Belgium to Tacoma...

Hi Craig,

Hopefully I'll have 2 or 3 weeks to enjoy the Alfa when it arrives in October before it is time for winter hibernation. Now through the end of October is the perfect time of year to be driving a non-A/C car over here in the desert.

Roland (Giulia Bianca) has shipped several cars to the U.S. ports so he has that part of it down cold and I just have to figure out what to do once it hits the port in Tacoma. I can send you more information on what shipper he uses if you wish. At the end of this adventure I'll sum up all the costs for everyone too and post them to the board.

My working hypothesis through all of this has been that the extra costs of shipping, import duty, etc. are offset by the fact that there is a much higher supply of Giulia sedans in Europe and therefore asking prices are more reasonable. So, I wouldn't say it's cheaper to bring one over from Europe, but at least you can find them where they are essentially non-existent on the market in the U.S. for the more desirable examples (meaning better condition, better engine than 1.3 or 1.6 single carb).

Gary

Gary, I agree completely!
Great cars are never cheap, but at least there is a good selection of great cars in Europe. Over the long haul, it's always better to buy the best condion you can afford. Enjoy her instead of trying to bring one back from the dead.

I would dare to say that your car is even nicer than the two Giulias that I brought from Germany ( with Roland's great help!!). But I was looking for low milage originals that were impossible to find in the states.

When was the last time you saw an unrestored, original, 33,k mile 1600 S ?
Or a beautiful '68 Super that needs nothing?

Oh, the reason that I have two is that I couldn't make up my mind on which one to buy and my wife said "why not get them both" !
I'll have to keep her around ;^)

Great fun!!

Hi Randy,

Your green 1600S is an exceptional all-original Giulia. Roland said that even with a minor ding or scratch here and there, it was an amazing find. In fact, he commented that had you not bought it, he would have himself! That's saying a lot given the condition of the Giulias that he already owns. So, I'd put your 1600S as a grade above mine as far as condition.

It's almost apples vs. oranges though with the transplanted engine in mine. Your priority was low mileage original (which you got in spades actually with both cars), while mine was the combination of the best setup driver (original or not) in combination with the overall condition, especially lack of rust. My only restrictions were that it couldn't be bright red (oddly I really like "off" shades of red though and I definitely found one of those) and it couldn't be a Nuova model.

When I started drooling over Roland's own Pino green 1.3 Super with 2.0 transplant "driver" in preference to his gorgeous Bianca white first series 1.6 Super show condition example, I think he probably knew I'd jump on this one when it came on the market. Up until a couple of years ago the Prugna car spent its life in Firenze, Italy (Florence) before coming to Belgium. Several of the brake and suspension upgrades Roland did on his Pino car he is also doing to my Prugna car (stainless steel brake lines, upgraded rotors/calipers, sway bar, upgraded springs and shocks, rear trailer arms, etc.) because the parts had already been purchased for the car, just not installed.

Attached is a picture of Prugna in Roland's car port along with his Pino and Bianca Giulias. Pino and Prugna look like nice complementary colors to me. In fact, I just noticed that if you tone down the brightness of Pino and Prugna you get your two Giulias

Gary

Gary74tii said:

Hi Craig,

Roland (Giulia Bianca) has shipped several cars to the U.S. ports so he has that part of it down cold and I just have to figure out what to do once it hits the port in Tacoma. I can send you more information on what shipper he uses if you wish. At the end of this adventure I'll sum up all the costs for everyone too and post them to the board.

Click to expand...

I just went through this, without a customs broker. It really is DEAD simple. You'll probably get an address of a shipping broker broker close to the port, where you need to go first. They make you pay some handling and terminal fees I paid like $125 total, but it probably varies by port/broker (mine came in through Houston). They will let you know in advance. They give you a release form (can't remember exactly off the top of my head what other forms, but they'll let you know and you'll have it ready) that you then take to customs, with your title documents. Customs will release your car (took me 3 minutes, no charges), and stamp/perforate your form. That form you take to the terminal, and you pick up your car. The whole thing took me about 1.5 hours, with 15-20 minute driving distances between the various stops...pm me if you need more detail, I can look it up for you!!

Great to see the pic pf your new car at Roland's place! Here are mine in the same spot!!!

Also, a couple of pics of the cars coming back from Germany.

I have driven Roland's early Super and his Pino (with 1300 motor) around Holland and Belgium. Loads of fun!

Last is a pic of the 'Giulia Guru' at the Zolder track near his home.

You will not find a nicer or more gracious Alfisti than Roland!

Randy