Import approval?

[fullburner]

Hello All I AM currently toying with the idea of buying a Corvette mainly interested in a c4.
The question I have is there are some advertised as holding a GENUINE import approval for what seem like a reasonable price, what does this mean?
Do all c4 have to be converted?
what prices should I be looking at for a AUS delivered C4, import approved c4, and a imported regod car?

I am new to vettes but have allways loved the mid 80s vettes just never been in the position to buy one, and with gen1 "A" bodies selling for stupid prices I would rather buy a vette

[daniel42au]

Hi FullBurner,

Welcome...
From the top...:
To import a C4 into Australia, the importer must apply to the govt department DOTARS for an Import Approval... No approval certificate means no state transport registration... which means that the importer is restricted to driving the car around the back paddock. Genuine? Well, all import approvals issued by DOTARS are genuine.   :-)   go check out their site at http://rvcs.dotars.gov.au/ and give them a call with the rego number of the import approval being offered to you.

Reasonable Price? You gets what ya pays for... what do you think is reasonable?  Is the vehicle your looking at LHD or RHD?  

LHD 80's Vettes cost from $15K to $25K
RHD 80's Vettes cost from $25K to $40K

Don't bother looking at a LHD Vette manufactured after Jan 89 as there is no one  in OZ who has the approval(RAWS) to convert it to RHD.

Australian C4 delivered?   check out the retail market here....  http://www.carpoint.com.au/used-cars/ and enter Chevrolet and Corvette

If you live in WA I believe you may be able to drive it LHD.

Elsewhere, a mirror conversion to RHD will cost $14,000 or so.... or a chain-conversion will cost $10,000 or so.  Add to that the cost of registration, stamp duty, and comprehensive insurance.

Remember if someone is offering you a bargain then ask, "Why?".  As there is no such thing as a "Free Lunch."

My suggestion is check out the above Carpoint site, Unique Cars or World Cars Magazines from your newsagent... and to buy a good reasonably priced registered C4 inspected by the NRMA, RACQ or whoever and save yourself the hastle of doing all the work yourself.

My last piece of advice is to take your time and do your homework.   Also check out this forum as there is much discussion on the subject of importing cars.

cYa

Daniel42au

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~daniel42au/

[nifty]

Originally posted by daniel42au
Hi FullBurner,

Welcome...
From the top...:
To import a C4 into Australia, the importer must apply to the govt department DOTARS for an Import Approval... No approval certificate means no state transport registration... which means that the importer is restricted to driving the car around the back paddock. Genuine? Well, all import approvals issued by DOTARS are genuine.   :-)   go check out their site at http://rvcs.dotars.gov.au/ and give them a call with the rego number of the import approval being offered to you.

Reasonable Price? You gets what ya pays for... what do you think is reasonable?  Is the vehicle your looking at LHD or RHD?  

LHD 80's Vettes cost from $15K to $25K
RHD 80's Vettes cost from $25K to $40K

Don't bother looking at a LHD Vette manufactured after Jan 89 as there is no one  in OZ who has the approval(RAWS) to convert it to RHD.

Australian C4 delivered?   check out the retail market here....  http://www.carpoint.com.au/used-cars/ and enter Chevrolet and Corvette

If you live in WA I believe you may be able to drive it LHD.

Elsewhere, a mirror conversion to RHD will cost $14,000 or so.... or a chain-conversion will cost $10,000 or so.  Add to that the cost of registration, stamp duty, and comprehensive insurance.

Remember if someone is offering you a bargain then ask, "Why?".  As there is no such thing as a "Free Lunch."

My suggestion is check out the above Carpoint site, Unique Cars or World Cars Magazines from your newsagent... and to buy a good reasonably priced registered C4 inspected by the NRMA, RACQ or whoever and save yourself the hastle of doing all the work yourself.

My last piece of advice is to take your time and do your homework.   Also check out this forum as there is much discussion on the subject of importing cars.

cYa

Daniel42au

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~daniel42au/

sound advice.......

[69 DIRTY RAT]

;51 Unless its dirt cheap then its better to buy one from Oz thats already registered! Its just not worth buying a LHD these days and converting it! (unless your in WA) How much are they asking? Have you considered a 77 and below? They dont have to be converted!

[fullburner]

Thanks for the great reply. I was looking at the one on ebay for 25k compared to a couple for under 20k with import approval only including one from the classified here for 19k.
I dont live in WA but in N.T so have to check conversion laws here, but I dont intend to live here for ever either.

So in short a mid 80s (15-20k) car will need a 14000ish conversion hence the 30k odd asked for rhd vehicles.

I take it 77 or older cars dont require conversion because they are 30yrs old?

More research required I think.

Thanks again.