Null's ultimate Dream Car Thread - A CV8 Monaro in Austria

[Null.Performance]

Mickeym said:

So £2000 in taxes without importing duties? I don't know how much you paid for your car. But the current price for non VXR cars seem to be between £6-8K. So that's around 25-33% in taxes without importing duties. I can see why you didn't go for a Pontiac GTO. What importing duties would add on top of that, 20% more?

When importing a GTO, or any car from the US to Austria, a 20 % import sales tax + a 10 % car tariff is added. Then you have the Normverbrauchsabgabe (2000+ GBP), the legalization fees and the shipping costs. It is crazy money. I just could not justify spending that much on top of the car, not even for the most perfect GTO out there.

For 8k pounds, you can definitely get yourself a Monaro, but it will be a bit rough around the edges and definitely not low mileage (more like >65k miles). Just look at the silver CV8 currently for sale with pistonheads - Looks really nice on it's coil-over suspension and with the black badge in the grille. But at second glance, I counted at least 4 different shades of silver paint on it, at it's not solely down to parking garage lighting or the different materials (metal/plastic)...

If you are curious, I paid exactly what the seller wanted for what is now my Monaro: 11,600 GBP.
It was exactly the kind of Monaro I had dreamt about for more than a decade, and I am so glad I decided to pull the trigger on this one.
Btw - there surely are nicer examples out there than mine - Just look at some of the other peoples rides on the forum. There are amazing builds pushing crazy hp/torque figures, as well as completely original or 'lightly modded' ones still in showroom condition after more than a decade!

People that buy Monaros out of passion for them, rather than necessity or just to show off, tend to hold onto them for a really long time. That unfortunately means really clean and/or tastefully modified examples that meet all your personal criteria, what ever those might be, come up for sale rarely.
It took me years to find exactly what I was looking for. But I can guarantee you, with a bit of patience, you will find your perfect Monaro - it is definitely out there!

[Null.Performance]

bigwheel said:

Hiya. Your replies may appear to be long winded to some but are a pleasure to read. Full of very interesting information. And your grasp of the English language is formidable.
You have brought a new dimension to the forum and welcome your input.

Thank you so much Ron, your comment warms my heart. It is nice to be able to be part of such a tightly knit and helpful group of enthusiasts that share the same passion as I do

[vxr2010]

a very interesting write up , plus amusing as there appear to now be two monaro’s in europe as per previous threads

[Rensko]

Awesome write up. Enjoy your CV8 on those roads!

FYI - There was actually one UK spec VXR which ended up back in Australia. Was trolling the classifieds locally and noticed the Griffin badge and rear fog light which we never had!

[Lincsls1]

Rensko said:

Awesome write up. Enjoy your CV8 on those roads!

FYI - There was actually one UK spec VXR which ended up back in Australia. Was trolling the classifieds locally and noticed the Griffin badge and rear fog light which we never had!

Ah! That explains the cheap caravan light VX fitted in the rear bumper!

[V8fan]

Null.Performance said:

When importing a GTO, or any car from the US to Austria, a 20 % import sales tax + a 10 % car tariff is added. Then you have the Normverbrauchsabgabe (2000+ GBP), the legalization fees and the shipping costs. It is crazy money. I just could not justify spending that much on top of the car, not even for the most perfect GTO out there.

For 8k pounds, you can definitely get yourself a Monaro, but it will be a bit rough around the edges and definitely not low mileage (more like >65k miles). Just look at the silver CV8 currently for sale with pistonheads - Looks really nice on it's coil-over suspension and with the black badge in the grille. But at second glance, I counted at least 4 different shades of silver paint on it, at it's not solely down to parking garage lighting or the different materials (metal/plastic)...

The seller of that silver Monaro has a poor reputation. I started a thread about that car when I saw it at a classic car auction in January:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Even in it's poor condition it reached a bid of nearly £7k so a good one is worth a lot more I believe.

[Nickyboy]

I regret selling mine last year (Who wants to be an adult and buy a house )

I would definitely buy another one if i had the chance in the future although it would be a weekend toy as apose to a daily driver



Thankfully it went to a motoring journalist who was going to cherish it

[irocfan]

Null.Performance said:

Mickeym said:

So £2000 in taxes without importing duties? I don't know how much you paid for your car. But the current price for non VXR cars seem to be between £6-8K. So that's around 25-33% in taxes without importing duties. I can see why you didn't go for a Pontiac GTO. What importing duties would add on top of that, 20% more?

[b]When importing a GTO, or any car from the US to Austria, a 20 % import sales tax + a 10 % car tariff is added[. /b]

to be fair it's the same for us in the UK vis-a-vis US imported cars

[Null.Performance]

Nickyboy said:

I regret selling mine last year (Who wants to be an adult and buy a house )

I would definitely buy another one if i had the chance in the future although it would be a weekend toy as apose to a daily driver



Thankfully it went to a motoring journalist who was going to cherish it

What a faboulus looking CV8! Is that the GTOs SAP Package rear wing?

[Null.Performance]

Here are a few cellphone pictures of my Monaros 'new' front end.
LHD converted headlights back in, black Holden badge on the grille, slim license plate frame designed to fit Austrian plates.

[Lincsls1]

Looking grand there mate! Keep up the good work.

[Mickeym]

Null.Performance said:

When importing a GTO, or any car from the US to Austria, a 20 % import sales tax + a 10 % car tariff is added. Then you have the Normverbrauchsabgabe (2000+ GBP), the legalization fees and the shipping costs. It is crazy money. I just could not justify spending that much on top of the car, not even for the most perfect GTO out there.

For 8k pounds, you can definitely get yourself a Monaro, but it will be a bit rough around the edges and definitely not low mileage (more like >65k miles). Just look at the silver CV8 currently for sale with pistonheads - Looks really nice on it's coil-over suspension and with the black badge in the grille. But at second glance, I counted at least 4 different shades of silver paint on it, at it's not solely down to parking garage lighting or the different materials (metal/plastic)...

If you are curious, I paid exactly what the seller wanted for what is now my Monaro: 11,600 GBP.
It was exactly the kind of Monaro I had dreamt about for more than a decade, and I am so glad I decided to pull the trigger on this one.
Btw - there surely are nicer examples out there than mine - Just look at some of the other peoples rides on the forum. There are amazing builds pushing crazy hp/torque figures, as well as completely original or 'lightly modded' ones still in showroom condition after more than a decade!

People that buy Monaros out of passion for them, rather than necessity or just to show off, tend to hold onto them for a really long time. That unfortunately means really clean and/or tastefully modified examples that meet all your personal criteria, what ever those might be, come up for sale rarely.
It took me years to find exactly what I was looking for. But I can guarantee you, with a bit of patience, you will find your perfect Monaro - it is definitely out there!

Thanks again for the write up.

I have to agree that the very best cars are probably not for sale. But sometimes you just might get lucky.

I can tell that the Monaro was the right car for you. By just how you speak of it.

It must be a nice feeling getting something you want so much and have wanted for so long. Then nothing else besides having the car matters. Because it is a passion.

So I again have to agree you made the right decision in not going for the Pontiac just because it is LHD. Not only the Monaro looks much better than the Pontiac, you love the car so much that RHD won't make any difference. Besides I think you mentioned it will be a weekend car anyway.

I guess I could also get used to the steering the other side for something I really loved, why not. Has anybody here ever had one?

I always wondered though, even though it is legal and all, in the case of an accident, do you think it could be somehow leveraged against you that the car has the steering the other side etc? Lawfully I guess not. But maybe a police officer's judgment? From the legal side I guess there is not even a difference in the registration or anything I would guess? Or are there any sort of marks or something because the steering wheel the wrong side for the official traffic?

Anyway, it is sure a certain conversation starter.

[Mickeym]

Null.Performance said:

Looking nice indeed.

[some bloke]

Cool story - I grew up in NZ so saw the early 68-75 Monaros, I have a friend with a late 60's Bathurst Monaro with a 327cu in chev and 4 speed. That is a scary fast car
These new ones are a good looking car - I hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

[RipGMH]

some bloke said:

I have a friend with a late 60's Bathurst Monaro with a 327cu in chev and 4 speed. That is a scary fast cars

Worth a small pot of gold that.

I grew up with a framed picture of the early monaros on my bedroom wall, couldn’t afford one in the late 90s when I got my license (worth about AUD$15-20k) for a good example. Should have picked one up In 03 but wasn’t keen on a 30 year old daily that was likely to get nicked, considered the new Monaro but that was $50k and too much of a stretch.

So happy I’ve had the chance to live in the UK as the prices are much cheaper here, or I still wouldn’t have one

[berliner]

Hi,

it's nice to see that the front is complete again. but ... the license plate frame looks pretty cheap and looks ugly too.
Sorry, my opinion.
How is the number plate attached in the UK?

How expensive was the headlight conversion?

Regards

[bonesxu1]

RipGMH said:

Worth a small pot of gold that.

I grew up with a framed picture of the early monaros on my bedroom wall, couldn’t afford one in the late 90s when I got my license (worth about AUD$15-20k) for a good example. Should have picked one up In 03 but wasn’t keen on a 30 year old daily that was likely to get nicked, considered the new Monaro but that was $50k and too much of a stretch.

So happy I’ve had the chance to live in the UK as the prices are much cheaper here, or I still wouldn’t have one

I had the chance of a LC Torana GTR for a $1000 back in the 1990 which was for sale around the corner from my mates house. Didn't have enough money at the time, it'd be worth a hell of a lot more now.

[Lincsls1]

berliner said:

Hi,

it's nice to see that the front is complete again. but ... the license plate frame looks pretty cheap and looks ugly too.
Sorry, my opinion.
How is the number plate attached in the UK?

Regards

Might look very different/better when the plate has been fitted? Lets wait and see.

[RipGMH]

bonesxu1 said:

had the chance of a LC Torana GTR for a $1000 back in the 1990 which was for sale around the corner from my mates house. Didn't have enough money at the time, it'd be worth a hell of a lot more now.

If only we knew. My mate sold his XU1 for a work Ute in 99... Kicks himself everyday.

[Null.Performance]

berliner said:

Hi,

it's nice to see that the front is complete again. but ... the license plate frame looks pretty cheap and looks ugly too.
Sorry, my opinion.
How is the number plate attached in the UK?

How expensive was the headlight conversion?

Regards

Hey berliner,

I can totally see your point with the two pieces of license plate frame looking cheap right now - not perfectly centered and only held on by two screws at the moment. But that's because I have not decided on a final mounting position yet. I will mount them exactly where I want them to be once I get my Wechselkennzeichens, so it is just a mock-up for now, before I decide whether or not I have to drill new holes into the bumper. They are from a small Austrian company called ClipItEasy and they produce them locally, so that was a huge bonus point for me.

Once the Austrian number plate is on there, the backing plate becomes completely invisible, and due to the "frame-less" design, you will only see the four small hooks that actually hold the license plate. I will add a picture once it is done so you can get an idea of what I mean.

The UK number plate is held on by a completely standard UK-size license plate holder - I find it rather ugly since it takes up more of the Monaro's beautiful front end than absolutely necessary, so it has to go. I also cannot re-use them because the Austrian plates are 1 cm larger in height compared to the UK ones.

For the headlight conversion I paid close to 700 euros including shipping and insurance both ways. Quite expensive, but something that simply needed to be done.