalist in states, other wise big dramas down here. make sure you have impoirt approval a month in advance before car lands. cheers Frank

Yes, Melbourne. I built the car myself in a former life and it is spotless clean as far as the underside is concerned. The underside and all arches are painted with 3 coats colour and 3 coats of gloss and it has less than 2000 miles on it. No aircon. I will be going stateside in 6 weeks and personally delivering it to the port of Oakland (hopefully I won't get shot). I then hope to personally pick it up from the port of Melbourne. I have the import approval all filled out except for the name of the agent. Which shipper did you use?

I dont know where the port of Oakland is, but if a road trip across the great usa is plausible, my buddy has a shipping yard in Carson CA. you drop your car off and usually, it will be there for a week, then 19 days to the port of Melbourne, then a week in port for normal customs clearance etc If the car is as clean as you say, there will be no dramas, when you fill in your paper work, you must disclose the full amount you paid and a 12.03% gst will apply ( this is totally out of my buddies hands) and note, usa customs trace all vin numbers & ebay transactions to catch out any one trying to short change their tax"system. If you want to go through my mate, let me know and I shall pm you his mobile number, he brings in on average, 4 or 5 containers a month cheers Frank

I have used these guys. No bulldust. I arranged import approval, and gave them an address for vehicle to pick up in the States, and I was presented with the vehicle ready to put on a trailer here. No fuss at all.

http://www.brockautoparts.com.au/ 

Volksair: Oakland is the armpit of San Francisco bay. I am trying to avoid a trip to Southern Cali (Carson)...since I will be leaving the week before the Classic starts D'oh. I will be at the Sacramento Bug-o-rama...woo-hoo.
Helbus: I was actually planning a visit to Brock later today to have a chat. I like the idea that I can meet them face to face and discuss details...besides they are a stones throw from Lilydale train station and since I drive trains I can arrange my schedules to get breaks at Lilydale and make their lives miserable if they screwed me over...LOL

Volksair: whose you guy for shipping?
Went to Brock today. They want $3500 for everything... but I have to deliver to Southern California. Got the name Ron Wicks from an internets search with good feedback from the OZRodders forum. They come in at $3447 for the same thing and I have to say real friendly on phone. Anyhow now my problem seems to be more the value of the vehicle. I somehow don't think that customs will believe me when I tell them I bought the car for less than a grand in 1998....but it is the truth and because I got it too cheap... the customs folks want to fix that. Called customs and was told I need an independant valuer to assess the number of fingers that the tax department needs to use in my arse. Can't use the personal imports scheme (don't think) because I have been in Australia too long (and paid too many taxes). So now I must be taxed.