Radical SR3 SL - import into NZ?

Radical SR3 SL - import into NZ?

Author
Discussion

boxerTen

Original Poster:

502 posts

211 months

Monday 26th August 2013
quotequote all
Is this possible? Has anyone had experience importing similar sort of vehicle? Can you even road register it?

Thinking of bringing one in in a year or two, so need to think about buying it so have owned it for a year to avoid paying GST, but not much point if can't drive it. Any info appreciated.

Atom Johnny

1,072 posts

183 months

Monday 26th August 2013
quotequote all
They are here as track cars. I don't know if they can or ever have been registered for the road. There is someone in Wellington that I aware of who bought a Radical in recently. I'll message him the link to this topic and see if he comments.

Kiwi Carguy

1,202 posts

223 months

Monday 26th August 2013
quotequote all
I don't think there is any road legal Radicals here but there is a road legal Westfield XTR2 so that could be an option for you?

Atom Johnny

1,072 posts

183 months

Monday 26th August 2013
quotequote all
Atoms can be driven legally on the roads here if that's an option. The main thing is to check things like emission standards of any engine in whatever you buy. Alternatively, if you like Caterham's, the locally produced Fraser is a good road/trackday car.

Esprit

6,370 posts

290 months

Monday 26th August 2013
quotequote all
If it has type approval and is registered for the road in the UK and you're bringing it in as an immigrant vehicle having owned and registered it for more than 12 months in the UK, you'll have no trouble at all.

You might have to do things like fit a high-stop brake light (CHMSL)and change the belts etc, but other than that, it should be possible to bring one in.

Richard7K

55 posts

167 months

Monday 26th August 2013
quotequote all
Hi guys,

I imported a SR3 last year, and buying my one out of the UK was a pretty straight forward process. Container Movements in Christchurch are the people to talk to about freighting it in. A container is definitely the cheapest option.

Importing it is straight forward, and I think getting it on the road should be reasonably straight forward too. But it won't be as simple as walking in and registering a high volume produced vehicle. I haven't taken that step with my SR3 yet, but I am pretty aware of the process and have another scratchbuilt race car road registered (a 7). I am the club captain of the Constructors' Car Club, and we have members with similarly constructed vehicles on the road too.

The trickiest paperwork will be proving that the wishbones meet the standard required here, but Radical should be able to help with that. As part of your purchase process start talking to a vehicle certifier with 1D accreditation (1D is scratch built low volume vehicles)to try and spot and deal with the issues.

The other thing you will have to do is be a member of a Motorsport NZ affiliated car club. As the car has a homologated roll structure, to get it on the road you need to have a MSNZ logbook and authority card. The car will be listed as a sports racing car under MSNZ rules, and then the next tricky thing is to get all the roll cage homologation paperwork form the UK Motorsport Association so that you can file the info with your log book application. This is expensive an complicated at best. Or keep in touch with me, I have it already.

This takes care of the seatbelt issue, as the only option for the SR3 SL is race belts, which also require a motorsport exception certificate.

Don't you have to be able to prove that not only have you owned the car for 12 months, but used is for your personal transport during that time to be able to import the car as a personal use item?

There is an advantage to not doing that,depending on how you buy the car. If the seller is a business and you would be paying VAT in the UK, you are better off buying the car for immediate export, which means you don't pay VAT, but do pay GST when it lands here. GST is at a lower rate, so you win there.

Rich

Atom Johnny

1,072 posts

183 months

Tuesday 27th August 2013
quotequote all
Thanks Richard. thumbup

boxerTen

Original Poster:

502 posts

211 months

Tuesday 27th August 2013
quotequote all
That's some very useful info Richard, thanks very much.

Re using the car for 12 months: yes you do have to convince authorities you have not only owned the car but that it was also available for your use - i.e. not simply stored awaiting export.


Fraster

1,267 posts

247 months