New Camaro To Aus

[Beelzebub89]

Hey everyone,

This is mainly aimed at the guys who are in the importing game that frequent these parts. A mate in work wants to buy a new Camaro from the states. He asked me how would he go about it (I'm the resident hoon in the office apparently). I told him I had no idea but could probably find out how much hassle it would be.

I checked on the SEVS register and they are on the list so that means they can be imported and complied in Australia?

Are there any shops around doing compliance for these cars?

I'm guessing it will have to be converted to RHD in order to be complied which will probably cost a bomb.

Any info that you have regarding this stuff is greatly appreciated

Cheers

Colin

[PM-R33]

Talk to these guys.

http://www.camaroaustralia.com.au/conversion.html

Me and dad looked into it a while back and for the top of the range SS it was going to be around $140,000. I love these cars and would love to own one, however the money to get one in RHD in Aus is a joke.

Edited June 7, 2010 by PM-R33

[Marcus89]

No idea on camaro's but i remember having a look at Z06 corvettes just for the fun of it and came in at over 200k without on road costs. The conversion for LHD is a massive killer that's for sure

[Mr Eps]

i got 20 bucks riding on this guy looking at the camaroaustralia website seeing the conversion costs n saying "nah mate, i don't need to do that, i see people driving cars all the time with "caution left hand drive stickers"

and try to bring one in anyway before consulting anybody

[Chris Rogers]

I know that someone has already done a challenger here. the camaro wouldn't be that bad to flip. that said the car is 90% data driven now unlike the original 60s version that you could start with a screw driver. If I brought one in I would be looking for someone that could work on teh thing..

[bluejeans]

guy across the road from me has had the new camaro pretty much since i heard it was coming out - still left hand drive

always has new american cars..

[oNDaBoOzE]

60's camaro ss 24's onda back... twin turbo big blok entire car smoothed and painted do that for 150k i recon and omg would be so hot.

Rego maybe not lol!!

[XRATED]

Hey guys,

I live and work on private superyachts, so I spend a fair amount of time in the US- mostly south Florida. The new camaro's are everywhere! There are alot that get modified from the factory/dealership too.... actually they're getting to be almost too common on the streets. They're cheap 2nd hand too, a buddy of mine just bought one for 25k with rims and exhaust/intake/re-tune.

Next time I go past a chev dealership I try and take a photo- they litterally have 20 or 30 new camaro's sitting in a row, all wearing different paint and body styling.

why dose it cost so much to get them converted?

Also, there are roumors of guys in South Africa getting factory right hand drive mustangs and camaro's as a special order... Somthing to look into?

Cheers

J.

[pistol-pete]

ive seen a red one driving round adelaide a couple times. looked really tough, and huge.

also wasnt there someone who brought in a ZR-1 a few months ago? i thnk it was in the paper here, cost near half a million to get it on the road iirc.

[Beelzebub89]

Thanks for all the info guys. Seems like it will be a bit of a pain to get over here he might have to save another few years before he can do it or buy something domestic lol.

[NISMO]

Hey guys,

I live and work on private superyachts, so I spend a fair amount of time in the US- mostly south Florida. The new camaro's are everywhere! There are alot that get modified from the factory/dealership too.... actually they're getting to be almost too common on the streets. They're cheap 2nd hand too, a buddy of mine just bought one for 25k with rims and exhaust/intake/re-tune.

Next time I go past a chev dealership I try and take a photo- they litterally have 20 or 30 new camaro's sitting in a row, all wearing different paint and body styling.

why dose it cost so much to get them converted?

Also, there are roumors of guys in South Africa getting factory right hand drive mustangs and camaro's as a special order... Somthing to look into?

Cheers

J.

Easy, Supply and demand! People want them, only a select few can convert them so they charge whatever they like.

[Turboterrorist]

A buddy of mine used to import and convert Corvettes. You'd be looking at $30-40k on the RHD conversion alone. The cost of conversion/compliance is also added to the vehicle cost when you register so you have to pay luxury car tax on it. Not the same as a 1960s, bicycle chain under the dashboard job.

They're being made here I'm pretty sure, might be cheaper if you could convince Holden to take one off the production line for you half finished and start from there. Also you mightn't have to pay luxury car tax when you buy it as it's technically not a car yet... Willl have to pay if building it costs more than whatever the limit is when you do come to register it though.

Cheaper idea, join a car club and get a race/rally only import on club plates, drive it once a month or on tarmac rallies.

PS; ^ it's quite a lot of work to convert these modern things. You gotta take the entire front end off, engine out, so you can squat down in front of the firewall to cut and weald the new steering column holes. Then, obviously, you gotta reasemble the entire business end of the car. Actually takes quite a long time.

Edited June 20, 2010 by Turboterrorist

[funkymonkey]

Thanks for all the info guys. Seems like it will be a bit of a pain to get over here he might have to save another few years before he can do it or buy something domestic lol.

tell him to buy the classic camaro. 30yrs and older means he doesn't have to convert. Gen1's and Gen2's are real camaros, none of that plastic crap.

[Chris Rogers]

according to one of the RAWS I have been talking to:

the car is based on the VE commodore. he flips them from left -> right locally. they are standard in LHD.

I'll probably have a few shots of them at the end of the week if time permits and I go see him.

[Chris Rogers]

tell him to buy the classic camaro. 30yrs and older means he doesn't have to convert. Gen1's and Gen2's are real camaros, none of that plastic crap.

+1

plenty of them kicking around in stock form as well.

[Turboterrorist]

Biggest plusses with the oldies is 1; you pretty much get a money back guarantee when you sell. 2, they look cooler. 3, they are cooler. 4, you can mod them without hassle from the cops who often let murderers go when they escape in 1st Gens and to them your exhaust should be even louder.

Also, the older motors are still tougher than the alloy LS3 crap and you can get massive horsepower for ten cents not to mention torque coming out your arse and low down; LSs are chipped for economy so no low end power by comparison. Coupled with a car that's a good 300kg lighter (those oldies weigh not much more than an old GTR); I've only driven the new 'stang but I'd be very confident with some mods to the steering rack and power steering the original would be ten times the fun (that's what it's all about).

And for $140K, why would you go for a Camaro over a Vette? You could even find a Plymouth Superbird in the States for that if you're a real poser!

[Beelzebub89]

A buddy of mine used to import and convert Corvettes. You'd be looking at $30-40k on the RHD conversion alone. The cost of conversion/compliance is also added to the vehicle cost when you register so you have to pay luxury car tax on it. Not the same as a 1960s, bicycle chain under the dashboard job.

They're being made here I'm pretty sure, might be cheaper if you could convince Holden to take one off the production line for you half finished and start from there. Also you mightn't have to pay luxury car tax when you buy it as it's technically not a car yet... Willl have to pay if building it costs more than whatever the limit is when you do come to register it though.

Cheaper idea, join a car club and get a race/rally only import on club plates, drive it once a month or on tarmac rallies.

PS; ^ it's quite a lot of work to convert these modern things. You gotta take the entire front end off, engine out, so you can squat down in front of the firewall to cut and weald the new steering column holes. Then, obviously, you gotta reasemble the entire business end of the car. Actually takes quite a long time.

Cheers for that. Puts it into perspective how much work is involved with converting them.

tell him to buy the classic camaro. 30yrs and older means he doesn't have to convert. Gen1's and Gen2's are real camaros, none of that plastic crap.

I've told him repeatedley to buy a 67-69 camaro and dump a 572 or something stupid in it. Would shit all over the new ones for fun and coolness but he doesn't like them.

according to one of the RAWS I have been talking to:

the car is based on the VE commodore. he flips them from left -> right locally. they are standard in LHD.

I'll probably have a few shots of them at the end of the week if time permits and I go see him.

If manage to get any shots let us know. Would love to see them.

[Chris Rogers]

I probably will. I'm going to see them thursday. he has two. one left hook and one partial rt hook.

[Chris Rogers]

ok. had my hands on an orange one today. I will say one thing: the amount of work involved in flipping one is incredible!

attention to detail was amazing as well. no pictures as I didnt feel right taking shots of it. there was a second one there in bits ready to flip.

(to the fellow with the R33 working there - nice car - I figure you are on here somewhere send me a PM.)

[imthinkinrbs]

camaros suck