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Porsche 911 escapes from Zimbabwe

arfor

arfor

PCGB Member
Member
The population of Early 911s in the UK is soon to increase by 1, following the escape from Zimbabwe of my 911 T, in a container.
I flew out to Harare on 15th July, needing just one more document before submitting my application to the-powers-that-be for authority to export the vehicle. That piece of paper arrived a few days after my arrival, and it was then a matter of waiting for my application to be considered......
I was booked to fly back to London on Friday morning 4th Aug, and I received the necessary document on Thursday afternoon, having taken the car to the shipping agents earlier that morning, after having been told by telephone that my application had been approved.
In a way it could be said that the car is returning home - it was first registered, new, in the UK during October, 1968 after having spent a week or so on display at the Earls Court Motor Show.
 
I was wondering how you got on . . . . good for you [:D] and looking forward to meeting you and the car in person.

Phil
 
Thanks for your message, Phil. Receiving the authority to export the car just the day before I was due to leave was rather heart-stopping to say the least. And I didn't want to change my reservation, because that would have required me to enrich BA by £75.00!
My next problem is to find a reputable organisation to have the car brought back to life - somebody not too far away from where I am in North Wales. Andrew Kirk in Birkenhead, who advertises regularly in Porsche Post, seems to be the closest to me. Are there any recommendations forthcoming from you or any other club members out there?
 
Good luck with the car sounds like a great story.

In my experience geographical convenience is the least pertinent value attached with a Porsche garage and it's suitability, it's normally the last thing I would consider, saying that though you may be onto a good one.

I usually find someone who has something I need is aleast 150 miles away.... [:(] and the most £xpensive!

 
I am told the ninemeister in Warrington are very good but I have not had need to use them.

Conicidentally my 72 S was the Motor Show car in October 1971.

Good Luck with the car
 
I met a guy at classic Le Mans who runs a porsche repairing business in Mid Wales (or was it South) . . . I'll look his number up tonight.

Phil
 
Hi and welcome, its always good to hear that another early RHD 911 is going to be back on the road.

As Nigel has already mentioned talk to Colin Belton at Neinmeister, though I have the feeling that they prefer to work on the later cars now, in fact Colin pointed one of his early customers my way a few months ago.

Phil, the guy you are referring to was with Andy Boyle wasn't he?
 
That right Nick . . . he was with Andy and had done some work on Andy's car . . . fogot to find the number last night . . .the business is called RS 911 or sometime.
 
That's the place . . . nice guy (sweared about [;)]), don't know much about him but seemed to have done a good job on Andy's car.

Phil
 
Thanks very much indeed to you all for the information - much appreciated. The names & address will certainly come in useful.
A new factor has now entered the equation. (It's the proverbial steep learning curve.) In my ignorance, I had thought that I would be able to specify the town/city to which the container was to be sent, for the car to be off-loaded there. But on Friday I was told that the container would be taken off the ship at Tilbury and taken by road to Bournemouth. The car will then be removed from the container, and customs-cleared. The car then becomes my responsibility, some 280 miles from home! It would obviously make sense to have the car sorted out in Bournemouth by a reputable/reliable organisation there, rather than carrying/trailering the car to the North Wales area.
Any recommendations please?
 
There is Alex at Retromotor company in Ringwood Nr Bornemouth.

Failing that I have a mate that runs a car transport company and can get the car moved to where ever you want for sensible money. As he is an owner operator so much more likely to look after the car.
 
I know that I would be happier for the car to be sorted out at a place nearer to where I am living (North Wales), so if it can be transported up here for "sensible money", please drop me an E mail.
Thanks to everybody for your help.
 
It was 9.00pm last night (Friday 29th) when I received a phone call from the clearing agents to tell me that my car had at last been cleared by customs. But the reason for the lengthy delay wasn't explained...
I have been in touch with 912UK (thanks Mark), and with luck, we'll get the show on the road before long.
Thanks once again to everybody for the messages of support - much appreciated.
Arfor
 
Things are progressing!
The car was released by customs on 29th Sept, and was taken by road to Birkenhead on Monday 9th Oct. Many thanks to 912UK and to Andy Wishart who did the transporting. I travelled to Birkenhead and was delighted to see that the car was just as it was when I last saw it in Harare. It is now in the good care of Andy Kirk (a regular advertiser in Porsche Post), who is going to bring it back to life. Both Andys spoke approvingly about the condition of the car, which was very encouraging.
 
Great news Arfor, that you have finally got your car out of Zimbabwe. I suppose we should shout about it from the highest hills but is it possible there may be others also trying to export their cars in similar circumstances.
Lets hope your car will not be the last to escape.
I look forward to seeing it when it is back on the road.
Robin
 
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