Locost - Hyabusa import
Discussion
Wotcha Chums!
I'm thinking of bringing my Stuart Taylor Locost with Hayabusa engine, currently UK road registered to the glorious country that is NZ when we move there later this year.
However, I have pickes up that there might be some sort of issue with road reg'ing it in NZ.
Does anybody know what might be a problem?
cheers
James
I'm thinking of bringing my Stuart Taylor Locost with Hayabusa engine, currently UK road registered to the glorious country that is NZ when we move there later this year.
However, I have pickes up that there might be some sort of issue with road reg'ing it in NZ.
Does anybody know what might be a problem?
cheers
James
If they make more than 200 a year, and have no crash test cert - forget it...
Other than that, perhaps you could talk to Neil Fraser, of Fraser cars, which is a NZ manufacturer of 7's replicas, he's one of the people that cert these kind of cars in NZ...
Other than that, perhaps you could talk to Neil Fraser, of Fraser cars, which is a NZ manufacturer of 7's replicas, he's one of the people that cert these kind of cars in NZ...
Edited by peterpsg on Wednesday 16th August 16:21
www.fraser.co.nz/
You will almost certainly need a suitable letter from Locost confirming their manufacturing volumes, Neil will have details about this, there are other certifiers if you strike a problem, or are not going to Auckland, there should be a list of Certifiers on this web site...
www.lvvta.org.nz/
Some of the other Expat Brits in NZ will no doubt be able to offer good advice...
You will almost certainly need a suitable letter from Locost confirming their manufacturing volumes, Neil will have details about this, there are other certifiers if you strike a problem, or are not going to Auckland, there should be a list of Certifiers on this web site...
www.lvvta.org.nz/
Some of the other Expat Brits in NZ will no doubt be able to offer good advice...
Thanks Mate!
Just for clarification, LOCOST isn't a manufacturer, it is a 'genre' in that a set of plans were drawn up by a fella called Don Champion IIRC and a bunch of people made their own plus a number of 'manufacturers' like Stuart Taylor and MK engineering produced body amd chassis kits more or less to the same specs. Mine was a kit and I put the engine in with made up mounts etc as there is no actual Hayabusa kit made by ST (or anyone else) westfield make a 'Megabusa' as I'm sure you know, and I pinched the engine mounts and clutch bits from them for mine as the chassis are MoL identical, it turns out.
Just for clarification, LOCOST isn't a manufacturer, it is a 'genre' in that a set of plans were drawn up by a fella called Don Champion IIRC and a bunch of people made their own plus a number of 'manufacturers' like Stuart Taylor and MK engineering produced body amd chassis kits more or less to the same specs. Mine was a kit and I put the engine in with made up mounts etc as there is no actual Hayabusa kit made by ST (or anyone else) westfield make a 'Megabusa' as I'm sure you know, and I pinched the engine mounts and clutch bits from them for mine as the chassis are MoL identical, it turns out.
You shouldn't have too many problems but be prepared to have to make modifications to suit New Zealand regulations. Make sure the car is spotless before it's shipped and get rid of any rust no matter how tiny it may be. I know of one TVR owner who was forced to do a body-off chassis resto' to get it on the road! (Obviously this was before the change in crash-testing regulations). The car will have to be specially certified.
Good luck!
Good luck!
I'm going through the process right now with my Honda powered Elise and are now very familiar with the regulations.... As others have mentioned if the car is manufactured in quantities of 200 or less then you do not need to meet the frontal impact rules or the emissions requirements. Other little funnies I have found. Make sure all the brake pads have at least 3/4 of the meat still on them. Likewise discs should be in good nick with regard to wear. The certification guys will go over the car with a fine toothed comb, so anything that looks slightly dodgy will need to sorted. Given labour rates over here you are better off finding a good workshop in NZ if you think some work will be required than getting work done in the UK. Check that consumables are readily available here if not bring loads of spares.
The Low volume vehicle technical association has a code which explains what they will be looking at. [url]www.lvvta.org.nz/[/url] the code can be downloaded here
The Low volume vehicle technical association has a code which explains what they will be looking at. [url]www.lvvta.org.nz/[/url] the code can be downloaded here
If you are heading for Wellington join the Constructors Car club. www.constructorscarclub.org.nz/
They have several members with Locosts on the way or finished and have a trained crew and so are allowed to do their own scrutineering. Next issue of the club mag is devoted to Seven replicas.
The only other advice is to pick your certifier carefully. Some of the Low Volume Certifiers are a bit puzzled by anything other than the main stream conversions. I've sort of kept tabs on the cert scene even after being shunted out. Drop me a line if you want some background.
Cheers
Mark Stacey
www.cncprototyping.co.nz
They have several members with Locosts on the way or finished and have a trained crew and so are allowed to do their own scrutineering. Next issue of the club mag is devoted to Seven replicas.
The only other advice is to pick your certifier carefully. Some of the Low Volume Certifiers are a bit puzzled by anything other than the main stream conversions. I've sort of kept tabs on the cert scene even after being shunted out. Drop me a line if you want some background.
Cheers
Mark Stacey
www.cncprototyping.co.nz
HI
It will be interesting but will be possible. I have just brought a rather non standard Caterham 7 in and registered it under the LVVTA rules. They will ask you to do some silly things.. but needs must. A good certifier will help you through the process.
If you are coming to Wellington the Constructors Car Club is a good place to start. I can also recommend other inspectors from the LVVTA approved list. If you are going to Auckland then Neil Frazer is the man. Nice guy and very helpful.
I didn't have to de register my car in the UK (Left it that way in case I ever go back.,..)
Make sure you have whatever recipts you can find. If you have harnesses, be prepared to pull them out and install nasty inertia reel lap & diagonal.. yes they prefer them.
Drop me a line if you want any info.. it is fresh in my mind as I got my car through about 4 months ago...
Good luck!
It will be interesting but will be possible. I have just brought a rather non standard Caterham 7 in and registered it under the LVVTA rules. They will ask you to do some silly things.. but needs must. A good certifier will help you through the process.
If you are coming to Wellington the Constructors Car Club is a good place to start. I can also recommend other inspectors from the LVVTA approved list. If you are going to Auckland then Neil Frazer is the man. Nice guy and very helpful.
I didn't have to de register my car in the UK (Left it that way in case I ever go back.,..)
Make sure you have whatever recipts you can find. If you have harnesses, be prepared to pull them out and install nasty inertia reel lap & diagonal.. yes they prefer them.
Drop me a line if you want any info.. it is fresh in my mind as I got my car through about 4 months ago...
Good luck!
iain a said:
. . . If you have harnesses, be prepared to pull them out and install nasty inertia reel lap & diagonal.. yes they prefer them.
I had to lose my Willans 4x4x3 FIA rated harnesses but got approval to replace them with some 4x4x2 ones.
Certifier said:
I think it would be safer to have harnesses in this toy, what do you think . . .
You're probably right about the de-registration thing.
Probably was an issue for me because I didn't previously own the car in the UK
Little cracks or chips in the windscreen will get filled as well. Mine (Elise) had a few tiny tiny windscreen chips in the line of vision - no problem in the UK but failed here and had to be repaired. I used a local expert for the Lotus and it was pretty painless overall. Would deffo suggest you get in touch with the relevant expert and have a long conversation covering all bases.
Be prepared for a some aggro during the couple of days you actually get it certified, there will almost inevitably be other little bits and bobs they don't like - eg braided hoses. But bring the stuff you take off, so you can put it back on again when you come trackin' :-) Mine cost $900 to get through, which I thought a bit of a bargain.
If you want to email me as someone from Blighty that's just done it - organising and packing our own container and doing our own paperwork etc fpr the move and the car - drop me a line richardgee2@yahooDOTcoDOTnz
Be prepared for a some aggro during the couple of days you actually get it certified, there will almost inevitably be other little bits and bobs they don't like - eg braided hoses. But bring the stuff you take off, so you can put it back on again when you come trackin' :-) Mine cost $900 to get through, which I thought a bit of a bargain.
If you want to email me as someone from Blighty that's just done it - organising and packing our own container and doing our own paperwork etc fpr the move and the car - drop me a line richardgee2@yahooDOTcoDOTnz
I've just had the good news mine has been complied. Couple of little things to take care of, he didn't like the single locking ring used on the Nitron suspension. With the suspension at full droop the spring is quite loose and the ring is free to rotate, so I have to install another locking ring. As Richard mentioned my braided hoses had to go in the bin and be replaced by the exact same hoses but with a certification tag on them. Also my ride height needs to go up by a few mm. I also had the rear firewall chopped out and replaced with a bolt on cover to allow access to the front of the engine (which is next to impossible without removing the engine), this has been included on the LVVA plate as an engine inspection hatch. The trick is to make any modifications you have ever dreamed of before you get the car complied that way it can all be included with the initial certification saving lots of money in the future.
iain a said:
I didn't have to de register my car in the UK (Left it that way in case I ever go back.,..)
I've not de-registered mine for the same reason but need to give them an address, any advice like using friend or families address
-------------------------
My Caterham is regestered to me at my parents address in the UK. I did a SORN declaration and will need to keep that up to date every 12 months or face a fine.. Suggest family or trusted friends to take on the task!
I didn't have to de register my car in the UK (Left it that way in case I ever go back.,..)
I've not de-registered mine for the same reason but need to give them an address, any advice like using friend or families address
-------------------------
My Caterham is regestered to me at my parents address in the UK. I did a SORN declaration and will need to keep that up to date every 12 months or face a fine.. Suggest family or trusted friends to take on the task!
iain a said:
iain a said:
I didn't have to de register my car in the UK (Left it that way in case I ever go back.,..)
I've not de-registered mine for the same reason but need to give them an address, any advice like using friend or families address
-------------------------
My Caterham is regestered to me at my parents address in the UK. I did a SORN declaration and will need to keep that up to date every 12 months or face a fine.. Suggest family or trusted friends to take on the task!
I didn't have to de register my car in the UK (Left it that way in case I ever go back.,..)
I've not de-registered mine for the same reason but need to give them an address, any advice like using friend or families address
-------------------------
My Caterham is regestered to me at my parents address in the UK. I did a SORN declaration and will need to keep that up to date every 12 months or face a fine.. Suggest family or trusted friends to take on the task!
Thanks for all the replies, I'm still a bit puzzled about this 'de-reg' thing though, my cars and bikes are reg to me and have been for more than the necessary 12 mths, do I need to do any de-reg-ing and if so why...?
(I dont have any reverse its a flintstones car)
slider2 said:
Thanks for all the replies, I'm still a bit puzzled about this 'de-reg' thing though, my cars and bikes are reg to me and have been for more than the necessary 12 mths, do I need to do any de-reg-ing and if so why...?
I think I created the confusion.
I imported a car that I never owned in the UK. Due to those circumstances the de-reg was required. You shouldn't have that problem.
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