Step-By-Step Guide to doing the London to Brighton VCR | Part 3 of 4

 STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO DOING THE VCR

PART 3 of 4

STEP 12 – A BABY IN THE BELLY

Some years ago, I was looking out the window of San Francisco International Airport's Terminal 1 across the apron to where a British Airways 747 passenger jet was being loaded.  Pallets of net covered suitcases were being stowed in the main cargo hold which was b-o-r-ing to watch.  However, in the queue of boring luggage staged for loading there was item that was quite unexpected – a bright red early-60s MG Midget.

What??? You can have a car in the cargo hold of a passenger aircraft while you’re upstairs reclined on your lay-flat bed sipping fresh squeezed orange juice and munching on warm salted nuts?  I thought cars were only shipped on passenger-less planes.  But my eyes didn’t deceive me so the answer must be “yes” if it meets the airline and aircraft cargo criteria.  

Unfortunately, the terms "air cargo" and "air freight" are used interchangeably by the shipping industry to describe moving something from one place to another.  However, if I were to define the terms purely on syntactics I'd come up with the following:

“Air Cargo”: The MG was simply being added to the existing “cargo” capacity of a passenger flight, hence it was “air cargo”.  ETIHAD airways has a service called FlightValet aboard certain of their passenger aircraft with specially configured cargo holds that illustrate this perfectly.

Photo courtesy of ETIHAD Cargo Flight Valet

“Air Freight”:  If the MG were sent in a dedicated “freight” only aircraft (i.e. no passengers) it would be, you guessed it, “air freight”.

Photo courtesy of ETIHAD Cargo

At any rate, even with the MG being Air Cargo, the math doesn’t add up for it flying aboard a passenger configured 747.  I’ll tackle it anyways since there’s a calculator sitting here on my desk, and I promised a microscopic level of detail in this Step-By-Step guide.

If you wish to skip past my mathematical musings, you can scroll down to the photo of a RED FLAG and continue reading from there.

The Main Cargo Door on the port wing of your average Boeing 747 passenger jet measures:

104 inches Width x 66 inches Height 

The cargo door is at least 33 inches too small for the MG Midget to be loaded parallel to the fuselage and perpendicular loading is completely out of the question.

According to Wikipedia the MG’s overall dimensions are:

137 inches Length x 54 inches Width x 48.5 inches Height

Because I couldn’t watch the MG long enough to see it being loaded, there's at least one possibility for how it made its way into the cargo hold.

The Load Master angling the MG in through the cargo door, then straightening the vehicle once inside the fuselage is a potentially viable solution.

Aside from the MG’s dimensions, there are other known values which will give us some idea if angle loading is possible.

First, we’ll establish the diagonal dimension of the MG to determine the longest dimension corner to corner in case we need it.

diagonal = √ (width ² + length ²) = √(54² + 137²⁾ ≈ 147 inches

Second we’ll determine angles and distances based on two of the 747’s dimensions.

The cathetus (adjacent / opposite) “a” / “b”

a = cargo deck width = 96 inches

b = cargo door width = 104 inches

The hypotenuse “c”

c = maximum depth of cargo that can be inserted through door before contacting fuselage on distal end at angle ∠β

The right-angle bisector “h”

h = maximum width of cargo that can be inserted at the optimal angle of insertion

∠α = optimal insertion angle calculated longitudinally to the fuselage

I’ll spare you the calculations and jump right to the results which are…

∠α = 42.709° =  42° 42' 34"

∠β = 47.291° =  47° 17' 26"

h = 70.54113 inches which is 16.54113 inches wider than the MG 

(It’s tight but it fits angle wise!)

c = 141.53445 inches which is 4.53445 inches longer than the MG

(It fits this way too!  However, I’m not accounting for the thickness or curvature of the fuselage which may conflict with the MG’s 147 inch diagonal unless someone steers it sharply once the vehicle nears the distal end of “c” near ∠β)

If my logic and math are correct, then it is indeed possible to squeeze an MG through a Boeing 747 passenger jet cargo door.  Pretty sketchy but possible.

Theoretically you could front load your Veteran Car into the cargo hold of a 747-passenger jet (from Wherever You Are In The World) to London.  However, passenger versions of the aircraft don’t have flip up nosecones and the oversize volume and weight (a mere 1,500 lbs. above the 50 lb. checked luggage limit) charges would likely be much higher than sending your baby via Air Freight which we’ll do immediately following the…

Microsoft image

If you’re reading this, you either slogged through my remedial math or skipped it.  Kudos to the math readers, pity for the others who don’t know what they missed.  Let’s continue moving forward…

WAYS TO SHIP

What STEP 12 should have started with is a look at the three most common ways to ship a vehicle from Wherever You Are In The World to London:

1) Roll-On/Roll-Off Shipping (aka “RORO”):  This method of transporting vehicles internationally was created by Japanese auto manufacturers who needed to move their cars to markets in America and Europe.  The shipping methodology is described in the name itself – Roll the car On the ocean bound vessel at the port of origin and Roll it Off at its destination. 

RORO is the least expensive option for shipping a car internationally but with several distinct disadvantages:

a) It is the least protective for one’s vehicle including potential exposure to salt laden air,

b) It will take longer to reach the destination, and

c) ocean freight is often delayed due to weather and other reasons like port strikes, etc.

2) Containerized Shipping:  In this method, the vehicle is secured inside of a metal cargo container (often shared with another vehicle) and loaded aboard an ocean bound vessel. 

This is more protective and more expensive than “RORO” but comes with the same drawbacks noted above. 

3) Air Freight:  Shipping a car by air is the costliest method of transporting a vehicle overseas but it is also the fastest, most predictable, and safest way.

Aerial View of Tillbury Docks, Essex, UK

Out of curiosity, I got a formal Containerized Ocean Shipping quote from a freight forwarder who appeared towards the top of the web search results.

There are several things I immediately noticed regarding the Ocean Freight quote:

• the vehicle would be placed in a container (we can assume it is shared)
  
  
• because the vehicle is over 12 years of age, it would only be insured for “TOTAL LOSS” but not “ALL RISK”
  
  
• in my scenario the vehicle would first be transported 380 miles by truck from San Francisco to the Port of Long Beach where it would then be loaded onto a cargo ship.  I find this strange because the San Francisco Bay Area has some of the largest shipping ports on the West Coast of America.
  
  
• the voyage duration from the Port of Long Beach to London Gateway Deep Water Seaport in Thurrock, Essex would be 42 days

It would be around $3K for shipping a vehicle one-way in a cargo container or $6K - $7K round-trip including insurance.)  That’s 1/10 the cost of our veteran car and I’d say it’s pretty reasonable.

But forty-two (42) days is a long time to be at sea with the clock ticking.  Our bucket of cash isn’t going to spend itself so let’s pour out more money and $hip our brass era baby quickly via Air Freight.

But first there’s an interesting … 

OPTIONAL FANCY FOOTWORK STEP: SASHAY-CHASSE

Everything I written in this section reminds me of a 2018 video I saw of a YouTube personality receiving his Ferrari airside at LHR.  The video gives a clear idea of what the arrival and customs retrieval of a vehicle entering LHR by Air Freight looks like.

If you want to make a similar video of your brass era baby emerging from the belly of a plane it isn’t impossible but does require jumping through a few hoops.

When I made inquiry with the Heathrow Media Centre about the YouTube video above, I was informed that it was created as a segment for LHR’s regular media programming.  As such, it is likely that there were fewer hoops to clear being that it was an in-house project.

But if we’re trying to be an overachiever and would like to attempt creating a non-commercial video, our first stop will be securing permission to film airside from our Air Freight carrier.  Once we have secured said permission, we can either attempt to get a non-commercial filming permit from LHR or alternately hire a commercial videographer to film the car’s arrival.  If we choose to do the latter of the two, our videographer will need to apply for a Filming Permit, submit to background checks, and provide at least £10 Million in public liability insurance.

Making a video to share with the car collector world is a time consuming and expensive step which I’d personally love to do, but that red flag guy from STEP 1 has appeared again and is pointing at the bucket of cash.  So, a very cool idea but one that's impractical given our time and financial constraints.

There is one more idea that comes to mind and I think it might sidestep all the bureaucratic hoops.  How about asking LHR if they would like to create a video of brass era baby’s arrival for their regular programming.  Of course, it would need to be arranged so we could be there as talent to commentate on the spectacle.  On a scale from Impossible to Doable I’m going with fairly “Doable”.

STEP 12 continued… With the sashay out of the way we can get back to where we left off which was getting our brass era baby from Wherever You Are in the World to London.

We will be shipping our car with freight forwarder CARS which is an acronym for Classic Automotive Relocation Services who’ll be doing all the heavy lifting (both literally and figuratively).

THE BUREAUCRACY AND PAPERWORK

When transporting a vehicle into the UK you will need to notify the HM Revenue & Customs office about the temporary arrival of a non-UK private motor vehicle for personal use; however there are certain rules surrounding the use of a vehicle with foreign number plates without registering it or taxing it in the UK. 

ALL the following conditions must apply to allow the temporary importation:

• you’re visiting and do not plan to live here (in the UK)
  
• the vehicle is registered and taxed in its home country (Wherever You Are In The World)
  
• you only use the vehicle for up to 6 months in total - this can be a single visit, or several shorter visits over 12 months (our vehicle will be in London for a max of 90 days)

We meet all the criteria above.  So far, so good.  But wait… there’s more!

If you bring a vehicle to England, Scotland or Wales you DO NOT pay VAT or duty on a vehicle if you temporarily import it and ALL of the following apply:

• it’s for your own private use (Yes)
  
• you’re not a UK resident (We’re not)
  
• you do not sell, lend or hire it within the UK (Nope)
  
• you re-export it from the UK within 6 months - or longer if you’re eligible to use foreign number plates for longer (that’s the plan)

NOTE:  I did not see any import restrictions or conditions preventing you from “driving it like you stole it”  Just saying.

Once again, we meet all the conditions, but now comes the paperwork to prove all the above.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO GATHER

This is the perfect time to gather the following documents most of which you’ve probably already done when we applied for the VCC Passport and/or Dating Certificate.

• A minimum of two forms of government-issued identification such as a (valid) Driver’s License and Passport.

• Personal information such as your Name, Phone Number(s), Physical Street Address, and E-Mail Address.

• Your vehicle’s year, make, and model, as well as Chassis, Motor or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

• Proof of ownership such as the Bill of Sale, Original Title, (legible copies of both sides front and back of said Title) and Current Vehicle Registration.

If there are names other than your own on the ownership documents (e.g. the car is financed or held as collateral against other debt) you’ll need to provide notarized copies of any Lien Notices against the vehicle including all contact information for said lienholder.  You’ll also need a signed Letter of Authorization from the lienholder granting you permission to ship the vehicle overseas.

(We own our car outright and haven’t borrowed against it, so all this is a non-issue for us – thank you bucket of cash)

• Payment information for engaging the freight forwarder such as Credit Card or Bank Wire Transfer details. 

(I wasn’t asked for this but a Bank Letter of Guarantee showing adequate deposit funds to cover shipping would be prudent to have on the off chance it’s requested)

• Current Insurance Policy for the vehicle

(make certain coverage is valid overseas)

Make digital copies of everything in case you misplace the originals while traveling.

You will apply for temporary importation of a private motor vehicle and claim VAT relief by filling in Form C110 and taking your vehicle through the “Nothing To Declare” channel when you arrive in the UK. 

Actually, we don’t need to worry about receiving the vehicle in-person because CARS will nominate an “arrival agent” at LHR to complete customs formalities and have the car released.  After CARS has released the vehicle from Customs, they retain custody of said vehicle until it reaches its destination which we will see in STEP 14. 

I casually skipped past a few other important things which CARS handles other than booking an air freight flight such as:

• obtaining a Certificate of Origin for your vehicle from the Chamber of Commerce
  
  
• collecting your vehicle from your home location (if required)
  
  
• receiving the vehicle at their customs bonded export warehouse
  
  
• completing all customs formalities (aka “Carnet de Passages en Douane” – fancy French name for a document which acts as passport for your vehicle allowing it temporary importation (“admission temporaire”) for up to 1-year across international borders without incurring customs duties.)
  
  
• completing all airline hazardous goods and security pre-checks
  
  
• witnessing the vehicle being loaded/unloaded from the shipping pallet
  
  
• arranging onward transfer of the vehicle (which we will get to in STEP 14)

For owners who are concerned about protecting their vehicle from possible damage during Air Freight transit, CARS has an optional bespoke “wooden flight crate” service - think of it as a giant suitcase for your car.

OUR SAMPLE SHIPMENT

For our quotation example, I’ve chosen to ship a 1903 Locomobile from SFO to LHR to SFO with the following vehicle specifications:

62 inch (158 cm) WIDTH

97 inch (246 cm) LENGTH

56 inch (142 cm) HEIGHT

965 pounds (438 kg) WEIGHT

I’ve taken the liberty of doing the following with respect to said Outbound shipment:

We’ll use our own tow vehicle and bespoke trailer to deliver our Veteran Car directly to the Freight Forwarder’s Customs Bonded Warehouse (probably within a few miles of the airport).

Opted for a “flight crate” for the outbound segment of this round trip.  Once crated, the vehicle will remain in bond until loaded onto the air freighter.

Opted for Marine Transit Insurance to cover ALL RISK and TOTAL LOSS to the vehicle while in flight.  This insurance was quoted at $900 based on an assumed value of $100K for the vehicle itself.

I was informed that our subject vehicle would be transferred from San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX) via truck to be consolidated with other vehicles from the region before traveling to London (LHR).

Vehicle will then be uncrated at LHR and transported to Central London by an enclosed trailer or lorry which has been contracted by CARS.  The Marine Transit Insurance will be suspended at this point and replaced by either the trailer/lorry contractor’s liability insurance or that of CARS itself, or both.

Quoted cost for the Outbound shipment as detailed above (SFO to LHR) = $22,000

That’s a number I can live with given the flight crate.  However…

For the Inbound journey of our 1903 Locomobile from London to San Francisco I’ve specified the following:

• CARS will retrieve the Locomobile from a predetermined location immediately following The Run (assuming it crosses the finish line in Brighton).  If a total vehicle breakdown occurs along the route, then another pick-up point would need to be determined and mutually agreed upon.

• After the vehicle is retrieved and placed in custody of CARS, they will transport it to a secure location (probably their warehouse in Surrey or Suffolk) to begin the export process back to San Francisco or Wherever You Are In The World.

• Opted to forgo the flight crate for the return flight(s) from LHR to SFO to assess the potential cost savings.

• Opted to purchase the same Marine Transit Insurance as above $900

The quoted cost for the Outbound journey + the Inbound journey as detailed above is.  You really want to know?  

$63,845 with insurance and minus the flight crate.

Almost triple the one-way with the crate.  Yeah, I don’t get it either but the official explanation at the time of writing was “supply chain issues affecting shipping rates”.  I had no idea the rates were so volatile.

Maybe shop around with a few different freight forwarders who specialize in international auto transport to see how they compare.  In fact, I’m thinking for that price I might try to Air Cargo baby in the belly of my flight to London. It may actually cost less than using Air Freight and I can stick around at the gate and videotape it being unloaded from the cargo hold of the plane.  

As you might imagine, there’s loads of paperwork involved in the shipping process all of which will be handled by CARS European Customs Brokerage Department which has streamlined the process by having direct links to UK HM Revenue and Customs.

NOTE:  I have been in contact with CARS for the shipping portion of this STEP as they were the preferred freight forwarder for the VCR and have extensive experience shipping VCR participant vehicles.  All my interactions with CARS have been par excellence and they’ve answered every question I asked promptly and in great detail.  My sincere thanks to CARS for their assistance in understanding much of what I have just shared with you.

We’ve arrived in London now with a bit of jet lag, but this is no time to dawdle because it’s time for STEP 13 when we TAKE ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK