RHD Z06 Corvette (Aussie Import)

[K974]

Hi All,

I've recently posted a similar question in the HSV section regarding a HZ holden ute with a 454 engine I own. I've been living in Australia for 12 years and intend on returning home next year, I wish to bring a car back from Australia under change of residence and therefore import duty free. I'll have 3/4 40ft containers of possessions and business equipment going back so I can basically ship the car for free, the containers are going anyway.

I'm currently trying to weigh up my options on the best car to bring back , I don't have to make money on the car, but I don't want the exposure of a car worth money in oz being unsaleable at home, once I (if required) sell and break even and there is a reasonable market I will bring the car.

Currently I own,
1. 200 Series Landcruiser Amazon V8 Diesel - Pretty much ruled this out. They are available in uk in higher spec and mine has too much work to be done i.e take off bullbars etc

2. 79 Series Landcruiser Ute (Pickup) with 4.5 V8 D4D. I'm considering this as it would be I believe the only one in the uk. I started a similar thread to assess the market for this in the uk and got mixed replies.

3. 1978 Holden HZ ute, with 454 Chev engine. thinking keeping this and brining it home, this is worth about $20-$25k )(10-13 GBP) so its a low risk option and I got a few replies saying there would be a market for this.

I hadn't really thought about a corvette until I started looking at prices and there being RHD conversions in Australia, as per the attached link I should be able pick one up for $100k (44k GBP), what are your guys assessment of the market for this in the UK? Could I break even or would the RHD put people off. If I think I could break even it might be the one to go for.

http://www.carsales.com.au/car/chevrolet/corvette/...

Thanks guys

[BlackZeD]

As above I think they are expensive.
Left hand drive puts some people off, but a conversion would put more
people off, as there would be no one in Europe to get the "converted"
parts from, very specific to the Aussie market.

From a Z06 owner as well

My limited look for a 40k Z06 produced this on PH.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/c...

[K974]

back to the drawing board then, might just bring the landcruiser ute and/or the holden hz.

you can get pretty much any USA car with a RHD conversion over here.

[PHCorvette]

K974 said:

back to the drawing board then, might just bring the landcruiser ute and/or the holden hz.

you can get pretty much any USA car with a RHD conversion over here.

The Ute would make the most sense as over here Utes are in demand. Top that with a 454 conversion I am sure the HSV lads will be very interested in it even if their response to a stranger has been slow. Another benefit of the Ute will be the business advantage should you run it as a company vehicle.

I like the idea of a RHD vette but would be reluctant to actually buy one and may make insurance very tricky.

Driving LHD in the UK is not an issue.

But great news for us Zed owners with that link above, specially those of us with UK cars.

[johnnnnnnyy]

C

K974 said:

Hi All,

I've recently posted a similar question in the HSV section regarding a HZ holden ute with a 454 engine I own. I've been living in Australia for 12 years and intend on returning home next year, I wish to bring a car back from Australia under change of residence and therefore import duty free. I'll have 3/4 40ft containers of possessions and business equipment going back so I can basically ship the car for free, the containers are going anyway.

I'm currently trying to weigh up my options on the best car to bring back , I don't have to make money on the car, but I don't want the exposure of a car worth money in oz being unsaleable at home, once I (if required) sell and break even and there is a reasonable market I will bring the car.

Currently I own,
1. 200 Series Landcruiser Amazon V8 Diesel - Pretty much ruled this out. They are available in uk in higher spec and mine has too much work to be done i.e take off bullbars etc

2. 79 Series Landcruiser Ute (Pickup) with 4.5 V8 D4D. I'm considering this as it would be I believe the only one in the uk. I started a similar thread to assess the market for this in the uk and got mixed replies.

3. 1978 Holden HZ ute, with 454 Chev engine. thinking keeping this and brining it home, this is worth about $20-$25k )(10-13 GBP) so its a low risk option and I got a few replies saying there would be a market for this.

I hadn't really thought about a corvette until I started looking at prices and there being RHD conversions in Australia, as per the attached link I should be able pick one up for $100k (44k GBP), what are your guys assessment of the market for this in the UK? Could I break even or would the RHD put people off. If I think I could break even it might be the one to go for.

http://www.carsales.com.au/car/chevrolet/corvette/...

Thanks guys

I'd break with the norm and buy a RHD Z06, I think it would sell very quickly.
Also from my understanding of the U.K. system, you can bring a car in tax free but can't sell it for a year.. Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

[roscobbc]

johnnnnnnyy said:

C

K974 said:

Hi All,

I've recently posted a similar question in the HSV section regarding a HZ holden ute with a 454 engine I own. I've been living in Australia for 12 years and intend on returning home next year, I wish to bring a car back from Australia under change of residence and therefore import duty free. I'll have 3/4 40ft containers of possessions and business equipment going back so I can basically ship the car for free, the containers are going anyway.

I'm currently trying to weigh up my options on the best car to bring back , I don't have to make money on the car, but I don't want the exposure of a car worth money in oz being unsaleable at home, once I (if required) sell and break even and there is a reasonable market I will bring the car.

Currently I own,
1. 200 Series Landcruiser Amazon V8 Diesel - Pretty much ruled this out. They are available in uk in higher spec and mine has too much work to be done i.e take off bullbars etc

2. 79 Series Landcruiser Ute (Pickup) with 4.5 V8 D4D. I'm considering this as it would be I believe the only one in the uk. I started a similar thread to assess the market for this in the uk and got mixed replies.

3. 1978 Holden HZ ute, with 454 Chev engine. thinking keeping this and brining it home, this is worth about $20-$25k )(10-13 GBP) so its a low risk option and I got a few replies saying there would be a market for this.

I hadn't really thought about a corvette until I started looking at prices and there being RHD conversions in Australia, as per the attached link I should be able pick one up for $100k (44k GBP), what are your guys assessment of the market for this in the UK? Could I break even or would the RHD put people off. If I think I could break even it might be the one to go for.

http://www.carsales.com.au/car/chevrolet/corvette/...

Thanks guys

I'd break with the norm and buy a RHD Z06, I think it would sell very quickly.
Also from my understanding of the U.K. system, you can bring a car in tax free but can't sell it for a year.. Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

Given the very limited no's of C6Z06's still existing in the UK (cars exported to Europe/accident write-offs) and the fact that second hand prices are are still quite high even for the oldest cars - accordingly I'm thinking that people WON'T generally pay any more for a RHD conversion.

[PHCorvette]

indeed, just looked at the AUD price and they are coming out at 65k. If RHD is important then someone could by a 35k LHD and convert.

[PHCorvette]

swerni said:

PHCorvette said:

indeed, just looked at the AUD price and they are coming out at 65k. If RHD is important then someone could by a 35k LHD and convert.

Or more interestingly, ships mine to Australia, convert it and flog it

at those prices it makes sense but isn't there huge import duty over there?

[K974]

PHCorvette said:

indeed, just looked at the AUD price and they are coming out at 65k. If RHD is important then someone could by a 35k LHD and convert.

you'd get one for $100k, I've spoken to a few and there is room to move on advertised prices limited market and all that, exchange rate is currently 0.44? therefore 44k GBP by my calcs?

[anonymous-user]

Some years I explored the Australian RHD conversions quite carefully. Unfortunately they were just too expensive to be worth bringing over. Struck me as being a decent quality job though. IIRC they were all auto's at that time.