Technical Tips > Importing - Cars & Parts. Also RMS (RTA) Regs

Buying a newly-imported C3?

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bradmart:
G'day guys,

Trolled a number of posts and don't think any quite answers my questions; apologies if i missed one though.

Theres a rapid increase in number of unregistered/ recently imported Vettes/ Mustangs/ Trans-Ams on the market.

Are there any risks involved in buying these cars, as they appear much cheaper than the registered cars than they should be. Call me cautious... but the deals seem too good to be true.

Thanks
Brad (hoping that you can put a vette to the name soon!)

77CVT:
From what I have seen most are still LHD and over 30yrs old so no need to get them converted.  Avoids the need to find a RAW certified converter.

gtc:

--- Quote ---Originally posted by bradinho

Theres a rapid increase in number of unregistered/ recently imported Vettes/ Mustangs/ Trans-Ams on the market.

Are there any risks involved in buying these cars, as they appear much cheaper than the registered cars than they should be. Call me cautious... but the deals seem too good to be true.

--- End quote ---


Are you sure they are actually in Oz? There are some dealer/importers who advertise Vettes that are still in the USA.

There are risks involved in buying any used car. You need to do your homework, and hooking up with a local Vette-savvy person is probably your best insurance. Where are you located? Are you a Club member?

bradmart:
Have been looking around for a very long time, with the assistance of a fellow vette-er. Its all been about waiting for the right car... at the right price.

As much as I'd love to join the Chrome-bumper crew, 'the right price' doesn't quite include these. Not too worried... looking for a good condition cruiser ie 74-79 and would prefer lhd.

The point is... a decent rego'd late 70's Vette is going for mid-high 20's these days. Unrego'd; they're around the 20 mark, which makes sense at US sale price + shipping + profit.

I understand the basic risks in terms of parts, failures etc etc - the risks I refer to are with registration. I'm just very suprised that an increasing number of cars without rego or blue slip are popping up - but 'all necessary papers are included'. It makes we wonder how much work is actually needed to get them to a registrable state (in NSW - Sydney's Northern Beaches) because if I was importing to make a profit; I'd have it ready to roll on sale. On that wonderful online auction site, theres recently been 2 from the same seller. One was a burgandy 79 from memory; seemed in very good nick, pretty much stock, with the comment 'customise to your liking and register'. I've wondered whether customise = legalise. Theres a similar Trans-Am in absolutely top-notch state at $20K currently... but this isn;t the place for that. :22  

demonx:
The reason there are so many non registered cars is because the sellers are avoiding tax. They import heaps of cars, sell them unregistered thus avoiding the tax radar until someone reports them. And it does get reported. I know of a couple locals who have been done for this exact thing.

If the car never gets registered then all they have to do is polish a turd and find a sucker. Why do you think there are so many thousand of "project" Corvettes in garages all over Australia. Cause they bought a deal too good to refuse and now they can't afford to get the thing on the road.

Only advice I can offer is if you decide to take this route - ask the seller if you can take the car for a RWC inspection prior to purchase. If they know the cars a sh#t box then chances are they'll refuse and save you the trouble.

After you add up the dollars of everything thats needed it may not be worth buying the car and you may be better off buying a car thats already registered.

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