The Cheapest High-Horsepower Cars Worth Importing to the UK

Pound for pound, the US and Japanese used markets consistently undercut UK dealer prices for high-output cars. A 2015 Ford Mustang GT with the 5.0-litre V8 (435bhp) regularly sells for £9,000-£13,000 at Copart auctions in salvage or clean-title condition, versus £16,000+ for a comparable UK example. Once you add freight, duty and VAT, many buyers still land well below the equivalent UK retail price, particularly on V8 muscle cars and older Japanese turbo performance models where UK supply is thin.

The maths only works if you understand the full landed cost, not just the hammer price. Use our cost calculator before bidding to avoid a nasty surprise at customs.

Ford Mustang GT (2011-2017, 5.0L V8, 420-435bhp): US auction prices from £8,000-£13,000; add roughly £1,200 RORO freight from a US East Coast port plus 10% duty and 20% VAT on the CIF value, and a clean example can land around £13,500-£16,000.

Nissan 350Z / 370Z (280-332bhp): Widely available at US auctions from £5,000-£9,000; these are relatively simple imports as they were never sold with major spec differences from UK cars.

Dodge Charger R/T (370bhp HEMI V8): Frequently listed on Copart and IAAI from £6,000-£10,000 with cosmetic or minor collision damage, offering exceptional value once repaired.

Many of the cheapest high-horsepower cars carry a salvage or rebuilt title following an insurance write-off in the US. This is not necessarily a red flag — Copart's own condition reports and run-and-drive videos let experienced buyers assess genuine damage versus minor cosmetic write-offs. However, a salvage-title vehicle will need an IVA test and full DVLA registration as a rebuilt vehicle in the UK, which adds £456 in IVA fees plus repair costs before you can drive it legally.

For a US import, budget for RORO shipping (£950-£1,400 from East Coast ports to Southampton), a customs clearance agent fee (£150-£250), 10% import duty on the vehicle plus freight value, and 20% VAT on the duty-inclusive figure. A £9,000 Mustang with £1,200 freight faces roughly £1,020 duty and £2,044 VAT, taking the landed cost to around £13,260 before UK registration and any repair work — still meaningfully cheaper than UK retail.

Japan's strict shaken inspection regime means owners frequently sell high-performance cars with plenty of life left simply because renewing shaken on an ageing turbo car is expensive. Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32-R34) and Toyota Supra RZ examples with 280-320bhp can be sourced through Japanese auction houses from £12,000-£25,000 depending on mileage and modification history, with container shipping to the UK costing £900-£1,400. These cars are now over 25 years old in many cases, simplifying registration as a historic/Q-plate vehicle in several cases.