Buffalo MIke

I'm aware of the shipping costs. What I was looking for is a government link explaining the difference between importing a new kit car W/O drivetrain, and importing a used KIT car W/O drivetrain. Removing the drivetrain on a motorcycle engine seven, and supplying my own engine I don't think would be a big deal. I'm sure it's no secret with the NHTSA when a new Caterham "KIT" comes across the pond that it will most likely be driven on the road, and it is NOT a 1966 Super Seven like lucky dawgs 2012 CSR. And I know I'm stirring the pot a bit, and pushing it being a newbie, but didn't the NHTSA seize some Land Rovers for building them with under 25 year old parts and titling them as being much older. I think lucky dawg needs to surrender his car to the authorities immediately, and cough up some fine money. Better yet, don't pay so I can purchase it at a government auction to use as a track car, wait a bit, and title it as a 1962 lotus!

So, what if you imported a Caterham, Westfield etc. that's less than 25 years old from the UK and shipped the drivetrain separately to the US? And NOT in the same crate. Has anyone done this? The other link was kinda vague about this. Would the same rules apply that apply to new lotus 7 kit cars? Does anybody have a government link that explains importing kit cars?

I looked at the Stalker, but I have these visions of a modern British made Lotus 7 with ford power. Right now a Caterham is out of my price range. And I really want to build a car, so used is out of the question. And locost768, Alden is in Western New York. I do a lot of frame replacements at work, and the thought of stripping a donor car, and a big pile of parts, not to mention fairly light parts, has me pretty excited.

Thought I would introduce myself for the first post. I'm a technician (auto), and I'm an electrical engineering technology (EET) student, married with a crazy little boy. My plan is to have a seven kit in my garage next summer. Right now I'm trying to decide between a Westfield, GBS, or a Tiger. I want to use a Duratec-Merkur drivetrain, and have not yet found out if you can use Merkur parts in place of Sierra parts. I also plan on getting the wider kit with lowered floor, and need to do some brain picking to see if I can fit into one of these cars. I have size 12.5 foot (US), am 6' 2", and have a 33" inseam. Any thoughts?