Can sometimes be a bit more complicated insuring an import, but somebody will do it, I had a little bother insuring an imported Opel Astra that had been rebadged as a Vauxhall some years ago.

I have actually looked into importing a vehicle from South Africa to the UK (long story). And what I found was that unless the car was over 10 years old, it was very difficult. Something to do with them being RHD and therefore potentially taking business away from a UK garage.

If you are moving from South Africa to the UK, provided you have lived their and owned the car for more than a year, that is fine to get a younger car in, otherwise it is rarely allowed.

Don't take that as gospel though, I didn't spend that much time looking, there may be loopholes!.

Secondhand cars in the UK are quite a bit cheaper than in most of the rest of the world, so you'd probably be able to manage an upgrade or get a slightly newer one by doing that.

If the car was something unusual or exceptionally valuable it might be worth importing, but otherwise I don't think it would be worth the hassle.

I guess you have worked your way through this:

www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk

1992 vw combi with a 2.6lt Audi petrol engine which I don’t think ever came out in the uk - this part of the world often had the same cars as you have in the uk only with much bigger engines.

No, it didn't. Biggest petrol engine the UK got in a T25 was the 2.1 5 cyl with, if memory serves, 112bhp. The 2.6 available in South Africa has about 150bhp and, apparently, loads of torque. Of course you will be lucky to get more than 18mpg, so swings and roundabouts!.

Mind you, in this country they are swapping out the original power units for Subaru engines, which opens up some interesting possibilities!.

Indeed - a former rep I used to know well when working in Building Services Engineering had refurbished his old style VW Camper Van and stuck a 2.5L engine (I think) in it. Not sure if he upgraded the brakes at the time!