On the road to Mongolia

This is a travel post - maybe not in a Landy - but natch, there is a Landy link.

Not long after we had embarked on our own travels through France, Spain and Portugal (in the Landy), we received a letter from a friend in the UK.

Like us, he had a Series III 109 with a V8, so there was never a shortage of conversation. Might have been a shortage of different topics - but who needs more than one?

He worked within a radius of up to 100 or so miles from home. When he rewired our Series after the rebuild - there was no charge. A genuine Land Rover mate.

Anyway, his letter told us he was off to work for a private company which ran maintenance contracts on a British Army base in a previously war-torn country. As with most of these international interventions, the role had changed to peacekeeping and reconstruction.

The next time he got in touch, he was off south - to somewhere colder. This confused us both. South is invariably warmer. Unless it is Antarctica. On his way back home, via what seemed like half of South America, he called in to see us in Spain - as you do.

In fact, he flew into Malaga, found the bus to our village, and when we were still busy cleaning the place for his arrival there was a knock on the door. Were we ever impressed. 'Hello,' he said, and smiled.

A good week or so ago, we g0t an email announcing the next short journey he's going on. Mongolia. In an ambulance.

So below are some links - ones for his team, and the official web site for The Adventurists.

I'd never heard of The Adventurists before, but it's a fascinating site, if a bit of a pain to negotiate.

And the other relevant Landy comment is - you can't take one on any of The Adventurist expeds :( Unless - it is a public service utility vehicle, eg ex-mil ambulance or fire engine, but you would have to check up on that. If I'm wrong, no doubt someone will correct me.

Nevertheless - well worth a read. Suggested page on the official site if you want detail is the handbook download. Most of the rest of the sections are pretty pix but don't tell you much.

Teams participating in the rally raise fifty per cent of their money for a local specified charity in Mongolia, and the other fifty per cent is for a charity chosen by the team.

Each team needs to be self-supporting as there is no official back-up or support team. When they hit the road, they are on their own.

Good luck to our mate and his colleagues from work in the Antarctica - not long to go now to the start date, 23rd July from Goodwood UK. Hope to read about your all your adventures on the team blog. Have a great trip.

Main links posted on here will also be included on the sidebar for easy reference.

Adventurists' home page

Mongol rally link on Adventurists' site (download of handbook available on this link)

Mongols blog

The ambulance(s)

Import duty into Gib - update

We had a query about importing a vehicle into Gibraltar so I thought I would answer it in a main post so everyone gets to see the answer. (Original post here).

Here were the questions:

What is the accurate duty fee to pay? Is it 30%, 40%, 12%?

And how does it vary depending on engine size?

How is the value determined and is it worth using an online evaluation of the plates to get an idea of how much will be required to pay?

thx for the usefull article!

My article referred to importing a second hand vehicle. The duty for these is as follows:

Up to 1500cc - 25%
From 1500 - 2000cc - 30%
More than 2000cc - 35%

For new vehicles the duty is less (ie half the second hand duty):

Up to 1500cc - 12.5%
From 1500-2000cc - 15%
More than 2000cc - 17.5%

That answers the first two questions.

The value of the vehicle is determined by the customs officer who examines it. Bear in mind this is part of their daily job and they are experienced at it. We considered we were given a fair valuation.

So, no, I don't think an online evaluation of plates would help because at the end of the day it is the custom officer's decision.

If anyone is bringing their vehicle in from Spain - or elsewhere - don't forget to take it off the other system first BEFORE you import it into Gibraltar. If you import into Gibraltar, without taking it off another system, it will just cost you money to run on two systems.

I should add that different rules apply for the military who can get a bond and avoid paying duty as they are 'temporary residents' and intend to take their vehicle back home.

Although there were changes made in the 2010 budget, they did not affect duty on private imports that I cited above.

I include the quote from the budget below:

Import duty on pedal cycles, which is currently 12%, is reduced to zero;
Import duty on electric cars is reduced to zero;
Import duty on hybrid cars is halved for dealers to 6.25%,7.5% and 8.5% for cars of less than1500cc, 1500 to 2000cc and above 2000cc respectively (12.5%, 15% and 17% respectively, for private
imports);
Mr Speaker, 2 stroke engines create more pollution than 4 stroke engines, yet the duty on two stroke under 50cc is 6%, while the duty on 125cc 4 stroke is 30%. We need to discourage, not encourage the use of 2 stroke engines. Accordingly the duty on a 2 stroke under 50 cc motorcycle rises to 30% for dealers (it is already 30% for private imports) and all 2 stroke engines, regardless of cubic capacity will have a duty rate of 30%. In contrast, the duty on a four stroke motorcycle of any cubic capacity is cut from 30% to 15% for dealers (private imports will remain at 30%, except 4 stroke under 50cc which will remains as it is at present, namely at 6% for dealers and 12% for private imports.
Import duties on motor vehicles is increased for dealers as follows:
- Less than 1500cc by 2.5% from 12.5% to 15%
- 1500cc to 2000cc by 3% from 15% to 18%
- Over 2000cc by 4.5% from 17.5% to 22%
They remain unchanged for private imports

Don't forget, to import a vehicle onto Gib plates, you need to be a Gib resident or have a business registered in Gibraltar.

Hope that helps. But it's always advisable to ring customs and check. Or walk in, depending on where you are.

Gib mil vehicles

Couldn't resist these two RN Landies parked outside John Mack Hall when there was a parade this weekend.



And, when we went down to the dockyard to watch the 21gun salute for the accession to the throne of HMQEII, we checked out the Reynolds Boughton that is being done up very nicely.



Had a query about importing into Gib, so that will be the next post.