Warmtoast,
I think it was the normal attitude displayed by HMCE to returning Forces from BAOR. The reasoning might have been: these people have been out there for two-three years, quite long enough to suss-out all the most attractive items to make savings on if Import Duty (and VAT) could be avoided. Human nature being what it is........!
Once saw a very good German cartoon about this. The Grenzpolitzei had virtually dissembled their poor victim's car; the bits were spread out all over the tarmac - but had found nothing.
"Alles in Ordnung", they'd said, "Weiterfahren !" (Carry on !), left him to it and turned to the next car. (You see, the Germans do have a sense of humour !)
Your first picture tells a story which we can all relate to. How many times have we packed our cars until the back was down on the bump-springs ? I reckon you've got an Angle of Attack on there which should get you airborne if you could get it to go fast enough.
Danny.