rider

I've promised my Supra to my grandson. he has only just started Primary School so I have lots of years yet before he gets his hands on my keys. I think supras will increasingly be handed down in families till someone wants to cash in for a good chunk of cash or a deposit for a home. Enjoy the drive.

Undeniably true. I had my supra undersealed maybe 15 years ago. It has fallen off in clumps particularly on the rear sub frame and on the floor panel around the rear wheels and what was underneath wasn't exactly rust free. So any areas where the underseal has failed are being treated and repainted so that any return of rust can be clearly seen. If I had my opportunity again I would never have had the underside undersealed. I would have gone for a corrosion resistant polymer paint instead, just like the stuff that is on my wrought iron railings. No chance of rust on those and the finish is good to; probably because I painted them.

A heater in the garage is the last thing you need if you are worried about corrosion. For a given set of moisture and acid conditions then the rate of corrosion ramps up with higher temperature. You ideally want an air conditioner that will maintain a constant, cool, temperature with constant, low, humidity. Failing that, second best is a dehumidifier. The heater should be thrown out. http://www.amteccorrosion.co.uk/images/webpapers/soa/diagram1.gif

I have a really old vacuum driven auto box on another car so electronics and solenoid switches are a more modern thing altogether. It is something that can force a lock in park so just another thing to look at. You might be able to hear it if its working, if you cannot hear it that could be because its too quiet or its not working due to failure or lack of power.

There is one listed for sale (£30) on a current sales thread http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?340444-Various-Parts

Reads like you could have a problem with the solenoid switch in the console which usually only occurs when someone spills their beer over the selector.

Probably best to tout for others in your local area who you can chat to and who may even be available to go see cars with you if that suits all parties. The main thing to look out for is rust on the sub frames, the tailgate and also the sills (though they are mostly covered by the side skirts). Mechanically things are usually pretty bullet proof. Any modified car (single turbo etc) I'd recommend get rolling road tested but you say you are mostly looking at n/a's. Oil burning is not a problem on the 2JZ engines. You can get a puff of smoke at start up due to failed valve guide seals (due to age) but that is only a little bit of oil and you wouldn't notice it. I have never topped up my oil level between services. In fact it has never dropped between services. If you can stretch your budget the manuals are more desirable and the twin turbo versions are more desirable as well. But I'd expect you may well have selected NA autos for a reason of budget. There is a nice looking 040 manual Supra on eBay now for £7k. Good luck with the hunt.

Looks like you have a fair bit of surface rust on the shock tower. I'd get that sanded fast and black matt painted before it develops to anything pitted. That's a real simple job that will make a massive difference to the look of your engine bay. If these are corroded you probably should take a look at the underside of your brake booster. They can tend to get surface rusting as well which as well as being unsightly its a fairly expensive part to replace.

In the World of classic cars a ploy often employed for engines that have sat for decades is to put a splash of diesel into each bore and hand rotate the engine a few turns just to lubricate the cylinders and rings before cranking.

it has potential but does seems a little contrived at times, but then so often did the old Top Gear. Adhering probably too closely to the old format which I felt was getting a bit tired anyway so could do with a change of material, maybe into more real world rather than focussing on £200k supercars and top of the line Porsche 911's.

Its not looking like anyone has volunteered to sell you one so you can have my spare seal, not to buy but to replace as soon as Keron gets a fresh supply in. PM your address and I'll get it on a courier over to you. Let me know if you want to pay extra for a 24hr or 48hr service? PM me if its still something you need.

If you are following ACAS procedures then you will be covered from any litigation or tribunal enquiries. If you post specifics on the business forum you'll have a ton of helpful advice from plenty of professionals. http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/

Not that I would vouch for this tactic or condone this in any way as a nil point driver myself but I had someone working for me who needed his licence to keep his job. 9pts and another speeding notice. Returned the notice filled in but unsigned three times and didn't hear from them after that. If the form is unsigned, apparently, it cannot be processed.

If you'd prefer it stored indoors till you get here I could put it in my barn pending collection or onward movement to anywhere else. The recovery Dnk quoted at £200 wouldn't be affected much as we aren't that far apart, though weight might be a problem for that recovery option? There is a full rise 2 poster here as well so you could have a poke around underneath if you felt the need or urge to. Happy to store FOC if only for a short while. Anything above two or three weeks and I'd need to charge storage. Best airport to fly into would be Manchester rather than one of the London airports.

I have one very recently removed from a TT - what price you thinking of?

According to the suprahardtopregistry.com the Hardtop turbo weighs in at 3475 lbs and the Targa comes in at 3525 lbs. http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?262332-SUpra-curb-weight-..-targa-top-vs-hard-top

Again, more useful procedural info for anyone planning on re-importing a vehicle from outside of the EU. Procedure for vehicles re-imported from outside the EU - accompanied or unaccompanied vehicles shipped other than by ferry There are two procedural systems in force in the UK. The undernoted system is used at Tilbury, Felixstowe and Liverpool. The other system is used at Southampton. I have no information about the other system or which system is used by other ports. When the ship docks, the Customs Drug detection team will board the ship. They will question you about where you have been, what people have asked you to bring stuff to the UK and so on. Then they will check your cabin using a sniffer dog followed by a similar check on your vehicle. If you are not accompanying the vehicle, your vehicle will be checked anyway before it is unloaded. For passengers accompanying their vehicles, Immigration will have been notified by the Captain if they are due to land at the port. If Immigration wishes to see anyone they will board the ship. Once cleared by the Drug detection team it is necessary to clear the vehicle for duty. Make sure you visit the Port Customs Office if you accompany the vehicle. Customs will assign the clearance of the vehicle to one of several routes. The relevant ones are Route 1 - Vehicle with Documentary Evidence Route 2 - Vehicle requiring a Vehicle ID Check Route 3 - Vehicle with Documentary Evidence and with delayed clearing Route 6 - Documentary Evidence not required. Your vehicle will also be given an Entry No. in the format 1234567890F. The date this number is allocated is also important and may not be the same date your vehicle was disembarked from the ship. Once Port Customs procedures are completed you should be given Gate Passes as appropriate for each person and your vehicle to allow exit from the docks. A fee of £30 is payable to Customs for administration. If you use an import agent (often the shipping agent), they will collect this fee. They will probably make their own charge unless the fee is included in the shipping costs. An agent is almost essential if you do not accompany your vehicle as it will probably be put on Route 3. Port Customs will send all information to HM Customs and Excise Central Office in Salfords - the so called Hub for clearance. The Hub Helpdesk can be contacted on 0161 2615518. They will always need the Entry No and its date of issue. Once clearance has been given, your agents remit would seem to come to an end. You should not have to pay any Customs Duty, Excise Tax or VAT. The Customs Hub Entry Team will then send the file to the Car Team who can be contacted on the same phone number. The Car Team will issue the approval documents to you. In order to do this they require: 1.Customs form C88. 2.Entry Acceptance Advice E2. 3.Copy of V5 Log Book. Although this should all happen automatically you may be able to progress the matter more quickly by faxing the documents directly to the Car Team on 0800 4960699. The Car Team will also send duplicates of the approval documents to the DVLA. Procedure for vehicles re-imported from outside the EU - accompanied vehicles shipped by ferry. On arrival at the UK port you will have a choice of using the Red Channel (Goods to Declare or the Green Channel, No Goods to Declare). Go to the Red Channel and declare the vehicle for re-import. You should then be put on Route 1 above or similar and the appropriate action taken as above except you won't have an import agent to help you. The Documentary Evidence above will be required. Re-registration. 1.You must have valid vehicle insurance. This can often be arranged on the Internet or by phone if you are not in the UK at the time. 2.Road Fund Licence and MOT. You will have neither of these. The best option is to take the vehicle for a prearranged MOT with a suitable garage for the date the vehicle is taken out of the port and ideally one which can make repairs in the event of a failure. You are permitted to drive to a prearranged MOT test without an existing MOT or current Road Fund Licence. Curiously there is no limitation on the distance to be driven. Note that there may be a waiting list for MOTs. At Government testing stations run by VOSA this may be as long as 6 weeks. If your camper van is Class IV make sure that the MOT station has facilities to accept its weight. Class IV facilities are normally only for vehicles up to 3.5 tons weight All MOT stations have a computer link to the DVLA database. As your vehicle is being re-imported you may find that it does not appear on the database. In this case the tester should issue a certificate using the VIN (or chassis) no. instead of the registration number You will need to obtain form V55/5 by contacting the Enquiry Office of the DVLA on 0870 240 0010 (for delivery by post) or visit a Local Office (to collect by hand). Obtaining the form can be done in advance of your return to save time. It will be supplied with a pack of information. When you receive the form don't be put off by the details you have to complete such as CO2 emissions in gms/km! Just complete the form with the same information given on the V5 (logbook) and leave the rest blank except for dates. Also put in the Registration Number you had before the vehicle was exported (even though the Guidance Notes tell you not to). Unusually, you can request either a 6 month or 12 month licence plus part of a month if you need it. You will now have to post the following to a Local Office of the DVLA (addresses in the back of the booklet enclosed with Form V55/5). Evidence of ID e.g.: 1.Counterpart Driving Licence. 2.Recent Bank Statement. Vehicle Documents: 1.Application Form V55/5 completed in accordance with DVLA enquiry office advice. 2.Original V5 registration document. 3.Current MOT certificate. 4.Current Certificate of Insurance. 5.A cheque for appropriate amount made payable to DVLA. Note that the V55/5 includes a Customs Form on the checklist. The DVLA do not require this form as they take the V5 log book as sufficient evidence that all taxes have been paid even though they receive the information from the Customs Hub. Keep copies of everything you send. Delivery of the Licence disk should take 7 - 10 days. On receipt of the Licence disk you will also have a Number Plate Authorisation Certificate V948. This enables you to get number plates for the vehicle (should these be needed) without the new V5 logbook which will be sent by the DVLA at a later date. Of course if you are going to keep the vehicle off the road immediately you will need to declare a SORN in which case 5, 6 and 7 above will not be needed and you will should substitute Form V890 (from the Post Office) to do this.

Found this write up online which may be of some use: A vehicle that has been out of the country for more than one year and has been declared as permanently exported needs to face several hurdles in order to return to the UK. Import duties. It is essential that Customs and Excise are satisfied that all duties on the vehicle were paid in the UK (or EU) before export so that it can be brought back into the country without further payment. The following documentary evidence should be adequate. 1.Original bill of sale showing VAT paid if any. 2.Original V5 (logbook). 3.Carnet de Passage. Make sure this is stamped by Customs before leaving the UK. They will stamp the top right hand (exit) box and the left hand (entry) box will be cancelled. 4.Bill of Lading or Waybill for outward voyage if vehicle is shipped by sea (but not by ferry). As long as evidence can be produced then the vehicle will be cleared for re-import to the UK without any payment. Check Section 8 of C & E Notice no 3, available on the web. Anyone going over the hurdles and negotiating potential pitfalls to swerve a big tax bill will be looking for a big discount on the price to make it all worthwhile. Which would make placing it on UK plates with a UK friend or relatives ahead of any sale a much easier route to market, unless there are buyers aplenty in Guernsey.

My intercooler looked perfect till the fins were touched, they then turned to powder. There probably aren't any good original fit SMIC's in existence due to the ago of them now. Why not go for a Whifbitz or CW SMIC, you cant really tell them apart from the stock unit from the front view of the car.

Guernsey, speed limit 35mph. "Guernsey's maximum speed limit 'not appropriate' Guernsey's maximum speed limit of 35mph (56km/h) has been deemed inappropriate for the island's lanes and minor roads. A strategic review by the Environment Department concluded that a lower limit of 20mph (32km/h) would be appropriate." Doesn't sound like natural Supra territory.

Excellent point, without proof that VAT has been paid over at some point in the cars journeys anywhere in the EU then VAT at 20% would be demanded by HMRC on import into the UK. You wouldn't be able to register the car through DVLA without a HMRC import document stamp proving no outstanding dues.

Your location and bodywork issues and no MOT history will lower the appeal somewhat. Pricing really depends what kind of sale you want. Quick sale £13k Normal sale £14.5k Not in a hurry sale £15k If you are lucky sale £15.5k If someone really wants a car just like yours £16k I'd be interested in bidding you on any sale if it wasn't for the location and that is unfortunately going to something that will put a lot of people off. Do you have UK based relatives who you place the car with and run the sale through, that'd make any sale so much easier and probably be reflected in a much better final sales price.

why not just put it on an eBay auction and you'll find out what its worth in as little as 3 days.

The best forum by far for activity, though not for a usual daily driver is the MG Experience forum in the USA which is buzzing. For proper daily drivers though the Audi forum is good. The best technical backup forum I've ever come across is a Land Rover S2 forum. Different forums are better at and for different things. This Supra forum is probably the best there is for parts sales.

Reads like a scene from deliverance. I find it hard to tell the difference between crows, rooks, ravens and even jackdaws. I'm sure Bill Oddie would know. Still, round here the Swallows and House Martins will be back soon, then you really know Summer is on the way.