Hi guys

I m after some help, I m looking to move over to Australia in the near future and I m looking to buy a splitscreen panel van, this is my first choice, although I would look at a double or single cab, but first choice is panel van.

I m intending to use the vehicle to promote my new business when I get there. I have started some research but struggling to find much. If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be great.

I am also looking for help and recommendations for restoration companies, I have a couple of names already indianautomotive and das resto haus both of these have come highly recommended. I m wondering if there are any others I should consider, any contact numbers, websites or email addresses, I would be grateful for.

I will consider all options put forward, I m still trying to get a feeling for prices and have seen some project buses starting at $5000 right up to $20,000. I've seen complete projects from $25,000 upto $50,000

I would consider part complete projects. I realise I m on the other side of the world right now and still trying to get a feel for prices, so any help, guidance and education would be really appreciated.

I would also be grateful of your opinions of any restorers I should stay away from, I know its a shame to add that!

Hi there and welcome to the forum.

where abouts in Oz are you planning to settle? prices seem to change with the weather, and areas produce great differances as well.
i think in many ways you have already answered your own question.

personally i would wait till you get here, you might not like it, then what? what happens if your buisness doesnt take off? will you sell the van?

as for who to recomend and who to avoid, have a good look round this site, and other Ozzy forums, again it really depends where you are based!
i think you raise more questions than i answered, but good luck all the same!

If you already have one in the UK it may be cheaper to ship it out here as we are RHD as well

thanks for the welcome, your absolutely right I may not like it and I am taking this into consideration. However I first lived and worked in Australia 10 years ago for one year then spent the next 2 years commuting between the UK and aus working on projects, 4 years ago I spent 18 months living and working in Aus and then returned once again to the UK. I now have gained permanent residency and want to settle. I know it may not work out but want to make Aus my home time will tell.

I m a tradesman and I am not location dependent I have been this way for many years, I realise this may not be how other live their life but it is how I have lived mine, so until I find a place I want to settle, I will live in this way.

I am considering shipping a van with me but the importation rules are pretty strict and because I m not a Aus citizen are slightly different in my case. The main one being I have to own the van for 12 months and live in the UK with my van for this period of time to qualify to import under the personal import scheme.

I m have done some sums on doing this and here is the result.

UK panel van prices are around 12 - 14k GBP this still needs work to bring up to what I want at a cost of about 7k GBP, then importing, shipping etc another 6k approx, no one can give an exact amount!. then Aus compliance a cost still unkown at the moment. there's always some surprises so lets round that up and call it 30k GBP at today's exchange rate of 1.6 to the pound its about 48k Aus.

Can I get a pretty good bus for this kind of money in Aus?

You might have a talk with these guys in the UK:

http://www.gdaykombis.co.uk/index.php 

They seem to suck a lot of Campers out of Oz and claim to also have "inventories" still stored here as well - may reduce a bit of the Kombi drain from these shores as well.

You don't need to worry about the personal import scheme if the car is build before 1 Jan 1989. Once a car is over 30 years old, then it is heaps easier to import - including LHD cars.

However they are getting militant about manufacture date if there is any modifications except for ongoing maintenance.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/importing_...

Where in aus r u i have a restorer I can recommend in Sydney

Quote:

Originally posted by vwmad Quote: Originally posted by Paulc1964au Where in aus r u i have a restorer I can recommend in Sydney Let me guess Raw Auto Works ???

Adam should at least buy you a beer,i have bought parts of adam before even before he started hes shop,hes a nice guy
cheers shane.

cheers for these contacts I'll look into them..