TVR Imports to Aus/NZ

[Manc Dwarf]

I'm looking to buy a TVR in the next 12 months. Probably a Tamora or T350. However, the wife and I are also looking seriously at moving out to the other side of the world. Either Australia or New Zealand. Does anybody know if TVRs are available out there or if they can be imported? I think I heard that they were no longer allowed to be imported to NZ. Also, if the are available/can be imported there, does anybody have any info as regards servicing, etc?

[Boosted LS1]

This is a really tricky situation.

Look for NZTrev in the members area and send him mail. He's well up on this and I'm sure would be happy to help.


Boosted.

[munky]

I was considering moving out to Oz a while back, and started this thread, which has some useful links posted by kind folk on here:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=13&h=&t=52381

IIRC, if you have owned the car for a year in the UK, you can take it to Oz on personal import. Or there are a few for sale out there apparently, not much of a choice though I suspect. Not sure what the rules are in the land of the long white cloud.

[chimburt]

vyt recently imported his t350t.
on the road for the first time last week, i believe

[Nick_Chim]

Mills Millington on the TVRCC forum is running a Chim in Melbourne and having fun amongst the Monaros and Falcons!!

Having spoken to him about it and to potential servicing locations in Brisbane (where my other half is from), my suggestion would be to take a Rover V8 car => a Chim rather than a Tamora - parts and knowledge would be much easier to find...

If we ever return to Oz, my Chim is definately going with me!!!

[Manc Dwarf]

Thanks a lot for all the swift help everyone. I'll get on the case!

[vyt]

Manc Dwarf said:

I'm looking to buy a TVR in the next 12 months. Probably a Tamora or T350. However, the wife and I are also looking seriously at moving out to the other side of the world. Either Australia or New Zealand. Does anybody know if TVRs are available out there or if they can be imported? I think I heard that they were no longer allowed to be imported to NZ. Also, if the are available/can be imported there, does anybody have any info as regards servicing, etc?

Chimburt is correct, I have just imported my T350T to Australia. Pretty sure it is not possible to import a modern TVR to NZ.

You will need to have owned and used the car fo 12 months before you will receive Import Approval to take the car to OZ.

Basic procedure is as follows:

1) Buy and use the car for 12 months
2) Apply for Import Approval to Australia, all details available on the Net.
3) Provided you get that, then ship the car to Australia.
4) Get the car valued for customs puposes.
5) Pay huge amounts of tax and duty before you can take the car out of the port, (~20% if valued <$50k and ~30% of anything over $50k), ouch.
6) Take the car to be inspected for Vehicle Safety, (Australian designe rule compliance), T350T needed no modifications.
7) Obtain a Compliance Plate.
8) Get the car registered, (pay more cash)

It will end up costing me close to $20k all in (£8k), so it is not cheap.

As far as I know there are no approved S6 service centres in Oz. However if you have a RV8 then there will be no problem.

I'll likely end up servicing the T350 myself.

Cheers

Bob

[Stin Hambo]

TVR emailed me to say they are in negotiation with an Oz dealer to import TVRs but it may be a couple of years away.

At least if there are any TVR service engineers who want to emigrate they should just walk through as there are no TVR engineers out there already!

I think TVRs were born for Australia (Crap speed limits excluded). I'd love one over in WA!