Importing a kit car (Westfield) bit by bit?
Discussion
Over the last year I've been making very slow progress in a little project where I was aiming to build my own clubman type car. I'm an engineer so wanted to do all the chassis design myself then move onto the build.
After 12 months the design hasn't made it out of the computer yet which shows me that I really don't have the time to be taking on the design project at the moment, let alone fabricating something from scratch.
So, I'm looking at importing a Westfield in kit form and building it here as an IVA. I am aware of the chassis twist requirements and that the UK car may need some additional bracing to get it through the test, that's not a problem and I can do that here.
What I'm not familiar with is the likely pitfalls associated with importing bits of a car - I'm sure if I stripped a "proper car" in the UK and sent it over in bits someone would notice, but a colleague is building a fairly extreme Duramax powered Nissan Patrol with most of the major parts coming from overseas and he seems to be getting along OK.
Does anyone know of someone who has gone down this route with a UK kit? I don't mind if I have to register it as something other than a Westfield and claim I built it all here. Parts can also ben bought through the business to avoid any personal connections to the parts.
The government website isnt really clear and basically confirms it is an ICV (kit car) that is regulated by the state requirements: https://infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/faq... to me this indicates I can import the bits and assemble here but I have to then register it in the same way as if I built it here.
After 12 months the design hasn't made it out of the computer yet which shows me that I really don't have the time to be taking on the design project at the moment, let alone fabricating something from scratch.
So, I'm looking at importing a Westfield in kit form and building it here as an IVA. I am aware of the chassis twist requirements and that the UK car may need some additional bracing to get it through the test, that's not a problem and I can do that here.
What I'm not familiar with is the likely pitfalls associated with importing bits of a car - I'm sure if I stripped a "proper car" in the UK and sent it over in bits someone would notice, but a colleague is building a fairly extreme Duramax powered Nissan Patrol with most of the major parts coming from overseas and he seems to be getting along OK.
Does anyone know of someone who has gone down this route with a UK kit? I don't mind if I have to register it as something other than a Westfield and claim I built it all here. Parts can also ben bought through the business to avoid any personal connections to the parts.
The government website isnt really clear and basically confirms it is an ICV (kit car) that is regulated by the state requirements: https://infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/faq... to me this indicates I can import the bits and assemble here but I have to then register it in the same way as if I built it here.
Edited by 200bhp on Friday 1st December 21:51
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