hey guys ,being new here i just thought i would say hi! ,
i wondered if any of you guys could help me out , i am moving from the u.k. to kincumber in NSW by the end of the year,i own a heavily modified left hand drive street & strip 1954 oval ,
i wish to bring it with me to australia as i have owned this vehicle since 1988,done a complete nut & bolt resto on the old girl,& sunk some serious cash into this project, so i don't wanna part with her.
is there any regulations i should be aware of in australia for importing & running this car on the road.
the car is lowered on the front by swayaways,the back is down 2 splines, it is low !.
the car runs with shaved handles [ solenoid entry].
porsche 356A speedster brakes all round,line lock.
bucket seats,full harnesses.
tinted glass
1641cc mouse motor,40idfs,balanced,race cam,all gas flowed,rev limiter,lightened flywheel,etc, etc..california built race box.merged bugpack exhaust.
help !
cheers........boomer.馃槈
squizy 路
By the sounds of it you should have any problems. It's RHD, etc etc. You might need to raise it up for rego and then drop it once you've got it registered. You'll also need to provide proof that it's yours - existing rego papers....not sure what else.
BTW - I'm not too far from Kincumber, so we'll try and catch up once you're here.
Squiz....
vw54 路
Gooday there
Make sure you bring all the ownership and registration papers with you, so you can re register the car.
Pretty sure you will have to get a engineers cert for the mods done to the car for NSW registration.
Kincumber is aprt of the central coast n tehre are a few members on here from that part of the world. Its only a short drive to sydney
you will have to contact custroms and get the appropiate paper work then convert to rhd and if its lower than 100mm it will have to be raised to 100mm min. for all of the other requirements you are better off contacting the RTA over here for all the other standards
vw54 路
Barls he should be able to keep the car LHD as i think the 30 year n older rule applies.
But check with the RTA site ...n and RTA engineer...
You will get it registered but it may be some stuffing around involved..
So bring it on down under we need some more VWs.
kombi_kid 路
sounds like an awesome car!! put up some pics!!! yer you shouldnt have any probs but when importing i would advise to use a broker for all the customs shit involved!!! for the extra dosh it costs for one it really worth it!!
cheers
rhys
BOOMERDOG 路
thank's for the info dudes,any one else run shaved handles?
hope the 30 year rule applies on lhd as i don't really wanna start chopping her about as the car is show standard,
the car is an ex rally car that was campaigned all through the 1960's, it was part of the u.k. mike hailwood v-racing rally team,
so the oval was not standard to start with when i aquired it !
i will look into the rules ®s.....cheers.....boomer馃槑
click on 'general buffalo shit' then click forward to page 4
you won't miss it !
i'll try to get some more pics up there.,yes those skating pics are me !
..28 years skating ,40 years old ,just add fast oval...its a lethal mix !馃槈
.....nice....................boomer.
DubCrazy 路
heya fella, you didn't happen to buy that car from a place called beetleworks down on the southcoast and it was black then i think???? reason i ask is there was an ex rally ovel there with major mods done on the gearbox area, the body looked fairly stock just wider arch's...
steff...................................
Robo 路
Kincumber, brings back memorie's for me! I lived in Kilcare for a few years and the road in was dirt. I went back a few years ago and didn't recognise the place.
Rob...馃槑
BOOMERDOG 路
hey dub crazy,the car was owned when i got it by an old boy who worked as a mechanic at a vw main dealer in london,the car was black ,& it was totally shot to pieces!,it had sat on his drive for about 9 years with a bush growing inside the car as there was hardly any floor pan left,all the heater channels had gone,both front flitch panels,inner rear wings shot,rear valance shot.
it had tombstone rear lights ,later front wings with upright head lights,the bonnet was smashed in big time ,big earhole air scoops welded behind the rear side windows,the wrong engine lid with a pair of 'tits' welded on to it to allow the linkage for the carbs to move properley!.
the engine was seized tight,it had carbs from a porsche super 90,fed by a very large jaguar fuel pump.
also the car had been totally rewired in red wire !!,what a nightmare!.
it WAS one very sad car.that had been used & abused rallying.
it seems it has taken me a lifetime to source all the replacement parts,many have come from swap meets in southern california,& europe.
i hate to think how much i have spent on shipping parts to the u.k. from all around the globe.
old,low & loud......it's a love thang !!
keep the faith boys 'n' gals................boomer 馃槑
ratty 63 路
Sounds like a mad vehicle - can't wait to see it!
Check carefully with the RTA in NSW - you may have a little trouble with a couple of those mods (depending on who to talk to), but generally it should be OK. The shaved door handles are a neat mod, but unfortunatly are illegal in Queensland, but I'm not sure about this mod in NSW....good luck! 馃檪
R 馃檪
DubCrazy 路
not the same one then ... this one was rotton as all dubs in the uk 馃檨 but only needed one side floor and the bottom of the quarter replacing so not as bad as yours......no engine but everything else was there in the running gear side of things... totaly striped in side tho.... had the potential to be a great car.. someone bought it before i had the chance.... but i had the chance to buy another ex-rally car tho so it didnt turn out to bad.... i still own the car and its in storage in the uk ... i want to bring it over but i know it will never get a roadworthy in QLD as it has to many mods and some of them are a no no here.. will get it here one day if only to use in on the block and local race's ... half the fun was the looks it used to get on the roads 馃榾
steff.......................
[Edited on 17-1-2005 by DubCrazy]
BOOMERDOG 路
here's a pic of the engine,it's a bit different at the moment now,as i have laid in all the braided fuel lines & a chrome
fuel pressure regulator on the firewall ,hope to see you boyz
by the end of the year,p.s. how stiff is the rego test in nsw?
.....cool beans.....boomer
handycam 路
looks like a good car mate
BOOMERDOG 路
well things are moving on,re- fitted the bloody door handles!i have re jacked the suspension up to hopefully a legal height front & back for NSW [was running down 2 splines at the rear ]. how strict are they on the rego for ride height ?,short of rewelding the adjusters in the beam at a different angle [ which i don't wanna do ] i'm up to about 90mm on height [yeah i know it should be 100mm.also got hold of a k/m speedo to fit - input guys?....cheers...boomer
[Edited on 18-6-2005 by BOOMERDOG]
boersch 路
niiiiiice
pyr0 路
im pretty you dont have to have the KM spedo lots of us have MPH speedo's 馃槈
Anthiron 路
u should be able to keep it left hand drive but they will ask you to put a big arse sticker proclaiminging it on the car. but thats something u can lose after the inspection. if an engineer says no u can keep shopping around for one who will say yes. someone on here in your area will know of a nice engineer who does alot of dubs and respects the effort you have put in.
jenz58 路
...wow cool...you are a dedicated dubber....we're gunna gain one nice ride on the scene over here in Oz 馃槑
BOOMERDOG 路
thank's for the kind remarks guys, but wot about the ride height ?,will i get away with it????, not looking forward to putting my ride in a container to be at sea for 6-to 8 weeks-gulp!.
WABaja 路
Line lock might be a problem...???
jenz58 路
...what was the height again?? Just so they don't have to search too far back....by the look of the pics you will be OK....but I'm not the expert on that... Others.....what is the legal height?? How low can you go??
barls 路
100mm is the minimum in oz for the ride height
flashman 路
Sweet ride. As a lot of other guys have said ride height is 100mm, they actually have a trolly with rubber wheels that are 100mm in height. The trolly is rolled under the whole car. If any part snags - no matter where, it's too low.
As for import - the drama will be with customs etc - declared ownership and the like. Getting it off the dock is the first hassle. BUT for personal import the amount of time you have owned it should be cool. Best check with Aust Customs there are a number of catagories for bringing cars into the Country and each catagory has its own set of regs.
As for left hand drive - No drama and you don't need to have a sticker. Them rules have changed somewhat.
Food for thought - given the age of the car, historic or club rego may be applicable - any of the guys here may be able to help with details. But depends on how much you want to drive it.
Anyrate enjoy - just my 2c
pete wood 路
They will be fussy about the 100mm clearance.
How about doing this. Get some nasty high profile tyres, they'll give you your extra 10mm and you can put the others on once its regoed.
Long term I'd recommend an adjustable beam, much easier. Don't worry about LHD, I'm pretty sure it's not an issue anymore.
Beerboy 路
Did you get a price to ship then?
Purple Martin 路
Very nice car! I look forward to seeing it here in Oz.
Yes the legal height is 100mm (they say that if you can drive over a coke can without touching then it's OK), but my car is less and they didn't care. I reckon you'll get away with 90mm no trouble. A lot of the rego guys really appreciate Beetles, especially ones that are well-looked after, so they are on your side. And if they do cause a fuss, just go somewhere else!
PrettyBlueBug 路
My Beetle passed the rego check, they didn't even check ride height (am pretty sure it was less than 100mm) and nothing was said about it having a 'm/ph' speedo either. I know NSW is more strict on rego checks than they are in VIC. My car has porsche wheel pattern, and the spare was regular 4-stud VW, they didn't even pick that up! :P
Definitely a beautiful Bug you have there! :thumb
EgeWorks 路
If it's 90mm off the ground put some high profile tyres on it or pump the current ones up lots... 10mm isn't that much:P
BOOMERDOG 路
o.k. things are moving, car is in container enroute to nsw!!!!!!,cool
the only downside is the idiot who steered the '54' into the container sheared the window regulator teeth on the winder -WANKER!...not impressed.
so a lump of tape is holding up the drivers window,christ it's broke & it ain't even left the shipping yard.
have bought a new '67' dual lift regulator today, will fit it when i get it back in about 8 weeks..ho hum...
see you doodes in the new year...boomer
ancientbugger 路
Hey, don't forget to turn off the gas when you leave as I think you may be the last one out of there!
crewcabconnection 路
I thought the official measurement is floor to sill, the height of a packet of Winnie Blues. Less than that, you're a guru, more than that and you're not trying. You might also need various 'engineers' certificates for all those mods ... Everyone seems to have a set of rego-rims for the RTA. Give you and idea, I've just IRS'd my bus, added an Lbug box, Adjustable beam and a few other little bits ... expecting Engineers Certificates to be 600-800 bucks - on top of the years Rego.
Don't freak too much, the RTA told me last time that I needed to get the warm air demister fan working on my splitter - depends which inspector gadget you get....lol....
welcome ... I bailed the homeland a long long time ago, never looked back ... xcept to laugh...and you can also loose those giant plates and get some cool ones....
lobus 路
I was thinking the same things about the rego plates.
Bad luck you aren't coming to sunny Victoria, no annual rego checks down here, just get it past the Vicroads crew and never have to get a roadworthy cert again unlees you sell your ride.
As far a s the LHD thing goes I am sure that there is a 30 year rule and yours will be Ok. I think it is Australia wide as well.
Welcome to the land of the long weekend, hope your stay is a long one..
David
Oasis 路
BOOMERDOG wrote:hey guys ,being new here i just thought i would say hi! ,
i wondered if any of you guys could help me out , i am moving from the u.k. to kincumber in NSW by the end of the year,i own a heavily modified left hand drive street & strip 1954 oval ,
i wish to bring it with me to australia as i have owned this vehicle since 1987,done a complete nut & bolt resto on the old girl,& sunk some serious cash into this project, so i don't wanna part with her.
is there any regulations i should be aware of in australia for importing & running this car on the road.
the car is lowered on the front by swayaways,the back is down 2 splines, it is low !.
the car runs with shaved handles [ solenoid entry].
porsche 356A speedster brakes all round,line lock.
bucket seats,full harnesses.
tinted glass
1641cc mouse motor,40idfs,balanced,race cam,all gas flowed,rev limiter,lightened flywheel,etc, etc..california built race box.merged bugpack exhaust.
help !
cheers........boomer.馃槈
Hi... can't wait to see you car. A couple of things I noticed are they don't like full harnesses as your only belts. You might have to install some normal belts (leave the harnesses in if you want).
They have a limit to how dark the window tint can legally be.
The Decibel test is with a db meter and they all vary enormously. it has to be no more than 96 DB at 3 feet, idling at half the redline (from memory). What the redline is is anyone's guess... no one including 2 engineers I spoke with had any idea. I told them it was 6K rpm. I failed the db test. Had I told them it was 4000 rpm i would've been ok I think. My car is lower than 100mm and It passed. You're not allowed to have braided brake lines/hoses. I don't know about other braided lines in the car, but you might want to check. i don't want to discourage you, just don't want you to get screwed or shocked once you get here, and it looks like you can just as easily modify anything yourself to make it legal. Fantastic car. Hope this helps,
Bill
BOOMERDOG 路
thank's for the info,harnesses have a seat belt type latch to get out of them,they are legal here ....mmm, have to see about them.windowsmight be an issue with the tint,as it is not window film it is proper glass.exhaust noise level has been now reduced by fitting a thunderbird hide away system,sounds pathetic now lol,bring back the stinger !!lol.
the only braided lines on the oval is the fuel lines.
squizy 路
Good one Boomer. The weather's been stinking hot here, so you'll be looking for that surf when you get here. See ya soon.
Turbo54 路
You should be able to run harnesses but no back seat if you want to go down that path.
Thats what I'm doing with my 54 as i dont really want to drill holes in the pillars of a car that one of the features of the car is the pillars. Not that i am pushing illegal stuff but you can always bolt your rear seat back in after approval.
Good luck with the transition,
Turbo54
ogtool 路
Oasis wrote:They have a limit to how dark the window tint can legally be.
Last I knew the darkness of the window tint rule came in around early 90's or something and any car which had tint/windows darker than the minimum fitted prior to this date was OK. Tell `em you got it done ages ago and you might be able to get away with it.
*disclaimer: any/some or all of this information may be slightly/compleltely incorrect. I'm just going off what I remember my mates telling me regarding window darkness. Figured you may be able to say "oh I got that done ages ago tho" to see if they do complain if u can loophole it out this way
馃檪
Enjoy Oz.
rose 路
Lovely ride, harnesses no problem just take them out as 54 model doesn't need seat belts for rego. Just got my 56 blue slipped a few months ago and left them in no worrys and no rear seat belts. Good luck just take it there you never know might not have to do anything.
[ Edited on 22-12-2005 by rose ]
BOOMERDOG 路
car has cleared customs here in oz,no cleaning required from qauarantine!..i should think not..tsk!..should be delivered next week sometime, dreading seeing if there is any damage...gulp.keep you posted...boomer:thumb
baybuscamperkid 路
woohoo!
Schmoburger 路
Rock on!!! :bounce
As far as the tints go... I think something similar to the seatbelt rule applies... if the car was made before a certain year (1987???) then the tints can be opaque and still pass rego! 馃槀
well, maybe not opaque... but you get my drift. 馃憤
Welcome to the better half of the British Commonwealth mate! 馃槈馃榿
BOOMERDOG 路
wed delivery.....glee! :thumb
squizy 路
Good stuff Nick. Let me know if you want a hand.
penguin 路
Nice,
now after the car gets delivered we just have to get you out of NSW and move you north into a better state 馃槈
Just mark out Easter as booked (VW Show on in Sydney) so we can all drool, poke and chat over it 馃檪
BOOMERDOG 路
thank's fella's
BOOMERDOG 路
car was delivered this afternoon, to say i'm a bit pissed off is an understatement,they have smashed the w deck engine lid on both sides,big chunk outta the paint in the middle of the lid,mountings are fucked,dented running board,car has been bottomed out so there is a fucking great dent in the underside of the left rear wing,paint is chipped on the bonnet,left semaphore,front valance,dash,window regulator is totally shot on the drivers side,back seat is broke,bucket seat bases have been ripped up,rear number plate ripped off,billet numberplate light fucked.
so much of my own work has gone into my ride i feel totally devastated.
bastards!!!!!!!....sorry rant over.
Bizarre 路
FFFFAAARRKK!!
what to say.....??? :cry
That is the shit!
You have pics or something... before / after???
Can ya claim this???
Wow..... go have a drink and settle for a while 馃檨
1303Steve 路
Hi
That's shithouse. Did it happen hear? A friend bought in a Ghia and someone did a tap dance on the roof.
Steve
BOOMERDOG 路
all the damage happened at this end , as i was there when they loaded my car in london i watched them seal
the container,yes the car is insured,but what i am a bit miffed at is that i have now gotta stump up an excess on my insurance for someone elses negligence,
how would they feel if i took a large piece of wood to their nice shiny car????....
Bizarre 路
how would they feel if i took a large piece of wood to their nice shiny car????....
hmmmmm..... me thinks you might take a large piece of wood to THEM :cussing
squizy 路
Nick that's crap. Can you sue them for negligence or is it the risk you take? So is the car at Kincumber now?
BOOMERDOG 路
yep car/pieces are in my garage....
Warrenm 路
Usually an insurance company will try for recovery against who ever did damage. If you or your shipper in UK has photos of it prior to putting seatainer or in it you should tell company. You also have right to claim for excess you have to pay if you can prove which bastards did it.
It may be difficult to sue union members though.
BOOMERDOG 路
ok its been a while fella's but the car was repaired by me in the end,no one wanted to take responsability for the damage,but now a few months down the line she's virtually ship shape again.
insurance sorted, green slip payed, going for the blue slip in the next couple of weeks,just need the personal import plate fitted to the chassis ,get the registration plates from the rta & i hope we will be ready to roll....
see you out on the road .......boomer :beer
Bizarre 路
Great stuff Boomer
Lots BRILLIANT
Hope to see it soon!!
68AutoBug 路
Very nice Boomer....
It now depends on who does Your Blue slip....
They do actually drive Your car and test the brakes with a meter attached to the brake pedal....
If You find a nice VW type person....
or probably just a person who appreciates old cars may be better...
I was nervous about the adjustable front end.... but nothing was said... its really too low at the front...
Maybe He didn't know about adjustable front ends....
:P:P
You can always just weld in a Nut over a hole to put Your non adjustable front suspension up...
with a grub screw....
My tinting wasn't mentioned either.....
didn't even try the wipers,washers or horn !!
Well, I suppose He may have when testing the brakes...
but I don't think so, as the wipers always end up a bit high
Lee
Matt Ryan 路
nice mirrors, what are they from?
BOOMERDOG 路
alot of the parts on my car came from these guys...
Great stuff Nick. We've got a cruise on in a couple of weeks so hopefully you can come along. U2U me your email address, and I'll send through the details.
BOOMERDOG 路
cool squiz ,u2u sent ,still some bits to do on the car but hopefully will be rolling...:thumb:thumb:thumb
BOOMERDOG 路
BUMP!!!!
blue slipped,got me plates,rego'd....COOL!...WHOO HOOO!
ok ,now 5 years down the track in australia... where has the time gone?
just spent the last week doing a full disc conversion on the 54'.
new radar rims with fat rubber up back & skinnys up front,
have altered the profile up back to a 70 series,works well.
this is something i have wanted to do for a few years now, finally pulled my finger out & actually done it..lol
so the brakes that were on the car ( porsche 356a drums) will be coming up for sale,these are a complete 4 wheel kit ,cylinders relined with staino sleeves & new rubber seals, drum liners remachined,shoes re- done with new bonded shoes ,all banjo fittings,all back plates, this a conversion i done on the car back in the uk ..rarer than rocking horse poo to find a complete set..
watch this space....
oh & just had a spring clean outback as well with different size chokes & main jets & ram pipes on the idf's..