NSW Corvettes
Technical Tips => Pre 84 => Topic started by: Mattrix on March 22, 2005, 01:04:08 PM
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Hi All,
I'm looking at bringing in a C3 from california, and my fiancee is adament that I get a newer styled one, so I've located a 1978 one that I like the look of. Do I need to convert it over? I really don't want to have to, since in 3 years it will be 30 years old and thus road registerable through normal registration. I'm having a reeeeally hard time finding out information, rta are bloody useless, I know I'm probably looking at some sort of club rego...? What cub restrictions exist in NSW Corvette club? I want to be able to drive it on weekends easily, I don't want to take it on long trips or anything, just cruise around Newcastle and the Hunter Valley vineyard areas and the like. Please help! I can't go ahead with anything till I can work out whether I can actually drive the thing now or not, I don't want to have to move to Perth to register it, or put it in storage for 3 years...
thanks
Matt
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;32Why is your Fiancee so adement on a later model c3? You WILL have to change it to RHD or leave it for 3 years(*look at previous posts on this subject-they are numerous!).
Because of this You might as well go for a C4 (I didnt think I would ever say that!).
The prices of early C4's are cheaper than most C3's now with more comfort!. With conversions costing $10-15000+ it would make more sense to go with a 75 or earlier and spend the conversion money on a better 'earlier' C3!
Also why not buy an already converted vette here in OZ,that way someone else has had to folk out (and waste) there money!
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Originally posted by 69 DIRTY RAT
Because of this You might as well go for a C4 (I didnt think I would ever say that!).
;eek You feeling okay 69DR?
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haha, c4? what are you nuts? hehe. ok so some c4's look awesome, but they're not my cup of tea. She wants a later C3 because she just likes the shape more, I dunno, I can't explain it. I'd have any shape C3 to be honest, but since she's helping me out to buy it, I kind of have to keep her happy... :) that and, other reasons, I'm sure the guys understand.
Can't I drive it on club rego or something? I've found a bit of information on it, but i just wanted to clarify the whole situation. What if i were to register it in perth and then bring it back here, then take it back there to register it again each year for the next 3 years? :P i dunno... running out of ideas really. Reason for not getting one here, I don't have a mint to spend, I have found LHD ones here for the same amount I have found one for, and the one I have found is in much better condition. All the RHD ones I've found have been out of my price bracket (for example, a white RHD one that was at the Kurri hot rod show last weekend, they want $30k for it and it wasn't amazing... no offense if that person is in here reading :) ). So yeah, that's my predicament.
Matt
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even on club rego it has to be over 30 years old i am not sure about canberra i think u can reester them there if they are over 15 years old but i think that is for the first 18 months only not tottaly sure on that though i have just heard it on the grape vine but worth a clook into it
(POLO-FLASH) can u help us on that do u know about rego in ACT
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Hmm, sounds like an interesting way to do it. I'm keen to hear whether that's right, I might scan around online and have a look...
Matt
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Don't know about NSW, but down here in Vic you can get full LHD registration at 30 years or a club permit at 25 years.
The permit is very restrictive. You can only drive it on an official (with supporting documentation) club run or to and from a mechanical workshop. If you don't obey those restrictions it's counted as a strike against the club. If the club receives a total of 3 strikes they loose the right to have any permits. So all club members on permits loose them.
If you were really keen you could look into becoming an LMCT and then apply for a trade plate, which allows you to drive any unregistered (LHD) vehicle. However, restriction still apply in this case as well.
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Hi, thanks all for the replies... Not sure if it's going to be a promising venture but I appreciate the help all the same.
Trade plates could get kinda messy, not sure how one would obtain them though I know lots of people that know lots of other people and I'm sure I can find out easily enough.
ahh the joys of cars...
Matt
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Originally posted by Mattrix
a white RHD one that was at the Kurri hot rod show last weekend, they want $30k for it and it wasn't amazing...
Thats a fairly correct price! You can get cheapper but they would be worse condition OR more expensive you get a better car!
If you buy one in the states in similar condition, you would probably pay around $10000us = close to $30000 OZ by the time you get it here/rego/convert!!!!!!
68-72 Chrome bumpers are the coolist C3! especially Big Blocks or in my case MASSIVE BLOCK
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Massive block, haha love it :)
Yeah, converting is an issue I wanted to avoid. From what I can gather if I pick one up in the states for 10000US, with the exchange rate (= about 12600AUD), shipping (I have found shipping for 1250US from LA and 850AUD for port charges and all the stuff that goes on there), duty (if younger than 30 years) of 5% (apparently it's been 5% for a couple of months now, as opposed to 10), GST of 10% = about 17k. Then with things I need to do to it to get it through rego and then to register it, looking at about 18-19k, which is about my limit. Hence why it seemed so much more appealing to bring one over than to get one here. I've found some nice ones in the US for around the 10 mark, though still trying to decide exactly what I want, and whether i'm going to get it over here smoothly.
Matt
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Here's (http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?UsedCarID=755947&TabID=3328&Alias=carpointau) a cheap '78 for sale in NSW.
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thats a good buy
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that's pretty good yeah. I'd get that, except i'm not looking for a project, or that should read, ANOTHER project. At the moment I drive a 280zx. I have a 280zx off the road that I am slowly restoring, putting in a bored l28et (or possibly supercharged, haven't decided yet). AND I have a 1940 vauxhall that i have under covers until I can work out exactly what i want to do with it and exactly how to do that.
what can I say, i like cars. I'm just another male. :) That and the fact I share an office with an older guy who's an absolute car nut, which doesn't help.
The one I am looking at is one on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4537055167
I can't go past it, it's one of those "get ya horny" kind of cars. I know it would need a little bit of attention but for the price, and the whole idea of the car, I just love it. Normally I like the stock as a rock cars, but for this one I'd gladly make an acception!
Matt
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it looks nice
(http://www.ocpabi.com/main/images/photos/S1966/150x113/1.jpg)
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yeah, is very nice. As always there are things to do but as I said I can't go past it. If you love someone, you will wait for them... if you love a car, i guess you would wait for it right? :)
just purely hypothetical, how do they track year of manufacture of imported cars? I imagine they're pretty tight about it...
Matt
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well I did a crazy thing, I put a deposit on that car. And it looks like I'm going to america for a few months in about 4 weeks time, so I'll probably drive it for a while over there (i'm getting free rego and i don't have to pay sales tax!) and then bring it back.
which leads me to... private importing. How long do i need to own it and drive it over there before I can call it a private import, and does this save me GST + Duty or...?
Matt
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I think its about 18 months living there & rego proof from DMV (RTA) !! so unless you live in New Zealand where its only 1 month then you will still have to pay GST & Duty (duty??).
Mattrix....while your over there get as much done to it as possible (if it needs it),cause they have the experience to do repairs properly,and its cheaper for parts cause you dont have to pay for export & GST.
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very true, thanks for the advice. Will see what I can do.
18 months, crazy. I'll look into it some more. Won't be able to register it until 2008 so I don't mind keeping it there for longer if I have to...
Matt
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.. there is a note on the BENCH RACING section of the Camaro-Firebird.org site this morning relating to a special government study permit for LHD cars... .. might be worth acting on if you very very quick....
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Nice one :P
it's called an April Fools joke. Though I did get quite excited about it. never mind then...
Matt
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so, I'm signing papers now and am still planned to go over there in a few weeks time to get it. At this stage if i want to drive it there, which i totally do, i have to pay californian sales tax. then when i bring it back i gotta pay more tax and duty. I have an interesting way to keep my costs down, pm or email me if you want more info. Im keen to get lots done to it over there, I would like some suggestions on what I should do to the car, I want to tidy the engine right up for starters... any ideas what I should DEFINITELY do and other things that would just be *nice*?
Matt
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Its actually 12 months you have to have owned and used the car over in the states. If you have any relo's in south oz or perth you can always rego it over there. there limit is 15 years or older but i hear thats going to change in the not to distant future also.
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south oz where? nah don't know anyone.. though it is tempting to take it to perth to register and then bring it back here until 2008 :) very very tempting...
how is it going to change? what's happening? i only knew there were changes to the 15 year rule for imports, it's going to get progressively longer and longer, however nothing has been written down yet so nothing is concrete. hopefully by the time it affects me it won't affect me anymore... if that makes sense :)
Matt
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i think u can regester them in N.T as well
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really? i got a mate who has spent a lot of time in NT, I'll have to ask him...i wonder if that's true... i spose that's closer than perth, i guess i just have to pick the closest place that will do it for me and head there :)
Matt
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according to the NT transport website:
"Left hand drive vehicles may be acceptable under this scheme, however whilst the NT may accept these left-hand vehicles for registration they may not be accepted for registration or operation in other states and territories."
referring to the "cars older than 15 years import" scheme...
Matt
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If you buy the latest Unique Cars magazine, there's a story on the ZR1 and Callaway Corvettes. They're both LHD and you can clearly see the ZR1 has NT number plates.
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Got it already ;) and yeah, i can see that. wondering how strict they are with it then? wouldn't mind travelling up there for rego, not sure of the logistics of it tho... any dodgy people up there i can just make a phone call, or fly up there and register the car without having to take the car up? did i say dodgy? i meant legitimate, law abiding business people ;)
Matt
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I think you need to be a "resident" of a state in order to register you vehicle in that state.
Having said that, I can't see why you couldn't make up an address but have all your mail sent to a NT post office box and then have the post office re-direct your mail to your actual address (if you were so inclined).
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I think you may find that the NSW RTA has some rule in place where you have 6 months to re-register an out of State vehicle to NSW plates.
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wouldn't i then need to have an NT address on my license? or could i tell them that i work up there and also work down here? but then, i wonder how many people like me go in there, obviously they would know that people would try to rort the system by taking their LHD car up there to register... you think they'd be painful about it or just be cool about it?
Matt
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Just had another idea. I know I can get a blue slip for it no problem, I have a mate that would blue slip it for me regardless of LHD or RHD, but apparently I need a:
"If the vehicle has been modified to comply with regulation requirements (eg converted from left-hand to right-hand drive or the fitting of seatbelts and child restraints etc) a certificate from a qualified Engineering Signatory to certify that the vehicle meets Australian standards."
and
"A weighbridge ticket."
how do i go about getting hold of these? Any "legitimate" engineers around?
Had another thought, maybe if I can find a cheap wrecked vette that has already had the conversion done I can take the bits out of that...?
just throwing ideas around here
Matt
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You'll have to search around for a qualified engineer and be prepared to pay thru the nose when you find one. As for the weighbridge ticket, I got one done for my daughter's car at Kirrawee a year or two ago. Cost around $20.00 I think.
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that expensive eh? darn it. Was hoping I'd find one that would write me a certificate that said the car was RHD even though I had done nothing to it hehe
oh well... northern territory here i come. if anyone else has any more details on this post them in here, or message me.
Matt
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Why not register a business name in Darwin someplace.. cost around $30.. locate it at your mates or somebody you knows home.. also register a PO BOX .. Make your company "Car promotions" or something..
..get it done and registered in NT.. take the car up their.. be organised.. take a week off..
.. register the car to you and transfer it to your companies name.. NOT YOURS.....
.. then truck it down, don't use it everyday.. and you should have little problems.. if pulled up .. its regualary driven interstate to different states.. but belongs up in NT..(or WA etc)
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not bad, not bad at all :) so you say that I should register it to me first and THEN to the business name? $30 for the business? nice... will try and find out if my mate has friends up there that would be happy for that. PO Box no problem... this could work quite nicely :)
Matt
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Well the car's fully paid for now. Will be shipping as soon as the ATO sends me a nice tax return cheque, probably some time next month, depending on when I can see my accountant. Then I put it on a car float and drive to NT :) that's if i can register a business up there... have to wait and see.
Matt
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Found some more info on the NT registration process:
Business
Proof of identity
A business is not a legal entity. Legal entities for a business can be individuals, partners or a company. The customer is required to provide a copy of the Business Extract which will detail the legal entities of the business. The legal entities will be required to provide POI.
Acceptable POI documents are:
current driver’s photo licence from the NT, interstate or the ACT
current passport or Document of Identity
birth certificate
certified copy or extract of birth certificate
Australian naturalisation or citizenship document, immigration papers issued by the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs or documents issued by the Passport Office
Current consular photograph identity card issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Aboriginal Population Record letter from Births, Deaths & Marriages.
Please note: A birth certificate must be accompanied by at least one (1) other document proving identity.
Proof of residency
Proof of residency will be required from the legal entity. To show POR, customers must present one or more of the acceptable forms of residency as listed.
Surrender of interstate drivers licence
Current Pensioner Concession card issued by the Territory Health Services or Department of Veterans’ Affairs entitlement card
A passbook or account statement not more than 12 months old from a bank, building society or credit union
Telephone, gas or electricity bill not more than 12 months old
Water rates, council rates or land valuation notice not more than 2 years old
Electoral enrolment card or other evidence of enrolment not more than 2 years old
Armed services discharge papers not more than 3 months old
Current student identity card
Letter from employer on official letterhead
Assessment notice issued by the Australian Taxation Office
Letter from Land Council staff
Company
Proof of identity
A Company is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Each company is allocated a unique Australian Company Number (ACN). A Company Certificate of Incorporation must be provided for the first registration.
A Company shows POI by proving its legal status. To prove its legal status a company must provide these items:
Copy of Company seal; OR
Copy of Certificate of Incorporation; and
Australian Registered Body Number (copy of certificate) if an overseas company.
Proof of residency
Telephone, gas or electricity bill not more than 12 months old;
Lease Agreement
Water rates, council rates or land valuation notice not more than 2 years old
Incorporated bodies
Proof of identity
An Incorporated Association/Body is a legal entity and can registered a vehicle in it’s own right. They are registered with the Office of Business Affairs and are issued a Certificate of Incorporation and also an Association number. To prove it’s legal status an Incorporated Body must provide these items:
Copy of Certificate of Incorporation
Proof of Association number
Proof of residency
Same as for a Company.
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Bloody hell. ;30
Convert the damm thing or wait untill its 30. Just kidding ;39
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nah, i can't do it man, apart from the fact that I have no money to convert it, I would rather drive it LHD, it's far more interesting doing it that way :)
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Makes going through McDonalds Drive through difficult. ;41
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so i've heard.
but wasn't your car already converted when you got it? that'd make things a bit happier right there...
but anyway, can't do it, no money, not gonna happen... maybe just keep it in storage for 2 and a half years... yuk... makes me sick in the stomach thinking about it :P
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Yeah I was lucky. The beast was converted. I feel for ya. The rules and regs have gone overboard. Bloody red tape. Hope you sought it out. What about club rego? I know the point was bought up before but I cant remember the reply. Isn't it something to do with how often you drive the car or something like that? Might be an option. If club rego gets your car on the road partially it's better than nothing till time is up on the 30 years.
If club rego is an option. Just a thought.
Keep us posted on how you go.
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From what i've heard with club rego you by law need to log every trip you do with the club before driving out of your driveway. Makes it a bit of a hassle... Not that it always works that way... with an understanding club, members usually take their club registered car out whenever they have the urge, and then if something happens, their first phone call is to the club to jot their (unfortunate) outing in their log book.
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Still this has got to be better than all the BS this poor guy has to go through. And it would only be for a couple of years. Easy to say when it's not me I know But might be a short fix. I think our club is understanding in this matter.
Anybody got some feed back on this point, or am I doubling up and it's already been addressed?
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already looked into it man, talked to this club's president and apparently the car has to be 30 years old to qualify, so kind of defeats the purpose. so interstate rego is all i can think of doing, sure it's some regs but still feasible, if i go about it the right way... and if i can find someone that "knows somebody", if you catch my drift. I like relying on other people's contacts, NT contacts would be a plus for sure :)
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Hope you find someone. NT is sooo far away.
Keep us posted.
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will do, of course :)
what's the fine nowadays for driving an unrego'd car? :( hmm probably not worth thinking about eh.... or maybe I could start playing around with firewalls... no that's a little bit more illegal :D
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NO...NNNNNOOOOOOOO.. Don't convert it.. it'll eventually STUFF it.. by the time you get around to "really finishing"it.. which most conversions are NEVER PROPERLY FINISHED... not 100%.. then you gotta start on the restoration.. more money mmm.... more time... Without a day job.. your going to be a slave to this thing.. longer then the 2.5 years..
.. Find somebody with trade plates maybe.. or TAKE IT TO PERTH.. for rego.. must be a nice PERTH CORVETTE OWNER in Australia that would help out.. ...
.. converted cars are in the long term worse then LHD ones.. KEEP IT LHD as GM intended...
anyway....come 2007... there will probably be no more Corvettes as we know them anyway.....!!!
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Originally posted by ozpont
anyway....come 2007... there will probably be no more Corvettes as we know them anyway.....!!!
(http://www.john-gates.com/video/DiffrentStrokes/WhatChaTalkinAbout1.jpg)
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yeah my response exactly, though thunderkiss summed it up better! :D
anyway, yeah there would have to be a nice perth or NT vette owner that would help me out... surely?
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Just had a very dodgy thought, will post it up even though it's pure dodginess.
Would anyone have an old vette (70's) that would pass a blue slip that they have just sitting there and they're not doing anything with it and probably won't till, say, 2008? :) I'm tempted to rego another vette and use the plates and sticker on my car until 2008 when i can rego my car. At least if they look on the sticker it will say it's a vette, and if they look up the rego it will say it's a vette, the only problem i'd have is if they check the VIN, then I can just stir some bulls**t story about "i bought it from america and this is the VIN they told me and maybe they changed it or..."
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your going to jail :22
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Originally posted by Mattrix
Just had a very dodgy thought, will post it up even though it's pure dodginess.
Would anyone have an old vette (70's) that would pass a blue slip that they have just sitting there and they're not doing anything with it and probably won't till, say, 2008? :) I'm tempted to rego another vette and use the plates and sticker on my car until 2008 when i can rego my car. At least if they look on the sticker it will say it's a vette, and if they look up the rego it will say it's a vette, the only problem i'd have is if they check the VIN, then I can just stir some bulls**t story about "i bought it from america and this is the VIN they told me and maybe they changed it or..."
I know of someone that tried something similar. The RTA didn't buy it. They have heard them all...
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Originally posted by MJ427
your going to jail :22
....And while you're there you might meet a nice fellow by the name of Ben dOver who would explain all the ins and outs of the place;35
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haha;laugh;laugh
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Originally posted by MADVET
Originally posted by MJ427
your going to jail :22
....And while you're there you might meet a nice fellow by the name of Ben dOver who would explain all the ins and outs of the place;35
haha, funny bastards
sorry i'm just having crazy ideas because i wanna drive my vette dammit! and no vette owner has come forward from NT and offered up their services... :(
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Seriously though Mattrix if you are really that keen on driving your car LHD then why dont you go over to WA or NT and rent out a unit or townhouse for 6 months.
Then armed with a copy of your lease agreement go down to the RTA and transfer your drivers license over to your new address. Bingo you've just become a new resident. Then simply truck your vette over there and get it rego'd LHD. You never know you might like it over there and might find a job in your field of work and stay for a while.
I know there are plenty of LHD C3 and C4 Corvettes, Camaros and Firebirds cruising the streets of Perth, quite a few LHD Porsches and Mercs cruising around there as well.
If all that is to hard you could simply truck/trailer the car to a race track on a track day just to give you the occasional fix behind the wheel. The great thing about taking it to the track is that you can give it a canning if you want to.
Another option is to sell the car and buy one that is already rego'd.
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Do the NSW RTA have 28 day permits?
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wouldn't have a clue, thunderkiss. never heard anything about it...
For some reason I thought that WA was out of the question... I checked out the rego website and got the impression that it couldn't be done over there, or that NT was going to be easier than WA... I'll look the site up again, if I found the right regulation documents before I'm sure I can find them again. And yeah I've been to perth before and didn't mind it so much. all the appeal of a city without being too big, and housing prices are way better than on the east coast.