Importing a Testarossa into Australia

Hi,
I've been browing the various threads here & wondered if anyone had any experience with importing a RHD Testarossa into Australia (Perth to be precise).
I understand that a pre 1989 build is the best option, but read various things about needing intrusion bars & a lot of other work. Any ideas on approx cost of getting all of this done?

The forms on the Government import approvals website seem to indicate you need full details on the car (eg VIN) before you can apply. But to have these you really need to have bought the car, so isn't that a problem if they decline the import?

Another option I have come across is a personal import (that is already in Australia, but not registered) - do these still need the same work done on them (eg intrusion bars, etc)?
If I buy this what sort of paperwork would I need to register it?

I appreciate any thoughts & comments,

Cheers,

Gary.

 

Haven't done this but thinking outside the box, would talk to some local shops that have been importing Skylines, RX7s and Supras, and other shops doing Mustangs and Corvettes.

They will have experience of what rules have been changing with the years, and what the current situation is. You will probably find a good Japanese or Hong Kong shop with Testarossas and 512s in their easy to reach inventory.

Once you've got some good verbal knowledge, that should give you some leads for a good importer that speaks English that may have better contacts than you sourcing the car over-seas, and a process you can piggy back onto. Doing it yourself remember to really go through things slowly, you're bringing in a lot of old leather, which will flag just about every stop-gate you can think of.

I personally know a guy that brought over one of the last run RX7s from Japan at less than half-purchase locally, has had no issues with the car for over a year. He's also a mechanic though by trade, and was confident if there were any small to medium issues he would absorb them. Likewise have those classic mate-of-mate stories of GTR Skylines showing up as gtst models with badges and bolt ons, but I live close to the Gold Coast, not too sure how bad the 86 and R33 situation is where you are.

Remember parts and service options are limited in Australia, so follow the rule everyone on FChat says about Testarossas as a guideline, the most expensive one you can get, and a '94TR if you can. Don't bring in a LHD cheap as a club car or race-car project and then decide to off-load it locally, appears those are quite difficult to move.

In summary I researched it and made the decision my reason for doing so was that an extra $25k - $30k Australian meant the car was very much over the border of rational thinking.

 

Gary,

I have done quite a bit of research on this very process as i am also considering it.


Feel free to send me a PM or email.

AK

 

There's quite a few posts about importing in the Oz section & some in the UK as I recall

 

I have done it and have had a testa in Aus and a countach for about 4 years now.

Must be 1988 or older....or you will be shipping it straight back.

I nearly bought an 1989...thank god i didn't...from my knowledge there is no one here to do a Raws compliance on an 1989 and above Testarossa.

 

You might be better off buying a local one. Plenty here for sale and i reckon some are getting desperate to move.

You never know what surprises you will get....i have been there and done that...and cost me dearly to get both my cars to a standard expected here in Australia.

 

I've done it three times. Car needs to be manufactured prior to 31/12/1988 to be able to be imported into Australia.

This makes it hard if you want a five stud car, but quite straightforward if you are looking for an earlier single wheel nut car like Dean's.

I have two late 88's and an earlier 87, all out of the UK.

Yes, to comply them to ADR's they need catalist exhaust systems and door intrusion bars, plus a myriad of other smaller issues like seat belts, emissions placard, etc etc. Any good engineer can do the intrusion bars. These days it's hardly worth it with the quantity of cars already in Australia that you can actually just go and drive.

There are many 1989 / 90 cars here that have been bought in under the 'personal import' scheme whereby they have been owner overseas for 12 months then imported. These cars don't have to meet ADR's so most have not been modified to comply here. Make sure that these cars can be registered in your state before purchasing one of them.

On another note, WA has lax laws on LHD so you could pick up a really cheap LHD model and register it quite easily in WA.

 

I understood Aus also had a provision for rare/classic cars to be imported, something to do with this list:
http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/sevs/sevsindex.htm

I think some of the UK dealers had good success getting more modern cars through with this regulation, or am I reading it wrongly?

 

To be eligible for import into Australia, first the car must be on the SEVS list. Speciality and Enthusiest Vehicle Scheme.

Once it's on the SEVS approved list then a RAW - Registered Automotive Workshop - must import a car as a test sample and then prepare an evidencepack on that car detailing exactly how the RAW will 're-engineer' the car to comply with Australian Design Rules - ADR.

Once DOTARS (Dept. of Transport and Road Safety) in Canberra approve the RAW evidence pack, than that particular RAW can import, comply and affix a compliance plate to the car.

At present there is only one RAW in the country that can do a 512TR but they have no evidence pack for a Testarossa.

RAW compliance scheme is Australia wide and commenced for ALL vehicles produced on or after 1/1/1989.

Pre 1/1/89 cars can be imported under a different compliance state but still must meet ADR standard applicable to the month and year that the car was built.

 

If and when an AUstralian RAW submits an approved eviidence pack for a Testarossa then any 1989/90 Testarossa produced by the factory in RHD for will be eligble for import through the RAW. Naturally then you are at the mercy of the RAW for what they will charge to comply the car. Ie: 512TR costs $30000 AUD to comply inclusive of new Cats in the exhaust system.

I expect that TEstarossa will be similar which is probably why nobody has done an evidence pack for that car as there is plenty of choice already here or alternatively, purchase a pre 89 car and comply it yourself or through a skilled importer.

 

Hi Gary

If you wish to import a Testarossa to Perth, the best person to speak to would be Bobbo at Fabcar in Cannington.

 

Don't anyone ever say this country isn't over regulated !!