GREY imports have gone under the hammer at a UK trade auction for the first time. Import Motor Auctions, which was set up just three months ago, staged its first auction at its centre in Telford, offering 118 used cars imported directly from Japan.

The sale on Tuesday, August 24, was the first of new monthly sales the company will stage, offering mostly sports, performance and off-road vehicles imported from Japan to trade buyers. Last week's sale had a 76% conversion rate, and IMA managing director David Fegan, says the remainder of the sales are being negotiated with potential buyers following the auction. He said: 'As this was the first auction we've staged in the UK of Japanese imports we were very pleased with the way it went. The sale on September 23 should do even better.'

The cars are sourced from auctions and leasing companies in Japan by Fegan, who is based there. He says that all buyers in the UK will be advised on rules about registering and retailing foreign cars. The August auction saw vehicles aged between one and nine years old offered to a crowd of 130 trade buyers, which IMA says it screened before admission.