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She has to be certified but before that still had to clear Canadian Customs. when we moved back to Canada in '06 she was on the moving truck in pieces and I forgot to declare her at the border. went to the local airport a month later and they said I should wait till she was done as they had to see the VIN on the car. got a tow truck - brought her to the airport today.
Customs guy #1 "I've never had this before - goes to customs lady #2
Custom's lady #2 "I've never had this before = goes to customs lady #3.
Customs lady #3 "sir we need a receipt." answer, "I don't have a receipt, I was given the car. But I do have the ownership in my name."
"well we need a receipt."
"I don't have a receipt, but this (produce temporary ownership given when I transferred car) is what I have. Looks enough like a receipt, one hurdle cleared.
"you didn't declare it when you came?" No, I forgot. But this is what they told me to do" (Show her the bill of lading from the move with the customs stamps.)
"but how do we know it's the same car? the VIN isn't on the bill of lading."
"But I have the ownership and the car is outside with the VIN on it."
"what do you do for a living?" "I'm a Pastor." "So, you're not in the car business?" "no, it's my car"
"Oh, but the car was in pieces?" "Yes - I produce pictures."
(looks at pictures.) But since it was apart it isn't us, it's the Department of Transport." "No, it's you" (Produce email from DOT confirming this."
"But you didn't do it right." (getting sharp now) "Yes I did, I did exactly what I was told."
"Oh, well, let us check."
all walk off, "wait a minute" says I, "could someone please come look at the VIN on the car so I can send the truck on its way?" "Oh, OK"
Customs officer comes out - half the airport - security and pilots (it's a small airport) gathered around the car.
Officer climbs up on flatbed - "nice car." looks at VIN. "so, it was made in the UK?" "yes."
"you have a nice hobby."
returns to office.
I send off tow truck - return to office - Officer number 1 says, wait a few minutes. comes back. "what is the make of the car?" "it's an MG." "Does MG stand for anything?" "yes, Morris Garages but it's called an MG." "just MG?" "Yes, like BMW or VW." "Oh, and the model?" "It's a Midget." "that's a funny name, but it looks very stylish." "thank you"
"It was made in the UK?" "yes" "I can't remember is it left or right hand drive?" (what the $%^& does this have to do with the permit?" - inside voice) "it's left hand drive, most Midgets were exported to North America." "Oh, that explains it."
And, anticlimactically stamps the form and hands it to me, no fees no nothing - argggh! I hate beaurocracy
So, she's a legal alien - has her papers but can't work (drive) yet.
Then went to the shop where she as been dropped off - an actual MG shop. The tow truck driver had treated her as well loading as if it was his own car, to the point that when he dropped it off, he found a bolt and one drop of oil on the flatbed and wanted to make sure I knew.
Shop owner said it was the prettiest Midget he had ever seen. said most he knew, people bought, got started restoring or even got running and sold them on. It was nice to hear.
Everything else being equal, I should be driving next week.
Oh, and as she was being loaded, the neighbour's 3 year old came out to see the tow truck & car - Mom even took a picture for is scrapbook - he gets a ride later.
will post tow truck pics later
Customs guy #1 "I've never had this before - goes to customs lady #2
Custom's lady #2 "I've never had this before = goes to customs lady #3.
Customs lady #3 "sir we need a receipt." answer, "I don't have a receipt, I was given the car. But I do have the ownership in my name."
"well we need a receipt."
"I don't have a receipt, but this (produce temporary ownership given when I transferred car) is what I have. Looks enough like a receipt, one hurdle cleared.
"you didn't declare it when you came?" No, I forgot. But this is what they told me to do" (Show her the bill of lading from the move with the customs stamps.)
"but how do we know it's the same car? the VIN isn't on the bill of lading."
"But I have the ownership and the car is outside with the VIN on it."
"what do you do for a living?" "I'm a Pastor." "So, you're not in the car business?" "no, it's my car"
"Oh, but the car was in pieces?" "Yes - I produce pictures."
(looks at pictures.) But since it was apart it isn't us, it's the Department of Transport." "No, it's you" (Produce email from DOT confirming this."
"But you didn't do it right." (getting sharp now) "Yes I did, I did exactly what I was told."
"Oh, well, let us check."
all walk off, "wait a minute" says I, "could someone please come look at the VIN on the car so I can send the truck on its way?" "Oh, OK"
Customs officer comes out - half the airport - security and pilots (it's a small airport) gathered around the car.
Officer climbs up on flatbed - "nice car." looks at VIN. "so, it was made in the UK?" "yes."
"you have a nice hobby."
returns to office.
I send off tow truck - return to office - Officer number 1 says, wait a few minutes. comes back. "what is the make of the car?" "it's an MG." "Does MG stand for anything?" "yes, Morris Garages but it's called an MG." "just MG?" "Yes, like BMW or VW." "Oh, and the model?" "It's a Midget." "that's a funny name, but it looks very stylish." "thank you"
"It was made in the UK?" "yes" "I can't remember is it left or right hand drive?" (what the $%^& does this have to do with the permit?" - inside voice) "it's left hand drive, most Midgets were exported to North America." "Oh, that explains it."
And, anticlimactically stamps the form and hands it to me, no fees no nothing - argggh! I hate beaurocracy
So, she's a legal alien - has her papers but can't work (drive) yet.
Then went to the shop where she as been dropped off - an actual MG shop. The tow truck driver had treated her as well loading as if it was his own car, to the point that when he dropped it off, he found a bolt and one drop of oil on the flatbed and wanted to make sure I knew.
Shop owner said it was the prettiest Midget he had ever seen. said most he knew, people bought, got started restoring or even got running and sold them on. It was nice to hear.
Everything else being equal, I should be driving next week.
Oh, and as she was being loaded, the neighbour's 3 year old came out to see the tow truck & car - Mom even took a picture for is scrapbook - he gets a ride later.
will post tow truck pics later