Antique Cars from the USA – Is Importing Old Cars Worth It

For many automotive enthusiasts, modern cars lack a unique soul. Their design is often dictated by the need to be maximally economical, ecological, and safe. As a result, many repetitive designs appear on the market that contribute little to the sophisticated tastes of four-wheel fans.

That's why old cars from the United States are a true pearl. Highway cruisers, as they're commonly called, still ignite the imagination today. Just seeing them evokes excitement and brings to mind past years – full of unique style, times filled with excitement stemming from political, social, and cultural changes, as well as the greatest stars of cinema and music.

Why Are Antique Cars from the USA Gaining Popularity?

First and foremost, old cars from America are proof of the immense creativity and commitment to luxury, often also the extravagance of their designers. Vehicles of that era, apart from the obvious – rapid travel from one point to another, had different priorities than today's constructions. They had to be comfortable and emphasize the owner's status, thus being a source of pleasure.

Ultimately, they also had to be durable to the limits of possibility. The fact that many of them enjoy great popularity proves this to be true. While a lot depends on the previous owner, the best example of their durability is a small island nation that once had enormous significance – Cuba. There, we can still encounter automotive legends from the 40s and 50s that are still running. This is due to a simple reason – since the market for new vehicles is severely limited there, classics pass from generation to generation as family assets.

For years, antique cars from the USA were mainly a dream for Poles. Now, however, thanks to the possibility of importing old cars, the dream of owning a classic can come true.

Importing Antique Cars from the USA – Is It Worth It?

It may seem that importing antique vehicles from the USA is unprofitable. Most often, this claim stems from a lack of knowledge about the realities. American regulations are very friendly to all those importers who want to purchase such an old car.

Those who are more determined to acquire their own antique car usually decide to use the services of qualified intermediaries. Then, of course, one of the most frequent questions arises: is it worth importing antique cars? We answer without hesitation – yes!

What Fees Are Associated with Importing Old Cars from America?

Let's start with the fact that if we decide to purchase an antique car in the USA that is older than 30 years, we avoid customs duty entirely! Let's note that for younger vehicles, it amounts to as much as 10%. On the other hand, VAT is also reduced. Although it doesn't drop to zero, it is very favorable and will cost the buyer only 7%, not 19% of the car's value. Finally, we also avoid excise duty! So you don't have to be an accountant to see that such a transaction is at least profitable.

However, it's not that importing old cars is free from certain costs. The first and most basic is, of course, the purchase of the car itself. These prices range from several thousand to even tens of thousands – much depends on the technical condition of the vehicle and its year of manufacture. But let's admit – who would begrudge the cost of an original Ford Mustang from all those years ago?

The most interesting fees, however, are those not directly related to the car itself. The first is the auction commission. This is charged by every platform on which the car is auctioned. Prices vary, but the most reputable may demand a deposit of several hundred dollars.

The second cost awaiting the buyer is the fee for towing the car. The price for transport depends primarily on the length of the route, stretching from the auction site to the selected port. It's worth keeping this in mind when purchasing an antique car from the USA.

Besides towing, there is also the shipment by sea. The vehicle is loaded into a container that can accommodate up to two more. So when we decide to import an old car from the United States, it's good to think whether it would be more cost-effective to buy at least one more, different model. The price most often applies to one container, and if there is only one car in it, we must expect lower cost-effectiveness of such transport.

Official matters are also associated with fees. Namely, the cost of transferring money and sending documents to Poland. Fortunately, this is not a particularly large expense, as it oscillates around 100-150 dollars. On the other hand, the intermediation in purchasing a classic may cost more. However, not knowing the specifics of the market or professional language, using such help is an absolutely necessary step. It's worth choosing a company that has appropriate experience in importing old cars from the United States, and at the same time offers favorable prices (which are most often determined as a percentage, based on the final price of the auctioned car).

Once we've imported our new old car from the United States, we must remember the cost of registration in Poland. Ultimately, how much we pay is also influenced by the current currency price. So if we're interested in antique cars from the USA, let's keep track of its fluctuations.

Buy in Poland or Import?

Presumably at this point, some of you are wondering whether it's worth importing antique cars on your own, i.e., with the help of intermediaries, or whether it's better to take an interest in the ready offer of individuals/dealerships that have already done this earlier and now offer them on the domestic market. However, it's not worth having illusions – these are usually entrepreneurs who want to make a profit, so the price for classics will be appropriately higher for them.

What Cars Can We Import from America?

Essentially any, as long as they are available at auctions. Let's present a few of the most interesting proposals that will certainly interest every classic car enthusiast.

Recommended Models of Antique Cars from the USA

It's definitely worth considering several car models:

• Volkswagen T1 1967,
• Ford Mustang 1964,
• Cadillac Series 62 Generation III,
• Lincoln Continental Mark III,

Volkswagen T1 1967

This is one of the first true business and family vans that appeared on the market. The old "cucumbers," as they were called, were built on a reinforced Beetle chassis and had both a transport and passenger version. In the latter, the manufacturer used as many as 21 windows! We most widely associate them with the colorful hippie era, who traversed American roads, from Woodstock to San Francisco, carrying a message of love and happiness.

Ford Mustang 1964

Even a layman of automotive surely has encountered this name at least once – the Ford Mustang is an absolute hit when it comes to sports cars. Its first edition appeared in 1964 and stylistically referenced the Ford Falcon, though it had a much more modern style that still delights today. However, it had a powerful engine from the very beginning, which was increasingly stronger with each subsequent year. Suffice it to say that in 1966, Ford offered an eight-cylinder engine!

Cadillac Series 62 Generation III

If we're interested in antique cars from the USA that have a unique soul, this is one of those cars. To this day, the 3rd generation of the 62 series roams the streets of Havana, both as private vehicles and taxis. Produced between 1948-53, they had a GM C-body floor pan, and under the hood purred a V8 engine with a capacity from 5.4 to 5.7 liters. The luxury Eldorado version is an absolutely essential specimen for the collection of a classic automotive fan!

Lincoln Continental Mark III

A beautiful car with character – just think that it was one of the favorite cars of gangsters from the 70s. Its elegant design, as well as the interior designed for two people, finished with, among other things, a wooden dashboard, say only one thing – it was created for luxurious driving. The V8 engine with 370 HP accelerated the Mark III to 100 km/h in 9 seconds. Its beauty was especially emphasized by one element – a grill modeled after Rolls-Royce.

Beautiful, Classic Car for Little Money

When we look back once more at the history of motoring in the USA, and now, combine it with information about import costs, we will rid ourselves of any doubts that it's worth importing an antique car from this country. The price of such a solution is attractively low, and the benefit that can be achieved – indescribably large.

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