Yeah really feel for you, government red tape in this country is an absolute joke!
I can remember a bloke who went out into the SA desert (Maralinga) and restored a WW2 Mustang fighter plane, out of four that were used for atomic testing. He got one into flying shape, and flew it to a civilian airport, the government authoritys gave him sutch a hard time, he ended up having to sell the planr OS to an American collector, the sad thing is it was virtually destroyed by the dock workers.
You would think that the rescuing of this plane a piece of Australian wartime history, would be appreciated by the bureaucrats, and the man congratulated! instead he nearly ended up in jail!
Rob......

just import it as parts and chang the chassis number over

BigBore, don't accept that for a second. When someone says to me, 'No you can't do that' , or 'that can't be done', I say to myself, watch me, I'll find a way. An example is my last project. Putting a super floor pan under a '62 Beetle. It can be done. Yes, there is a lot of mucking about, but it can be done.
BigBore, were you dealing with just one person, with all this? Was it just 'that' person's 'pet subject' to stop you? Keep fighting, it'll be worth it in the long run. I know it's easy for me to say, 'Go for it', but really, it'll be worth it, you'll see.
Regards,
Mark
:thumb

I agree that legalities can seem a bitch when you have to deal with some little government git's interpretation and ignorance. Basically, legalities are just rules, so play within the rules but with "your" aim in mind not their's.

There are ways to import generally prohibited cars, see what they mean by that is that you can't bring them in comercially as a recomplianced new car because they reckon you can already get them here (although you actually can't). But if you went over for a holiday and it was the car you bought to drive around over there, then you go to come home, you are supposed to be allowed to bring your own private car across.

Check out the legislation and get hold of the ADR circulars (Brad would have current copies, mine are about 2 years out of date) and you'll find a way. Just remember, this is you telling them what you're going to do, not them telling you. And all they are allowed to do is say "you can't do it that way". They can't tell you categorically that you can't do it with most things.

Oh, and if worse comes to worst, bring it in as parts and stamp your own numbers on it and get it approved as an "individually constructed vehicle".

yeah but i believe your holiday would have to be for a period greater than three months and you need to have owned the car for that period..

I wouldn't be whinging about a holiday longer than 3 months... But the boss might. How much holiday pay does he have saved up I wonder...

they changed the rule now, you have to own it for 12 months before you can bring it in as a private import.

How do they get all those as new hottedup jap cars into the cuontry???

Do you have to go through a low volume inporter maybe rather than trying on your own.

Was this a new beetle or used?

You must be doing the wrong thing because Gary from Wolfsburg Automotive in Melbourne has just bought one of the last ones made(in the last 3000) and is either back or on his way back with it. He bought it from the factory and drove it to Los Angelos to ship it home. Story and pic in the Sun Herald last month.volma1

as volma says get in contact with him
maybe take the engine out and import a chasis
and chuck the engine is as a "seperate" item.
thats not a car is it? two diff. parts !
just an idea:bounce

Vehicle less engine/trans/wheels and axles is just classed as parts import. These parts removed must not be shipped in the same vessel as the above. No import permit required. Registration at this end is another story.

Can you buy it and just get the factory to store it for 12mths. Then you bring it into the country as you have met the requirment for owning it for 12 mths. What can they say to that?

You can bring it in, you just will never be able to register it.

You can not store it for 12 months overseas, as you must be living abroad & using it to qualify as a personal import.

You can bring it in as a demonstration vehicle, a race car etc, but no Rego. You can not bring it in as parts unless the body shell is cut in two.

We import wrecks from Japan & know the laws on that.

Also we had the first new beetle in the country (in 1998) & fought with the Govt for 3 years about conversion & registration.

If you need to know more, drop me an email!

How about bringing one in as a demo or what ever and using it for "spares" and just doing a pan swap and a compliance plate swap - as in a body swap

Would i be stretching the friend ship here????

My last 2 imports have been as parts. The imports from Japan (half cuts?) are with motor and trans still fitted I guess?, this does not meet the minimum requirement to qualify as parts only. With eng etc removed then the tarrif is as if the chassis /body/interior are imported as seperate items, the fact that they are bolted together was not a problem! The Speedster was body/chassis with interior in a container,
the eng/trans/wheels/axles etc by pallet on another ship. The Spyder was the same but I flew it over on an air pallet, and eng etc by ship. Air was less of a problem and cheaper. There will be the standard 15% tarrif? on all those parts (some may be at a different tarrif but generally 15% for vehicle parts) + ur 10% GST and the list goes on. I will try to find the site for tarrifs etc which is very handy. Contact the customs dept as I did and just confirm this. On my first import I rang the customs dept to make sure this is the case and they were very helpful, even to the point of suggesting that with all running gear removed then it dosn't require an import permit...I love a car enthusiast as a customs officer! Remember that the "other parts" for the car can not be on the same shipping manifest as the rest of the bits.

Yeah, just watch the body shell - customs flag body shells & mark them, as you have to declare where they are going to be used (to counter act stolen vehicles being rebirthed). We have been called by customs (& paid) to identify VW "new" body shells at the wharfs. If it is suspected that you use the body shell for a deceitful purpose, thay can seize your car for up to 3 months for forensic testing. This is going to make a pan number re-appear on a beetle most interesting.

Good luck with it, or bring it in & store it as a collectible (& when its 15 years old, you can register it

damn rules !
thats why i never followed rules in school, cos i knew i would have to for the rest of my days............
:bounce

Just going through my old emails and found this from the customs dept.
"Pete,

Please find attached an Australian Customs Notice that explains how customs treat the importation of partial cars and the tariff precedent. If you are still unsure as to how your vehicle is classified for Customs purposes you should either contact a Customs broker for advice or lodge a tariff advice with the tariff area of Customs in your state. If the vehicle is considered to be a complete vehicle you will require a permit from the Department of Transport and Regional Services, their address is vimports@dotrs.gov.au

The Customs duty will be the same whether considered parts or a complete vehicle. The rate is 15% which is based on the purchase price plus 10% GST based on the purchase price, the overseas freight and insurance and the duty.

regards

Michael Denyer
Customs Information Centre




Tariff Precedent Number : 15439800
Type : 5 Date last Changed : 25/01/2001
Description of Goods : Passenger motor vehicle bodies minus at least the engine,
transmission, all wheels and axles
Heading : 8707.10.91 Inst No :
Reason : The subject goods are not identified as passenger motor
vehicles, but as bodies for vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705.
Classification is vide General Interpretation Rule 1
Advice Status : F Date : 23/01/2001
Changed Status : Date : Code :

As someone said earlier, perhaps you could import the car through a low volume car importer (via Japan if necessary, if Skylines etc.. come through Japan), or failing that, BECOME a low volume car importer. Don't know if that's possible.

Bummer man

:puke

Gary from Wolfsburg Automotive is bringing one in, but it won't be registerable. Its being imported as a display car only.

Yeah, spoke to Gary - display purposes only....

Keep in mind that the importation system has changed in the last few months. It may (emphasis on the word 'may' ) now be possible to bring them in.