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Importing a kit car, how?

karmannghia60 - May 12th, 2008 at 05:25 PM

What's involved in importing a kit car? A speedster or a 550? I am talking about engineering it. It will be a LHD from Mexico. Do I need a local engineers report or just a RWC? If engineers report, what is involved including $$?
Thanks
Raf

VWCOOL - May 12th, 2008 at 06:19 PM

Is it a 'kit' (componenents) or a 'car' (complete)?
If it's what I think it is, someone in WA has already done the hard (paper)work

silver - May 12th, 2008 at 07:29 PM

A guy in Sydney has 550 replicas imported from Chamonix
he has done all the mods and runs a frame chassis
he is putting subi motors and boxes in them and 4 wheel discs
drive away $56,500
I checked them out but man they are not easy to get in and out off
I reckon thats good value as it is all done
I think you would not have a lot of change from 56K doing them yourself and all the engineering and compliance has been done
S

silver - May 12th, 2008 at 07:30 PM

Oh! and RHD

pete wood - May 12th, 2008 at 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by karmannghia60
What's involved in importing a kit car? A speedster or a 550? I am talking about engineering it. It will be a LHD from Mexico. Do I need a local engineers report or just a RWC? If engineers report, what is involved including $$?
Thanks
Raf

Before you spend a cent, go talk to the local roads authority and find the guys in charge of certifying kit cars. Talk to them at length and in detail. It will save you a lot of time and a lot of heartache. If they are proffessional consultants (like NSW), pay them for an hour of their time and take it seriously. Just by paying them that money they will know you are serious and not just wasting their time. The drama will be ADRs, but they're not set in stone, just hard guidelines. I can't see why you shouldn't be able to do it in Vic. It seems to be easier on car mods than any other state.

And silver is right, it will need to be RHD, but that's not hard with a VW.

BTW, the one thing that annoys engineering consultants more than anything is when people come for advice, but don't listen. If you are respectful and really listen (not TELL them what you're gonna do), you will earn yourself an allie as well as an engineer.

gotowo - May 14th, 2008 at 08:30 AM

I have just finished getting a McRae 550 spyder restored which originally came from NZ. I can assure you the ADRs will kill you if you are looking at bringing in a Chamonix from Brazil. Peter in Sydney who is the importer for Chamonix in Oz had to jump through a lot of hoops to get them compliant and on the road. There are many builders in the States - Beck, Vintage, Thunder Ranch, Fibersteel and the list goes on, but you will have many issues trying to bring it in as the powers to be see it as a current build. Then you will have to deal with DOTARS which is a nightmare in itself to get it approved to bring in - it has to be 30 years old for a personal import (from memory).

The best way is to try to find something here and registered - around when ADRs came in - 1968 and then at least you can make it look like a car from 1955 instead of a compliant car of today. This probably explains why there is less than a dozen 550s in Oz - good luck!

VWCOOL - May 14th, 2008 at 02:17 PM

yes it is a big job - I know the ADR process for the most recent Morgan Aero 8 and Caterham Seven took two years and LOTS of money for the Low Volume Scheme - and each already uses current ADR/Euro X compliant engines and are factory RHD