The cheapest way to buy one is to buy one physically unseen from the USA. Ford dealers are a good source, as can be ebay. There are several routes for this and it can be less risky than you would imagine. Many good photographs are needed of course. Online car history checks are available using the chassis number, values can be had from the USA Kelly Blue Book online, you can call the USA for peanuts with a long distance deal, there is no excuse not to find a reputable dealer and buy direct.

Car shipping is a cut throat competitive market. You car can be shipped cheaper from the East Coast, which means Florida, South Carolina, New York and New Jersey as examples. You can ship to various ports in the South of England; Thamesport, Southampton etc. You can also ship from New Jersey to Liverpool if you are in the North, investigate a little. You choices with car shipping are container shipping or Roll-On Roll-Off shipping. (Ro-Ro.) I have used both and now lean toward Ro-Ro as it is cheaper and I had one damaged in a container. Get quotes from a few shippers, aim to pay less than a grand.

Shipping time will be about 4-6 weeks. Either the shipper or the shipping agent you use will arrange dockside clearance which has a few nominal fees attached. You have to pay your Import Duty before or on collection of the car, based on the declared value. Your documents and bill of sale should match that value. Bill of sale and USA Title documents (transferred to your name by the seller) go to the shipper and will arrive after the car by courier usually. If the car has had a lien on it, (finance) it needs a letter of clearance from the original lien holder to allow it to be exported, get the seller to get it. If the HMRC smell a rat with your declared value they will ask for the bill fo sale and proof of payment for a corresponding amount. Import duty is 10% on cars and 22% on trucks plus VAT on cost price, shipping and import tax. (Yes - tax on tax - greedy aren't they?)

Make sure you get the Customs certificate called a C&E 386 Original, if you dont get one but have a reference number, get in touch with the national HMRC Customs Clearing hub in Salford, Manchester. They will mail you one, you need this to register it.

So next you need an SVA test. Book it in at your nearest SVA centre as soon as the car arrives, waiting time can be a few weeks. The appointment comes by mail. It costs £158, and if they fail it on something, a re-test costs £32. Do the work as detailed on the other pages, and the car will sail through.

Having done these things, you now have your test certificate. Take it, the title documents and the customs C&E form to the nearest DVLA office, fill in a few forms, pay some more money and it is registered and it gets a log book through the mail thereafter. A specialist number plate supplier will make you up a set of US sized plates that will fit in the USA number plate apertures.

And thats it! I covered it all on a four page website. It is now your choice as to if you do it yourself or pay an extra few grand on top to a Mustang sales garage or a specialist Mustang importer. If you are a practical kind of a cove, and you have the cash on the hip, there is no reason why you cannot do it yourself.

There are no 'specialist secrets' to this enterprise of sourcing a Ford Mustang S197 from the USA, shipping it over and doing the SVA work. There should be enough links on these pages alone to assist you in finding the resources you need.

All you need to go with your shiny new Ford Mustang is a hot chick for the passenger seat. Over to your right you can see we have even thought of that for you! If you have found these pages useful, please post the link on a Mustang related forum for others to refer to or send them to your pals who may be considering a Mustang too.