Registering an imported ex-MoD LHD in SA ?

[FFR]

Hi all,

I was reading VSB 10 bulletin (Importing Vehicles to AUS) and now is (more or less) understandable how to customs-clear an imported landy from the docks to home. But converting it from LHD to RHD seems to be mandatory in some States only (being a 21 years old). I tried www.transport.sa.gov.au (http://www.transport.sa.gov.au) ,but there are some points unclear that someone in the forum might clarify, please:

- Can I register the car for everyday use, as a LHD ?

- It's mentioned in transport.sa webpages that ALL seats must be equipped with inertial reel seatbelts... but mine is a "troop carrier" with inward facing rear seats... does it apply to my landie too?

- It's mentioned also that ALL REAR seats shoud have a fixing for child type seats... does it apply to my troop carrier ? any idea on how to deal with this?


Well, sorry for the long email, and thanks in advance for your support.



Cheers,

Carlos



P.D.: this is an old photo at War & Peace show in UK where I bought a Sankey trailer from Withams Specialist Vehicles. I'm converting the landy to a Wolf replica and looks much better nowadays...

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/3589/thehopfarm2.jpg (http://img693.imageshack.us/i/thehopfarm2.jpg/)

[DuncanGardner]

Did you manage to import the vehicle ? I'm looking at bringing a container into WA.

[Bigbjorn]

A LHD vehicle has to be more than thirty years old to be registered in Queensland. I don't know about other states. Until a few years ago the only LHD vehicles that could be registered here were those that had been previously registered in Qld. before 1949 and onus of proof was on the applicant.

[FFR]

Hi,

I'm moving to NSW in January 2001 (good bye SA), and I expect to import the vehicle in July 2011. The Company offered me a 40 feet container as part of the relocation package. The defender is being converted to RHD.

Duncan, it is a great mess to import/register the landy in Oz (do I need to mention the cost of the sea freight ? ). In my case, I have the container for free, and the defender runs really nice. If I had to pay for the container, I had probably left the car in Spain. Evaluate your options carefully.

[101RRS]

I suspect this vehicle will have to go through the compliance process and due its age be converted to RHD before it can be registered. All very expensive.

Why not import and move everything across to an Aust RHD chassis. The most that would then be required would be engineering and even then may not be necessary.

Garry

[UncleHo]

G'day FFR :)

If the vehicle is converted to RHD before leaving Spain and has documentation of such, then it should be treated as any other private importation vehicle,I.E. "private import"one owned by the owner/importer for more that 1 year (from memory) which means that it can be registered in Aust without having an Australian ADR plate,same as if you were bringing your 1987 FIAT Uno into the country :) think that the rules state that headlights must dip left,wipers must sweep the right side of the w/screen,flashers must be amber front and rear,and seatbelts must comply with briritish/aust/nz standards, otherwise there shuld be no major problems, at the moment there are a heap of imported Nissan,Toyota,Mitsu,people movers coming into Aust from NZ as well as sporty type vehicles.


cheers

[FFR]

There is a nice document from the Transport Authority regarding LHD to RHD conversions and, as long as you use the parts used in the RHD model, no big issues should be expected when trying to register it.

I had to change front seats in order to comply with ADRs, and rear passenger seats will be lost (side facing with no seatbelts instead of forward facing with seats and belts complying with ADRs). It is not a big problem as the car is being used mainly as a camper. Tail/side lights do not have ECE mark, so must be changed, too. Mirrors are the convex type, so I have to source a couple of conventional ones.

On the other hand, I'm also having great fun dealing with the Sankey trailer (late type with disc brakes) in order to fulfil the ADRs. I have to add a couple of chains and a breakaway cable. But I think it worth the mess (just because I have the container for free, of course).

[UncleHo]

G'day FFR :)

I wouldn't be changing seats or light lenses until you have to get the RWC (road worthy certificate) here in Aust, as it is the local (NSW) inspectors that will deem whether your seats and lamps pass Australian Standards,and these will have to comply to what was fitted when the vehicle was built,side facing seats fitted with seat belts can be used in older vehicles if they have a compliance plate fitted be transport dept qualified engineer, as there are several Series 3's and early 110 wagons that are fitted with belts, and are quite road legal.


cheers