Discussion
I assume it is RHD?
got proof of where it was first registered?
Don't get dissapointed. Start emailing the LTSA and reading their literature
www.ltsa.govt.nz/importing/index.html
www.ltsa.govt.nz/publications/infosheets/infosheet-1-67.html
www.ltsa.govt.nz/publications/infosheets/infosheet-2-14-anywhere.html#ma
cheers
dean
got proof of where it was first registered?
Don't get dissapointed. Start emailing the LTSA and reading their literature
www.ltsa.govt.nz/importing/index.html
www.ltsa.govt.nz/publications/infosheets/infosheet-1-67.html
www.ltsa.govt.nz/publications/infosheets/infosheet-2-14-anywhere.html#ma
cheers
dean
jim hobbs said:
There is an interesting thread in the TVR pages concerning the importation of cars under 20 years old.
Seems that I will not be able to take my '96 Chimaera with me when I retire to the Mainland in a few years.
Unless the rules change in the meantime or a way around is discovered.
The key issue here is frontal impact testing to UN/ECE 96/79 standard. You have to provide a statement of complience from TVR specifying the standards to which the car has been tested.
My understanding is that TVRs have not been tested to this standard, and therefore are not valid for import. If you presented a Certificate with the standard TVR testing (and they looked at it...), the car would be rejected.
However, I notice that the LTSA website has been updated to allow the EEC Whole Vehicle Approval Plate and/or UN/ECE Compliance plate to stand instead of the Statement of Complience for vehicles coming from Europe (I got this changed when they rejected my Jeep - long story, see below...)
So the question now (I think) is whether the LTSA Inspector will accept the EEC Whole Vehicle Approval Number on the engine plate of your TVR without asking lots more questions about specific standards.
As a typical inspector deals with 10-15 inspections per day, mostly Japcrap, a TVR stands out like a sore thumb and may attract more scrutiny than otherwise. However, they may also be so busy that they accept your arguement and sign off the car. My experience is that they don't understand the complexities of their own regulation and a bit of hard arguing will win on the day. For example they refused to sign off my Jeep as their regs said that they can only accept a UN/ECE Compliance plate for cars from the US and European cars had to have a paper statement of compliance, which I didn't have. A bit of arguing and harrasing the LTSA and they agreed that their rules were wrong - hence the changed guidelines mentioned above.
Having said all of that - it's a big risk to bring a car all the way here and then get it bounced.
I intend to do some none-specific enquiries with the LTSA today, so I'll let you know how I get on.
Cheers
Richard
My understanding is that TVRs have not been tested to this standard, and therefore are not valid for import. If you presented a Certificate with the standard TVR testing (and they looked at it...), the car would be rejected.
However, I notice that the LTSA website has been updated to allow the EEC Whole Vehicle Approval Plate and/or UN/ECE Compliance plate to stand instead of the Statement of Complience for vehicles coming from Europe (I got this changed when they rejected my Jeep - long story, see below...)
So the question now (I think) is whether the LTSA Inspector will accept the EEC Whole Vehicle Approval Number on the engine plate of your TVR without asking lots more questions about specific standards.
As a typical inspector deals with 10-15 inspections per day, mostly Japcrap, a TVR stands out like a sore thumb and may attract more scrutiny than otherwise. However, they may also be so busy that they accept your arguement and sign off the car. My experience is that they don't understand the complexities of their own regulation and a bit of hard arguing will win on the day. For example they refused to sign off my Jeep as their regs said that they can only accept a UN/ECE Compliance plate for cars from the US and European cars had to have a paper statement of compliance, which I didn't have. A bit of arguing and harrasing the LTSA and they agreed that their rules were wrong - hence the changed guidelines mentioned above.
Having said all of that - it's a big risk to bring a car all the way here and then get it bounced.
I intend to do some none-specific enquiries with the LTSA today, so I'll let you know how I get on.
Cheers
Richard
Did you find out anything new Richard?
I've been talking to a guy currently trying to register a 2002 Tuscan. He seemed very confident mainly because he had a man at the LTSA on his side. Sounded to me like they were attempting to gain enough documentation from Japan to circumvent the frontal impact regulation.
I've got the name of a guy at the LTSA who is quite high-up and apparently very helpful so I may give him a buzz in the next few days. I really would like another Cerbera!
I've been talking to a guy currently trying to register a 2002 Tuscan. He seemed very confident mainly because he had a man at the LTSA on his side. Sounded to me like they were attempting to gain enough documentation from Japan to circumvent the frontal impact regulation.
I've got the name of a guy at the LTSA who is quite high-up and apparently very helpful so I may give him a buzz in the next few days. I really would like another Cerbera!
Jamie
If you get that Tuscan (I know you want to), I'm on SH1 heading north rightaway!
No progress yet, as I was job hunting yesterday (the days of early retirement are coming to an end)...
If you have a high up contact in the LTSA, that would be worth exploring as most of the people I have spoken to at VINZ and VTNZ don't seem to know that the LTSA guidence notes have changed.
I'm in Wellington later and might wander into the LTSA office and see if I can speak to someone in the flesh.
Cheers
Richard
If you get that Tuscan (I know you want to), I'm on SH1 heading north rightaway!
No progress yet, as I was job hunting yesterday (the days of early retirement are coming to an end)...
If you have a high up contact in the LTSA, that would be worth exploring as most of the people I have spoken to at VINZ and VTNZ don't seem to know that the LTSA guidence notes have changed.
I'm in Wellington later and might wander into the LTSA office and see if I can speak to someone in the flesh.
Cheers
Richard
richard
i would be keen to understand the outcome of your discussion with someone from the LTSA- Im just about to buy another tiv and want to know what I might be ablke to bring back to NZ in a few years time
I understood you may get the Tuscan in because they have completed offset impact testing but the other models would not get in.
Also have father in law desperate for a Griff in NZ so if anyone hears of anything please let me know
just back in NZ for a short break - does it ever stop bloody raining?
cheers
scott
i would be keen to understand the outcome of your discussion with someone from the LTSA- Im just about to buy another tiv and want to know what I might be ablke to bring back to NZ in a few years time
I understood you may get the Tuscan in because they have completed offset impact testing but the other models would not get in.
Also have father in law desperate for a Griff in NZ so if anyone hears of anything please let me know
just back in NZ for a short break - does it ever stop bloody raining?
cheers
scott
Right - summary of my discussions on the
with the various Import Certifiers this morning: Currently NO TVRs are allowed in without a Statement of Compliance proving testing to Directive 96/79/EC (along with 15 other standards, but frontal impact testing is deemed the show stopper). According to LTSA TVR don't issue SOCs.
The LTSA has been trying to get a list of vehicles and what standards they are manufacturered to. If they had that info, and the vehicles met the relevent standards, they could set up TVR an approved model. However, my contact suggests that TVR don't seem to want to help.
The UN/ECE Plate is accepted as proof of complience to most UN/ECE regs APART from Frontal Impact.
Currently the "small volume manufacturer" loophole is set for 200 vehicles per manufacturer. It was suggested that this requirement MIGHT change to bring it in line with EU practice which has a volume of 500 per MODEL, not manufacturer.
It's possible that newer models meet the regs. The possible change in Low Volume regs might help, but then you'd need to prove that TVR made less than 500 of your model. It would still need approval from: www.lvvta.org.nz/index.html
If anyone has good contacts at TVR and might be able to get at least a list of models and frontal impact compliance then that might be a start.
Hope that helps
Richard
PS Allblack - thanks for bringing the weather with you.
Izza said:
As advertised in The Press, Saturday 7th Feburary:
TVR Griffith 500, 1994, NZ New, excellent condition, Offers Ph 03 3524409
If anyones interested, I'll keep and eye out for anyothers that pop up now and again.
It's here:
http://classiccarfair.com/1994tvrgriffith.htm
There's also a nice S here:
http://classiccarfair.com/1986tvrs.htm
Rich
That Griffith for sale is ex-Andrew Whittaker and cost a fortune when it was delivered as it was all special order from the factory. You'll notice in the photos that it runs on different alloys (same as the 4.2 Cerbera) with five-stud hubs and behind them are 4-pot calipers. The engine is a non-cat pre-Griffith 500 5.0litre and is a belter (I drove it when it was for sale a while ago). It's also fitted with a rollbar and very firm sports suspension. The interior is the same as the early Griffith 500s in that it has the reverse-sweep dials and mostly black instruments and switches. It's a very nice car indeed.
I know an owner of a very nice Chimaera 500 in Auckland who is also interested in selling. If anyone would like his details then just drop me a line.
On the subject of importation - none of the current models of TVR have been successfully tested for frontal impact. The Tuscan was tested but fell off the jig and Mr Wheeler was understandably reluctant to supply another car (you can imagine that conversation can't you!). Therefore it failed.
If they do change the regs to be 500 models then we'll be sweet as TVR only produce about 1000 cars per annum these days and none of them anywhere near 500. However, I was told the same story over a year ago so we'll have to wait and see. If it does go through it may take someone to sit in TVR's offices in order to get the documentation sorted!
The last I heard the Tuscan in Christchurch had not been registered (someone at the LTSA was pursuing the ex-Japan angle). It was also damaged (superficially). I believe the owner will sell it as is for a very reasonable price (price asked registered and repaired was $90,000NZD). I believe you could get it registered as a competition road car provided you join a car club and take part in a set number of events a year - I don't know the details of this particular ruling.
I know an owner of a very nice Chimaera 500 in Auckland who is also interested in selling. If anyone would like his details then just drop me a line.
On the subject of importation - none of the current models of TVR have been successfully tested for frontal impact. The Tuscan was tested but fell off the jig and Mr Wheeler was understandably reluctant to supply another car (you can imagine that conversation can't you!). Therefore it failed.
If they do change the regs to be 500 models then we'll be sweet as TVR only produce about 1000 cars per annum these days and none of them anywhere near 500. However, I was told the same story over a year ago so we'll have to wait and see. If it does go through it may take someone to sit in TVR's offices in order to get the documentation sorted!
The last I heard the Tuscan in Christchurch had not been registered (someone at the LTSA was pursuing the ex-Japan angle). It was also damaged (superficially). I believe the owner will sell it as is for a very reasonable price (price asked registered and repaired was $90,000NZD). I believe you could get it registered as a competition road car provided you join a car club and take part in a set number of events a year - I don't know the details of this particular ruling.
Hi Jamie
It was interesting that one of the guys I'd been talking to was a real TVR nut and had been talking to LTSA that morning about how to get TVRs in. With regard to the low volume change - yes it was vague "sometime next year" was as close as he'd say, but he definitely seemed on side in terms of getting the rules modified.
I heard the story about the car on the test jig as well, which might explain TVRs reluctance to help further. After all NZ isn't exactly going to be a core market for them.
TVRs in Malaysia are made to the same Euro specs, but might fall under the current 200 model low volume specs - although they only make Chims I beleive.
Either way it's not going to be easy, which is a shame when the country is littered with battered Japcrap with tin can exhausts and blow off valves.
Mind you after the rain this week, I think I'll put my name down for one of those aqua-cars they were driving round Auckland harbour.
Rich
It was interesting that one of the guys I'd been talking to was a real TVR nut and had been talking to LTSA that morning about how to get TVRs in. With regard to the low volume change - yes it was vague "sometime next year" was as close as he'd say, but he definitely seemed on side in terms of getting the rules modified.
I heard the story about the car on the test jig as well, which might explain TVRs reluctance to help further. After all NZ isn't exactly going to be a core market for them.
TVRs in Malaysia are made to the same Euro specs, but might fall under the current 200 model low volume specs - although they only make Chims I beleive.
Either way it's not going to be easy, which is a shame when the country is littered with battered Japcrap with tin can exhausts and blow off valves.
Mind you after the rain this week, I think I'll put my name down for one of those aqua-cars they were driving round Auckland harbour.
Rich
jamieheasman said:
The Malaysia route is out I'm afraid as they are still regarded as TVR and therefore their tiny output is combined with TVR UK's total volume.
I wonder whose cage I need to rattle to get this change through?
Oh well, it was a thought.
As for rattling cages, couldn't we say that the right to import TVRs was established under the Treaty of Waitangi?...no, perhaps not.
I think you said you know someone in the LTSA - have you tested him/her out yet?
Cheers Richard - I have passed the Griff details on.
Jamie - could I have the details for the Chim.
I was speaking the guy who heads the TVR club in NZ last year (sorry forget his name-apologies if its someone here) and he said they were lobyying the LTSA to see if they could get the level moved to 200 per model rather than maufacturer - this may get some of the older models through
Typical stupid NZ government crap......grrrr.......why dont they focus on the big issues rather than a few sports cars being imported by enthusiasts.......
Jamie - could I have the details for the Chim.
I was speaking the guy who heads the TVR club in NZ last year (sorry forget his name-apologies if its someone here) and he said they were lobyying the LTSA to see if they could get the level moved to 200 per model rather than maufacturer - this may get some of the older models through
Typical stupid NZ government crap......grrrr.......why dont they focus on the big issues rather than a few sports cars being imported by enthusiasts.......
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