Hello Solent Renegades!
I've just registered myself having found this site.
My name is Dan, I live in Waterlooville and just got my first yank tank in September 2014. Although I actually bought it in October 2013, I had trouble with the import, which I will explain later!
I've always loved American cars and vowed to have one some day. I often have a look at what's going on ebay etc but one day decided to look on ebay US, and spotted a 73 Mercury Marquis. This thing really did it for me so I bought it there and then! I should mention I had no plans to buy anything, no thought given to budget and I had no experience of importing stuff either!
So, the car is a 73 Mercury Marquis Brougham, full size beast of a thing. It's got a Ford big block 429ci (7.0 litre) V8 with column shift auto box.
It originally came from Georgia state, but I got it from a dealer in Illinois. This is what caused my problems! The car didn't have a title as Georgia don't issue them on stuff this old so the plan was to use a bill of sale to export it from the US. This wasn't accepted for some reason so I had to get the dealer I got it from to reregister it in Illinois, then get a valid title that way! It all took time but went ok in the end!
So here it is.



Since it arrived here and got an mot/registration I've had to change the starter (failed on the trip home!) alternator, reset carb mix and idle, timing was a mile out and various other bits and pieces. From what I gather it had spent several years off the road back in the US so it was inevitable some things would need attention once it was made to be drivable again.
Hopefully now winters nearly over I can get it out on the road and give it some use!
I also own a 74 mk2 Capri, 84 Transit van and a 85 mk2 Granada! - I just can't help myself!
I've just registered myself having found this site.
My name is Dan, I live in Waterlooville and just got my first yank tank in September 2014. Although I actually bought it in October 2013, I had trouble with the import, which I will explain later!
I've always loved American cars and vowed to have one some day. I often have a look at what's going on ebay etc but one day decided to look on ebay US, and spotted a 73 Mercury Marquis. This thing really did it for me so I bought it there and then! I should mention I had no plans to buy anything, no thought given to budget and I had no experience of importing stuff either!
So, the car is a 73 Mercury Marquis Brougham, full size beast of a thing. It's got a Ford big block 429ci (7.0 litre) V8 with column shift auto box.
It originally came from Georgia state, but I got it from a dealer in Illinois. This is what caused my problems! The car didn't have a title as Georgia don't issue them on stuff this old so the plan was to use a bill of sale to export it from the US. This wasn't accepted for some reason so I had to get the dealer I got it from to reregister it in Illinois, then get a valid title that way! It all took time but went ok in the end!
So here it is.



Since it arrived here and got an mot/registration I've had to change the starter (failed on the trip home!) alternator, reset carb mix and idle, timing was a mile out and various other bits and pieces. From what I gather it had spent several years off the road back in the US so it was inevitable some things would need attention once it was made to be drivable again.
Hopefully now winters nearly over I can get it out on the road and give it some use!
I also own a 74 mk2 Capri, 84 Transit van and a 85 mk2 Granada! - I just can't help myself!