Hi Eoin,

First up, if you can store the car in the UK for a year instead of here, that will simplify things, as the process for importing mandates you booking an inspection for the car with NCTS within seven days of it arriving, and then completing the paperwork within 30 days. There's no allowance for importing a car, storing it for a year and then going through it all. You'll need proof of the date the car arrived as well.

Assuming you can find a way to put off importing the car until it is actually 30 years old, then VRT will be only €200. 

If you can't wait, then you'll be paying VRT at a rate of 41 per cent of the OMSP (Open Market Selling Price), which is the value Revenue believes the car to be worth in Ireland. That, unfortunately, may have no bearing on how much you actually paid for it.

Hope all that helps you work out what's best to do.