Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor

ScottishA4B9

ScottishA4B9

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So I’ve decided to buy a new toy - a Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. A proper American Police car. Just going through option at the monument and looking into importing one from the US.
Has anybody had any experience with this car or shipping from the US?
 
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I haven’t, but l believe you will have to go through full UK Type Approval.

You should start here then perhaps find a UK-USA car forum for some practical advice, especially costs.
 
@RAF_S7 Yeah just taking everything into consideration. I’m looking at a 2008 car or earlier as it will be 10 years old and not have to got through the full UK Type Approval.
 
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I have imported more than 10 cars from the US and have always used these people:

https://www.schumachercargo.com/

They are a pleasure to deal with and are great value. Its very easy to do and with apps like Marine Traffic, you can track your cargo around the world.

One word of warning, everything usually works smoothly until the moment you get to the UK and then UK port charges, clearance charges, and storage charges kick in - a total rip off and nothing to do with Schumacher.

So tracking and keeping in contact with them and then picking up ASAP will make it cheaper.

I have only done classic cars which attract a flat 5% duty and VAT, but if you are doing newer, be aware duty charges are on the cost of the car and the shipping and can add up quickly and THEN you pay VAT on the whole lot.
 
@Dan_G Yes I have heard of horror stories and its making me very hesitant. I was looking at shipmycar and they transport the car their depot from the port on landing.
Crown Vics in this country seem to be VERY expensive and over priced. Especially when I can get a good one Stateside for $3000-4000.
 
Update: So I'm nearing a deal from an exporter in Florida who is about to get 2 Crown Vic Police Interceptors direct from a Police Force.
These are both 2011 cars. (the last model year and most desirable)

One has 82k miles and has the Push bar fitted to the front and Trak Lok (which is limited Slip Differential).

The other has 55k miles and has Electric Seats.

Both cars have have optional Cruise Control which is quite rare, are white in colour and will come with the original Police graphics and all equipment. They are slick tops which means they have no lightbar on the roof and and internal lights in the window. The exporter will chuck in a free lightbar for me.
These cars are from a small very affluent Florida Police Department that has only 6 cars so they should be well cared for.
 
LSD and push bar over electric seats and lower mileage all day every day to me but I'm sure either would be decent.
 
@DieselJake. Do you think so? I can get push bars cheap anyway. I think it's the LSD that might be the big selling point. I'm not even sure of the advantages that that might have as I'm not mechanically minded.
 
So I’ve found an mint condition Crown Vic Police Interceptor direct from a Police Department in Florida with all markings and quipment still installed. 2011 (last year of manufacture so most desirable), 55k miles from an 8 person Police Department and the car has only ever been assigned to and driven by the same officer. The town is a very rich millionaires paradise and is only 3 miles long with 2 streets and a 30mph speed limit so car will never have been abused.
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2ABD747F 268A 4730 9F58 5BCC7CBBE98B
3DCEA15B CD37 41F7 8D50 8369C9BE103E
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I'm really curios what would make a person desire a 4.6L petrol engine which outputs under 240 hp? All financial reasons and performance/quality indicators suggest that it's a bad idea. No offence intended, but genuinely curios.
 
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@Paul V. Yeah it’s no performance car that’s going to throw you back in your seat. Although when it gets going, it’s no slouch. With some tweaking of the exhaust system, they do sound like a Mustang, with whoms engine they share. The late model car I’m looking at produces 250bhp but they are always rumoured to produce a little bit more. They can be easily tuned with Mustang performance parts.
I’ve always liked the Crown Vics after seeing them in the movies. They are ALOT of car for the money and made with heavy duty parts designed to take cop punishment and be able to easily do 600,000+ miles. The build quality cannot be compared to the usual poor build quality manufactured in the US. These are exceptionally well built cars. Parts are ridiculously cheap and easy to order from the US. The cars have a cult following in the US bad prices are rising. Good condition cars in the UK go for between £12-16k so I would make a tidy profit if I decided to sell.

I suppose it’s for the novelty factor. There aren’t that many in the UK and none in their original Police markings and equipment. I’m just planning on using it for car shows etc as I have my Audi A4 B9 as a daily driver.

I met up with some Crown Vic owners last weekend, and I have never seen a car turn so many heads, this side of a Ferrari.

As a side note, you can make a lot of money through movie/tv/commercial/music video/photo work as well as wedding car and prom work.
 
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Have you calculated your all in cost inc buying (inc sales tax), shipping, UK port handling fees and then the 10% import duty on that little lot and then VAT on the whole amount?

It adds up quickly and I am not sure that there is a large market for these things and certainly not up at £16k. Plus the film / TV market is covered by a handful of companies who can supply multiple vehicles etc. Parts maybe cheap in the US, but with the £ only going one way and, again, import duty and VAT to pay they are expensive to import.

I, personally, would be worried about being left holding a slow and pricey to run / maintain novelty. Just a sanity check...
 
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There does seem to be a fairly good scene for these cars in the UK. With more and more US filmmakers filing ‘US’ scenes in the UK, these cars are in demand, not that that is the reason I’m buying mine for. The owners of these cars have clubs who provide these cars to the film makers. All Crown Vics are in private hands in the UK.
All the owners I have spoken to get numerous offers for their cars when attending car shows etc as they are still very rare in the UK.
I have taken all the duty and VAT prices etc into consideration and yes it does add up. There is no sales tax as the car is being exported but you are right that it’s not really a good time to buy a car from the US with the current currency rates, although the particular car I have been offered is a once in a life time offer as by they are never normally sold direct from a Police Department with all their original equipment and markings. This is car will the only original one in the UK and probably in Europe.

As for maintenance, they are extremely reliable and easy to work on. Parts are also very cheap. And I mean SHOCKINGLY cheap.
 
So my car finally arrived last month. It's in pristine condition.
 

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Thats a real head turner
 
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Did they rape you for import, v.a.t, & other taxes?. Me & a mate ordered some '' Gas Monkey'' t shirts & by the time everybody else had had there bit they almost doubled in price.
 
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RS3 S. said:
Did they rape you for import, v.a.t, & other taxes?. Me & a mate ordered some '' Gas Monkey'' t shirts & by the time everybody else had had there bit they almost doubled in price.
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Pretty much. I had to pay import tax then VAT on the cost of the car AND the shipping even though you pay VAT on the shipping anyway!
 
ScottishA4B9 said:
Pretty much. I had to pay import tax then VAT on the cost of the car AND the shipping even though you pay VAT on the shipping anyway!
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..........it's shocking. Even tho we paid for international postage Royal Mail still added extra for there bit even tho it was all supposed to be covered!!!.
 
You watch way too many movies mate! Lol
But hats off to you, I bet that is a proper laugh to drive about.
 
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So I got the car through it's MOT but now I need to remove the prisoner partition and police console for the IVA test.
 
Do you drive it in Glasgow?
I seen one in the city centre over New Years. It’s definately a head turner! :busted cop:
 
Car looks great.....a guaranteed head turner for sure. :sunglasses:
Is there any potential legal issues with driving something like this on UK roads......are you likely to get pulled over by the real Police? :D
 
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Ron240 said:
Car looks great.....a guaranteed head turner for sure. :sunglasses:
Is there any potential legal issues with driving something like this on UK roads......are you likely to get pulled over by the real Police? :D
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Perfectly legal as it bears no resemblance to a UK Police Car. Obviously can’t use the lights and sirens on the public road.
 
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I want one too imagine putting a voodoo crate in there
I saw one on eBay not too long ago
 
Update. So the Crown Vic is doing great. Taking it to as many shows as I can. It certainly turns heads!
 

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I’m loving it! Always wanted one of these as a novelty. The pics on your instagram of it are pukka.
 
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Update.....absolutely loving the car. So much so, I bought another and restored it. You can follow the cars on their Instagram: USCopCarUK

Upload 2020 11 14 9 24 24
 
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