Advice on importing a car into Austrailia

[p7vxr]

A good freind of mine has imigrated to Australia,(Melbourne)and wants to buy and import a classic American car, A 1966 mustang from the USA,Now I know he will have done his homework on the subject, but I seem to remember a recent change in the law about brining classic cars to Austrailia does any one here or in Australia know of any pitfalls?

Edited by p7vxr on Tuesday 20th March 13:46

[ringram]

I believe it must be converted to RHD else it wont be allowed on the road.

[motomk]

V-car might be able to help you out here with more info.
The changes were mainly to the newer Japanese imports targeting cars built after 1989.
Here are a few links to some government webpages.

www.dotars.gov.au/transport/safety/road/bulletin/importing.aspx
www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4226

motomk

[phrich]

LHD is allowed in WA and NT, I think. Not that it helps your mate.

[motomk]

I don't know how true this is but I wouldn't doubt my contacts knowledge as he has a Black '64 Lincoln (very cool), a '71 Cady and a '63 Polara in his stable! And of course a cam equipped VX II SS !!
He informs me as long as the car is over 25 years old, it can have Left hand drive.
Reading the info below, it has to be on a club permit for 25 years old but can be normally registered as long as it is 30 years old. There are of course a few conditions.

www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/EFD263AC-A239-46CB-93CF-1D620B6CCA48/0/VSI18.pdf

Another useful link

www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RulesStandardsRegulations/VehicleStandardsInformaiton/

Edited by motomk on Tuesday 20th March 14:46

[V-Car]

Bringing in a 66 Mustang should be no problem.
There used to be a '15 year old' rule up till about 2 years ago, but now the date they use is 1/1/89.
Anything built before that date can be brought in quite easily, but after that date, only vehicles on a Dotars (Dept. of Transport and Regional Services) list can be imported...basically only vehicles that didnt have an equivalent model sold here when new.
He will still need to get an Import Approval from Dotars (before the car gets shipped) but that is really just a formality for something that age.
Once the car is here it will need a few things doing to it for rego like headlights, indicators etc. and he will need to have it checked and signed off by an approved engineer before he can take it for rego.
A list of these engineers is available from Dotars, or it may be just easier to check with one of the many importers of old Mustangs in Melbourne like 'Just Mustangs' or 'Mustangs of Melbourne' who also do the whole shipping and rego process if you need it for a car you already own.
But tell him not to butcher it by having it converted to RHD.

www.justmustangs.com.au/
www.mustangsofmelbourne.com.au/

[p7vxr]

Thanks a lot for answering so quickly guys, seems like my mate did his homework ok, it's just that I remembered a disscusion some time ago about this and could not remember the implications.

Paul

Edited by p7vxr on Wednesday 21st March 16:08

Edited by p7vxr on Wednesday 21st March 16:09