Just out of curiosity what do Oz regulations require of imported cars, even classics/veterans? Do they *have* to be RHD to be road legal? That would certainly narrow down the market quite a bit...
Australia has a a huge number of not insumoutable rules and taxes with importing cars here is an overview ONLY of an absolute mine field and may people have tried to circumvent this and come to grief, the Authorities have this so tight it holds air. Yes we can have LHD cars but they need to be more than 30 years old. or have it converted ........ The Austrlian goverment introduced a Parlimentry ACT on Automotive Design which is a prescriptive High level document that says how a car will be designed and what must be met to alow a car to be built, basically covers safety , nanny state items and environmental. This then is the head of power for the Austrlian Design Rules ADRs. Then there is the complications of Rules for importation and age is part of that and that then dictates if the car has to be made ADR compliant. Then added to this you need to get permission to import a car. and that has lots of variants. Then there is the TAXs even on classic cars. and the worst of all is the Luxury car Tax which is based on Values of cars over a a landed value of $59,133 AUD This is tax of the value of cars over this price. and there is a calculation. Then there is compliance for cars under 30 years. There are whats Called RAWS compiance orgs who are authorised to do the compliance, but only on what they hvae been approved for. This can get very very expensive This is as I said a mine field and its worth getting help. Take the Khamsin in Japan. say 75,000 AUD. good news its over 30 years old, may need some compiance certification but the luxury car tax still applies and its not on what you paid but is a value including freight and other taxes added first. Here is a calculator link LCT and Customs Duty Calculator for $75k Luxury Vehicle Import to Australia As you can see a Khamsin imported at a purchase price of $75,000.00 landed is $101,000.00 and its not registed yet! Oh did I mention new car prices compared to the rest of the world excluding Singapore and UAE dont get me started.. thats a rant on its own! If you need more info let me know. Cheers Graeme
I've heard lots and lots of horror stories about Australian importation rules. Plainly obvious that they don't want people to import cars from abroad... (maybe they don't want too much money going out of the country and to boost local economy?) Someone I know imported a Cobra and he was forced to modify the car because the authorities didn't like the side exhausts. He went into great expenses to have them converted as rear exhausts.
Here is a couple of links the first one is how to scare people off. Australia likes to think it has the highest Design rues on the planet, which isnt true I recon its just another way to fleece people. Importing Vehicles into Australia The Next one is the how to with links the SEVs ( cars that can be imported with out being overseas) and RAWS list Place that can do the compliance). Be warned this can be very expensive. RAWS Australia: Welcome to RAWS Australia Online Best thing is if you live overseas for 12months or more and you own acar for that twelve months The RAWS part isnt applicable and some of the taxes dependant on age are reduced. You can bring in cars that are not on the list and its this way some cars get in that dont have any nanny equipment. Cheers Graeme
Given the thread, has gone quiet, This a picture of three K's take in Canberra 2012 at dusk. Graeme Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hello all, Graeme that looks like a squad of stealth planes ready to pounce So two days ago in Laguna Beach south of Los Angeles I finally saw my ex Khamsin again for the first time since 2008: of course as this photo demonstrates I acted very maturely I can now solemnly confirm that cars are like cats you hug them and they ignore you:-( The couple who own it are very nice people and excellent custodians for it so a true pleasure to meet them. Best regards from South Florida. Marc Image Unavailable, Please Login
Not that I aware of but googling it finds there are people who do [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D6AXWVOWW4]Elderly Man Buried Inside His 1973 Pontiac - YouTube[/ame] Graeme
Not in the slightest!!! I think Marc is amazingly restrained! Clearly you have never seen a grown man pulled from the road wheels of a beautiful car to allow the owner to drive off! Or parking two Bertone cars together in a warm garage in the hope they mate and produce an X1/9? If you thought Panda breeding was tough..............
And he's not alone in that. A lady in LA was buried in her Ferrari, IIRC a 330 GT 2+2. There are a few threads on it in the Ferrari Vintage section. Best, Jack.
I know I am a little late in the game on this but thought some of you might be interested... I test drove and evaluated 1046 back in 2005 for the current owner who resides in CA. The drive and evaluation took place in Knoxville, TN as the previous owner resided in Oak Ridge, TN.. The car drove wonderfully if I recall correctly, and everything about it was very good. One odd thing, if I remember correctly. The dealer that was handling the sale of the car indicated that there were double head gaskets installed on both heads... I found this somewhat unusual, but apparantly this did not detract from the car in any way... I have some ideas as to why this was done, but perhaps there are others... Mike
Double head gaskets? Would that even work? I would think that would be nothing but trouble. That's a lot of extra deck height!
Can't think of any reason why one would elect to do so. The CR is not that high, and with double gaskets even lower. Is the car still like that? Best, Jack.
I have seen this done when the heads are reground beyound the minimum thickness, and valves sart touching pistons. its a cheap way out rarther than the complete engine strip and fly cutting pistons Another reason is may be they couldnt get the intake manifold the sit correctly, when are ground the manifold needs to be machined so it sits on the posts and not on the heads....... sorry for being techno nerdy. Graeme
Graeme In other words -to keep bob happy with salacious jokes- some valve piston relationships need counselling or referees in the form of twin security guards, sorry double head gaskets Went to see a very interesting k in the midwest today, photos in a few days. Best regards, Marc
Most of us HAVE used our lips repeatedly on cars ... siphoning gas? And you were close to fuel filler door ...
Guilty as charged. You don't want to do that with modern petrol anymore, it's nasty stuff and the taste stays in your mouth for a long time. In the old days it was okay Graeme, yes, it occurred to me later that skimming heads beyond the mark would be a motivation to do the double gasket, but a 4.9 maser V-8 doesn't appear a good candidate for it. The gasket is already somewhat worrysome as it is. Best, Jack.
Khamsin spotted in San Marino few years ago in original condition Vin Unknown Julius Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for posting Julius, this is AM120028 which had been for sale privately by a very nice owner near Ravenna an hour south of Bologna. These are actually his photos. The interior color is original however the paint is not. When new it was oro Longchamps which is beautiful and rare medium gold. The car was sold earlier this year to Germany. best regards, Marc
The car is in Czech republic according my info.?? I had a chance to buy it but didnt and one guy from Czech bought it for sure.Maybe he sell it as you mentioned this year to Germany.Have to ask. anyway many thanks Marc Julius
Car looks like a nice genuine car. The interior is redeamable and interesting the carpet over the center consol is only a simple pad. Graeme
