Thread: Importing a Lightweight

Originally Posted by cleggie

I'll hopefully be moving to WA in the near future. I would like to import my lightweight. I tried to search for threads on importing, but didn't find too much

The vehicle registration documents here in Brunei has the manufacture year as 1981 (30 yrs old). I actually think it may be a little older, but I'll need to check with Land Rover in the UK to confirm that.

I've looked at the pages 'Department of Infrastructure and Transport' about getting an import approval for a pre-1989 vehicle. That seems straight forward.

The next step seems to be Registration in WA. Here it seems the 30 yrs age will mean a more relaxed view will be taken of the standards required. Does anyone have experience of this?

Any advice on the following;

- It has the small bench seats in the back (along the side, not forward facing), are these allowed? Currently I only have one seat belt in the back. I could fit 4 x lap belts in the back, but there would be no Australian standard 'stamp' on them. Should I wait to fit Australian Spec lap belts or will the whole idea of sideways seats in the back be kicked out?

- Heater - I have the heater case and fan, but there is no heater matrix. I will probably end up making one, but is it a requirement? It's not really possible to mist up the windows, it has a canvas top with no side panels.

- Tyres - will these need to be replaced with new Australian spec ones?

- I did search the forum and found someone who had to paint their vehicle. Mine is gloss dark green, is that OK. What's the issue there?

If 1981 it will be required to meet the Australian Design Rules for that date. While some may not be enforced, the following are likely to be:-

Engine emission controls - EGR at least.
Heater Demister - required, parts (second hand at least) should be no problem.
Seat belts - required all round at this date, and will need to be Australian approved - off the shelf, but anchorages for side seats at the rear may need to be "engineered" - seek advice from local authorities.

Apart from this, if it meets UK specs and everything works there should be no problems. As long as the tyres are a standard (for that model) size and look respectable I would not expect to have to replace them.

Dark Green should be OK. Side seats at the rear were OK at that date, as long as they are the ones which were optional at that date.

John

Importing Vehicles to Australia - General Information

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread.....

Cleggie, how did you go with importing your Lightweight in the end?

I've got a 1975 S111 Lightweight that I've been considering importing for ages now, but keep putting it in the "too hard/too expensive" basket.

I read your other post about getting an insured value on it, any joy with that?

cheers,

Dan

Hi Dan,

It seems I've been away a while. I got the Lightweight in and registered with no real drama.

Shipping, customs and AQIS clearance went without a problem.

In terms of getting it over the pits for the inspection for the Rego. I knew the seat belts were not going to pass inspection, it had some retro fitted Nissan inertia reels and there wasn't a proper mount at the shoulder point either, even I thought they looked bad! So, I went back to the original configuration with fixed belts. With the lightweight being a bit narrower, there is no decent space for LR inertia reels either.

For the heater matrix, which it seems are not available anymore - I made one out of copper pipe. It took a couple of hours, but works OK and is almost surplus to requirements here in Perth. I heard from one of the guys here that a trick the kit car boys pull to get trough inspection is to stuff a 12v camping hair drier into the end of the ducting.

Cheers

Cleggie

G'day Cleggie

Welcome to the forum,from memory the lightweight heater matrix is the same as the standard English series 2/2a flat type heater,the Australian 2/2a's did not have a heater fitted as standard but a universal Bosch heater/fan unit (round with flaps) was fitted if requested/ordered,I have just bought an ex-Brunei lightweight up here in Qld a 24volt ex-radio truck it arrived home late last night in the rain,well the wipers work OK didn't try the heater,I will give it a good check over today and sus out the numbers,there were about 12 Lightweights imported into Australia from Brunei in 1999 into Darwin,unwashed and impounded by Customs & AQIS they were eventually bought by somebody in SA from memory,then on sold to Sydney I believe,mine went to Townsville Qld then to Maryborough,I acquired it from there.


cheers.