New winter wagon....

Hi Folks,

We just bought a new winter wagon --- well you know a car to drive during the winter. We had a 97/98 Volvo V90 last year, and even if it's a very nice car it has the wheel on the wrong side (right hand steering), I also managed to bump the front bumper --- yep big arg on that one.. thankfully I can count on my single finger the amount of accidents I been involved in.

Anyways thought we could indulge myself in something a bit fancier than a V90 -- you know real wagon with unreal wood . So we got our self a 1990 Buick Estate Wagon, it's a one owner car but it's from the east coast so it's not perfect. However the thing is that it's cheap to ship from either Baltimore or NY/NJ area -- basic RoRo to Southampton UK is under $1k for a big car, that together with a nice price on the wagon and we decided it was a go... Beside the seller mailed us 2000x3000 pixel pics and didn't bather not taking or avoiding things that aren't prefect on the car so we felt pretty safe.. it also came with new tires and new brakes all around


I have attached some pics of it, I have to say I love the color combo dark blue with wood sides.. .. --- I also love the wheels.. one of my favorite late model wheels.. Anyways the wagon will be a great addition to our line of Buick wagons..

Now I'm on the lookout for three things for this wagon, and I thought you guys and gals could help me..

1 and 2: Inner fender panel on both sides-- it's rusty on both side.. don't ask me why since the car aint rusty elsewhere.. It's the #1 item in the spare part catalog illustration -- it's bolted to both the inner fender/wheelhouse (the latter one is plastic) -- the hinge for the hood is also bolted to this inner fender panel. Anyways it should be the same for a wagon from at least the early 80ties and up to 90.. -- don't know if the electra sedan is the same? Maybe somebody beside me is more familiar with the peculiarities of what will and what will not interchange... maybe your local pick and pull has a Buick ready to let it's inner fender panels go?..



3: There is a patch of the wood grain about the size of a (US) quarter that has gone. I though it might been so that some of you folks maybe had changed or fixed your wood grain and had a little bit left over – or maybe so that you know what vinyl woodgrain that is correct for the wagon so I could order a foot of it or so.. don't want to order the original overlay since it's rather expensive.. $150 or so..


Hmm well well, that it for now I think ..


Cheers Dyna

PS: The 1990 model was not called Electra Estate Wagon.. just Estate Wagon .....

 

Wow, That looks like a really clean wagon! I have been thinking about getting my car from tghe states, but all the hassle and a lot of the extra costs has kept me off this project up till now. If I get to personal, please say so, but couild you give me an estimate of the costs involved?
I really like to hear now from someone first hand.
By the way, how did you bought this car, I mean Ebay or a dealer?

 

really a nice wagon
me too, i love the combinaison with the blue and pale fake wood

 

Yep it's a clean wagon on the outside and the interior.. not that much to do beside the quarter sized woodgrain that is broken on the lower portion of the drivers door (you can see it if you look carefully). Well it's the inner fender panel too.. Anyways.. I hope it runs as well as it looks ..

I found it on CraigsList, it's a pretty popular classified list.. there quite a few local classified boards but CL is without a doubt the biggest one..


Cost.. well first you have the cost of the car... then you need to get the car to the shipper so you have that cost.. then you need to get the car across the pond so you have that cost, then it is the agent that want their blood and then finally it's the EU and your government want to suck some more blood.. 10% duty and XX% in VAT remember it's VAT on the total -- i.e all cost up until it reaches the border..

If you just ship one car RoRo is the cheapest way to go if it runs. The Buick is $950 to Southampton.. there is 1.3% of the value insurance on top of that – now the Buick was cheap so VAT and Duty will be some where in the roundabout $500 or so.. --- if you are smart and it's an expensive car you can take it in through another EU state some of them don't charge VAT on second hand cars count of on a the agent taking at least $300 or so to get the freaking car off the ferry and to your hand.. yep they are the biggest blood suckers in my view...


Anyways if it's a cheap car you can easily see it will cost about the same as the car it self . What you need to think about is that shipping inside of the US is pretty expensive.. although you can get away cheap if you use uship.com.. Hence a car costing say $1500 in Colorado will cost you at least $2000 when it's reaching LA – hence it's better to buy a more expensive and in better condition car close to the a port than paying for a object in the inlands..


It's cheaper to ship out of the east coast then from the west coast, it's simpler closer to Europe.. One thing to remember is that it's a lot cheaper to ship a lot of cars .. You can stuff 2 – 4 cars in a high cube 40 foot container.. usually you get three in there.. if you get your own container you can also stuff the container full with other things.. (build decks in there where you can have things such as tires, sheet metal, and other goodies.. ) -- if you get a container for your car it can also be a idea to talk with US car companies in your country they might be interested to pay a little to ship things with your container.. instead of them waiting to fill one of their own..


Hmm thats about it I think just ask if there is anything else..


Cheers Dyna

 

Nice looker, Dyna.
I can get you the actual GM part # and retail cost for that inner fender if you need it. Don't have any leads to the actual part, though.

 

nice grab DYNA
looks pretty spiffy

 

That would be a good thing to have do you mind getting the parts number for both driver and passenger side inner fender panel...

Cheers Dyna

 

Yep though so to -- will keep you guys updated.. should arrive by the end of next month at the latest...

Cheers Dyna

 

Inner fender panels: 1990 Buick Estate Wagon
RT side: 22523072 List $191.84
LT side: 22505305 List $189.00

My database shows the left side is a discontinued part.

 

Thanks for the number -- yep it look like that to me -- the discont I mean.. Funny thing is that I can get a whole car for that price....

Cheers Dyna

 

I found the inner fender panels !! And guess what they might look small and so but they are huge!! Take a look at the pic.. -- Ah yes it's my Vista Cruiser in the back ground...

Cheers Dyna

 

Obviously they are the main structure for the front of the car.

 

Makes me appreciate mine even more. Just PVC liners to keep the road muck off, the rest comes off with 4 bolts and 6 screws. Well, as long as you don't have to cut of the unibody panel.

 

Great Looking Wagon, Too bad you're not here in the states there are plenty of parts here for 77-90 GM wagons

 

GREAT FIND looks like Dyna! CONGRATS~! From these photos it almost looks TOO nice to be a "Winter Driver" but do they use much Salt or whatever over there?? (more IMPORTANTLY have you recieved the car yet?!?!? Anxious to hear IF it's as nice as the photos show! SURE HOPE so!!) Let us know - but I'd say you're safe! You have the Patience of a Saint because I can't seem to find anything on that "Craigs List" when I want to! GOOD LUCK with it all!