UglyFast

Me waiting for this 7... Lol

Frackin brilliant. Should've done it YEARS ago.

Unsaddle the horses. Your guess is as good as mine. Apparently the exam went well (bill to me to follow soon) but it's sitting at customs cause there's no carrier to take it back to the warehouse where we can go get it. Being told *maybe* next Monday Tuesday available for pickup. But that's a big guesstimate from my broker due to the glacial speed at which Govt moves AND Thanksgiving being RIGHT NOW. It is wild that as murky as this arduous process has been it is able to get even murkier as we (presumably) near the end. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Lol well it came via a very reputable, long standing dealer in Caterham's authorized US dealer network and I've been in direct contact with the CEO. Here's hoping that qualifies as too legit to quit. I assume all the paperwork was done and dusted. That's the expertise one buys with an experienced, authorized importer, yes? I am back to thinking I'll get my '22 Caterham actually on the road in '23... #NewOldCar. This first time ordering a brand new car has def been (clears throat) an experience...

Lol ShUt aLL tHe WaY Up Hahaha

Do you think they do anything differently on a CSR chassis import? I shouldn't think I'd have too many parts bags floating about in the crate? Drivetrain crate will have a few bags, yes?

Well... The saga continues: The container with my crates in it has been selected for a CET exam... Whatever that is. I googled for you all. And for my own bewildered amusement I guess. You cannot make this up. (I mean *I* am not creative enough to make this up) Apparently the CET (Contraband Enforcement Team) is looking for drugs or bombs. Lol good luck fitting drugs in a 7. You couldn't smuggle 3 ibuprofen in that car. It is made out of sprite cans, zip ties and English elbow grease. Best part: I will pay between $500-$1000 for the exam AND any storage fees (which there def WILL be). Luckily Bruce is steering the ship so to speak and has assured me this is nothing over which to stretch my neck. It's times like these I really wish I drank though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Insert pulling out hair gif lol

So she's at the dock.

So... I have a good buddy who builds race Porsches and BMWs. He offered to make the run. In theory we will get a lil notice, it will go to a warehouse after my 2 crates have been "unconsolidated" from the container. We will get a forklift guy at the warehouse to slide the crates on to his 18 foot trailer (it's very low as he rolls racecars on and off). We will strap the crates down using approx. 250 heavy duty straps and drive to his huge racecar shop. Once there, uncrate on the trailer, roll the roller down. Uncrate engine transmission etc. Install. Plumb. Spanner check. Then the fun begins. I will keep you all advised as the saga wraps up.

Okay okay okay, I am in contact with Brilliant Bruce and he has pulled me off the ledge. Pretty much all this is done and dusted, I think. I guess we can cancel the midnight raid on the Port of Charleston which is a bit of a relief cause let’s be honest, I am too pretty for jail!

Ummmm, I’m a lil panicky. After a delivery call where we talked about (no joke) the rough parking lot at my builders shop, I thought my role was simply chilling and waiting on a car. I. Am. Panic. Right now. (Emits very Nervous LOL). I will figure it out, I know Bruce will straighten me out with a call when he wakes up on the west coast. (I think most or all of this has been done, and I have just been blissfully unaware). If all else fails I will be back on the forum recruiting a crack team of highly skilled individuals to conduct a midnight op to “liberate” my crates from the port of Charleston. I’m thinking we call it Operation Scalded Cat!

Do I still need a broker if it's going to be "customs cleared"? I do know a fellow who used to be a customs broker, in a past life.

Also I just got dimensions so that seems to mean it is in fact crated.

Re: paperwork. Yes we did. This will be fully Customs-cleared

I'm not entirely sure of the registration process in SC. Someone way back when posted a big to do list that I will now frantically try and find. Lol. I'm not panicking, you're panicking!

You. A. Pimp.

So I think I have a day and a half to wait. I think ship will dock the 16th. Offload then maybe a couple days to clear customs?? Then I have it picked up? I mistakenly thought freight meant from England to me, but I now understand it means England to USA. Anyways, anyone have any thoughts about a freight company that can pick up a car, a car maybe on a pallet, or maybe a car in a crate? Unsure exactly how it was sent/packaged. Coast of South Carolina to the Upstate, about 3 hours. Have a shop with a dock ready and waiting. Appreciate all input.

Lololol. Stop. Hahahhaa

On a positive note, it seems if it hasn't sunk that it will be here a day earlier than expected...

The ship sank. Lol. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What a pretty lil car

Lol I'm scared to check. Ship is sorta in open water, but it REALLY looks like it's parked. Hahaha

Lolol. That's funny aF.