The car is packed and Europe awaits

[Jack P.]

Car sets sail tomorrow for Europe

Should I be be worried...?

The said it the ship was the latest model.....and the price was right..



It should arrive on the 27th.........that is what the shipping clerk said

Jack

[Don H.]

Re: Car sets sail tomorrow for Europe

Jack,
that looks like the steamer that Carl Denham and Jack Driscoll rode to Skull Island to find King Kong. If you car fails to show up where it is supposed to, check Skull Island in the Indian Ocean. Good luck

[Oliver B.]

Re: Car sets sail tomorrow for Europe

Hi Jack, how exactly do you plan your arrival here in Germany? On the German corvetteforum I read a post of Martin, that you are looking for a pick-up at the Hamburg airport and I'm thinking if / how I could make it... (To be honest, I cannot yet tell if I can can fit it into my timetables - still checking that out...)
What are your plans? Head directly to BHV (Bremerhaven) or stay for the night before going there? You know it's not far, but you may be tired...... Do you already have contacts (at least address where to pick-up your car and settle the paperworks) in BHV? (I can imagine you would appreciate some help when discussing with customs...) What will be your next stop after that?

If you give me some details, I'll see what can be done...

[Oliver B.]

Re: Car sets sail tomorrow for Europe

Hey listen, Jack, this is what I can do for you:
- I can rearrange my schedules and pick you up from the airport
- then I can take you to BHV and help you getting your car released from customs (well, my experience may be a bit rusty because it's 20yrs. ago that I did the same when importing my 1977 Vette from FL. - but at least I already have done it once. My int'l Marine insurance background may also come in handy there...)
- afterwards we can go back to Hamburg "convoy-style" together to get you acquainted with German traffic (another set of hands/tongue might be of value in case "something goes wrong"...)


As we are in the process of rebuilding our home, unfortunately I cannot give you a place to stay for the night, but there is a cheap and nice Motel in our town and in walking distance from our house, in case you prefer to leave your Vette on our premises instead of in front of the Motel.
I can make a reservation there for you, if you wish (and in case nobody else from Hamburg will step in for your accomodation)... Here you have a link, to review the Motel for yourself - cost is between EUR 30 and 40 for the night.
It will be an honor for me to show you Hamburg and take you out for dinner to round up your first day in Europe then.

Concerning time-planning and your fly-in-time: my recommendation would be to align it with the day your car will be able to get released from customs. (Just get that date confirmed by you shipping agent/their correspondence partner in Germany!)
I that case we could drive directly from the airport to BHV (some 2,5hrs driving).
Taking a day off on Tue Aug 28 would work perfectly for me...
If you prefer to fly-in at an earlier date, I should be able to work out something as well, but getting it all done in one day, (frankly) would work out better for me...

Okay, your call now - looking forward from hearing from you. (You can find my e-mail address in my profile...)

[Jack P.]

Re: Car sets sail tomorrow for Europe

If I had Fay Ray waiting for me on Skull , I would stay on board....just don't forget the gas bombs to knock out big boy....

PS

You can track the ship by going to this link and typing in MSC EMMA for vessel

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/#

[Jack P.]

The car is going to NEW YORK now !

Good Evening to All,

The car is in the container, waiting to be put on aboard the MSC EMMA on August 9th. Here is a link to a picture of it.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/sho...px?imo=9275646

My posts over the next few days will contain information on the following subjects:

Car preparation
Insurance
Shipping/ Air Travel
Travel permits
Routes
Gas / Oil Needs
Legal Passport Travel Permits
Forum Member Locations Car Locations
Mechanical Support Abroad
Family and Financial Support

As you can see, there are many factors that must be addressed in order for this trip to take place.

Lets start with Car Preparation. I am second owner 42 + years.

1966 L-79 327/350 All items replaced or rebuilt for 48 state trip 2010 and European trip 2012. Most installation work done by me except for engine work, steering box, ball joints/bushings and paint job 2010.

Original Engine .060 , new pistons 9.2 cr miles two years old
Over 300,000 miles, original crank, rods (40,000) miles on rebuild since 2010

All wheel bearings checked and in good condition
New stock shocks, bushings , new u-joints all shafts.

New DeWitt radiator , original steering box rebuilt , tie rods ends and sleeves replaced and new lower ball joints

Oil change and filter, transmission and rear end fluids checked...new plugs r45s, Stealth one wire TI, distributor rebuilt, new shaft, bushings.

New tires 215 R70 whitewalls, seats rebuilt and recovered and new soft top and weatherstrip.

I drive the car every day and feel I have a very reliable car.

I will not have a spare tire as I need the room for tents and supplies, I carry a small amount of tools that would allow me to fix most minor problems that may come up. I may have to add some emergency equipment, once I get the car through customs depending on German inspectors....

I believe that I can get any parts that I may need from local vendors or other Corvette owners who are hosting me.

Most of my restoration was done using Zip Corvette Supply. Good service and choice of repo or replacement for parts....Most vendors carry the same parts....it is service that is the most important and I have never had a problem with getting a return or money refunded.

My next post with be on shipping and paper work needed to take your car to Europe

I will be happy to answer any questions on car prep....that you may have....


You can track the ship by going to this link and typing in MSC EMMA for vessel


http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/#


Jack

[Jack P.]

Travel Update

Ok folks, here is the latest news on trip schedules.


The car/container arrives in Bremerhaven , Germany on the 30th or so of September. Container is transferred to a tramp steamer, that takes it to Oslo, Norway by the 5th of September.


I will ship the car back from Norway the week of October 22-27


I wonder around the docks until I find the right place, unload car from container, show documents to Customs (no duty or taxes in Norway if you do not stay more than 1 year ) .


I fly into Oslo on the 3rd of September, it is about a 13 -15 hour flight from Portland ME / Newark / Oslo . Leave at 12:45 pm on Sunday and arrive at 10 am , Monday in Oslo.


Spend two days in and around Oslo waiting for car to arrive.


On the road I hope by the 6th heading north to Trondheim, Norway.


Members of the Corvette Club of Norway and AMCAR will be helping me get the car and attend little gatherings of car owners.


After that I have to watch out for bears, deer and moose on the roads, not very many people, just like Maine...


I will post some costs and details later....right now I am working on becoming a Cinematographic expert....should be fun....lots of pictures and 90 second videos coming your way...


Jack

[Rob M.]

Re: Travel Update

Jack,

When is you ETA in the Netherlands? I'm often in Thailand in Q3 and Q4 this year but I also about 1/2 my time in NL so I hope we can meet so I show the Amsterdam and Noth Holland province area to you. It would be nice it you could sleep over at my place and visit my workshop (nearby my house). I live app. 35 km. North of A'dam so it shouldn't be too hard to fit a visit in your travel schema...

regards,
Rob.

[Jack P.]

Re: Travel Update

Jack,

When is you ETA in the Netherlands? I'm often in Thailand in Q3 and Q4 this year but I also about 1/2 my time in NL so I hope we can meet so I show the Amsterdam and Noth Holland province area to you. It would be nice it you could sleep over at my place and visit my workshop (nearby my house). I live app. 35 km. North of A'dam so it shouldn't be too hard to fit a visit in your travel schema...

regards,
Rob.

Hi Rob,

It would be great to see you and visit. I have to be in Oslo by the week of Oct 25 , 2012. I will be in the Netherlands around mid Oct. . I am in Cap de Agde for a car show September 21-23. Then head northwest through France, heading to Paris, then I must figure how to see western Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark as I head back to Olso, via ferry from tip of Denmark . My flight home is for the 29th of October, and my car insurance is good till Oct 25th.

I will really know more once I start to drive, it is too bad that I am a month behind, I have to cover that same distance, but with 30 less days...I drive from September 6th to Oct 25th.

Let us say I am going for Oct 15 to be in the low lands. That will give me ten days to get to Oslo, and 25 days to wander in France and Germany... from the car show in Cap de Agde

Jack

[Rob M.]

Re: Travel Update

Hi Jack,

I'll be in Thailand from 15 till 29th of October so if you can be here before of after that period than I'm 100% available to you to show you around in my country (I even will throw in a visit into a windmill if you want ;-)...

regards,
Rob.

[Jack P.]

Re: Travel Update

I will try my best....we shall know in a month or so as I am the road......I will really try hard....

Jack

[Erik S.]

Re: The car is packed and Europe awaits

Will be in China last week of October, but pretty sure other Dutch chapter members are happy to jump in, which obviously does not mean that we are not trying our best to be there to catch up again after Novi

[Jack P.]

Oslo Norway it is

Hello to all,


It has been a hectic week , but it looks like the car will be in Oslo on the 5th of September. I should not have any problems with Norway Customs as I have all the documentation needed and Norway provides for foreign car use with US plates without duty taxes as long as you do not stay in residence for more than a year...I think 3 days should satisfy that requirement.


I can't wait to get behind the wheel again. It will be almost a month without my car...


Like many of you, my car was my stress relief , just go for a ride and things seem less pressing...


I will have 2 days in Oslo to see the sites and meet local corvette owners....hope to post some pictures soon


Jack

[Jack P.]

The ship is in range.....

Wait , Wait, just checked, the boat is in the North Sea , just west of Denmark , heading to Bremerhaven.


The MSC EMMA is in range when you look at the Location Map. Just type MSC EMMA in vessel box

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/#


It is due in 27th of August. aboard MSC EMMA


Then by coastal cargo ship to Oslo on the 3rd, arriving on the 5th of September.


I should be driving in 10 or 11 days....


Jack

[Jack P.]

Re: The ship is in range.....

Hi, the car/container is in Bremerhaven waiting for a local cargo ship to pick it up and deliver it to Oslo on the 5th of September.


You can check by typing in MSC Sandra in vessel box on this site


I arrive on the 3rd.....should be on the road by the 6th , I hope










http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13463308471082


or this could be me... at airport....