A Mini enthusiast in Holland has the chance to transfer to the Oz branch of the company he works for. He owns a very nice LHD Mk 3 Cooper S which he doesn't want to leave behind (understandably).

He has emailed me to ask:

- would it be possible to import a classic car from Europe?

- which government dept. should I contact for more information?

- would it be necessary to convert to RHD?

This is a 1970 car so I guess is not subject to the later ADR nonsense.

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

answers to the questions
1 yes no problem at all it will be a private import and as its a pre 88 no problem at all

2 He will need to get a vehicle import approval from Dotar if you email me on [email protected] I can send you the info to forward on

3 you can register left hand drive in Australia, just check with the state rego people

Jon

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

Yes, it should be no problem. As long as he has owned it for more than 12 months he will only have to pay shipping and GST on the car's value and shipping. (hint - get a valuation at the Holland end).

If he wants to run on Historic plates in Vic, no engineer's certificate is required. Just an RWC.

For full rego he will need an engineer's approval before registration. Basically a formality for a 1970 car. $500-1000 dependant on how mean the engineer is. Then RWC and road rego.

All Australian states allow LHD cars over 30 years old on full rego now.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Hey Nicho long time no see. Just curiosity, but why would he need an engineers certificate?? 70 is before ADRs so wouldn't an ordinary road worthiness check do??

Cheers, Ian

No engineers cert required

steve

bnicho

You do not have to own the car for 12 months, this only effects the duty GST side of importing, if you buy it and import it and have not owned it for 12 months and used it you will be hit 15% duty and 10% GST but that is the only difference

Jon

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

Yeah, that's what I meant. If he's owned it for 12 months, he only has to pay GST. No import duties (which is now 10%, not 15). Perhaps I should have worded it better...

ADR's came in 1st Jan 1969. So a 1969 or later car has to have an engineers certificate. Stupid rule, but that's the law.

A guy in the Mini club imported a Vanden Plas 1300 a few years ago. It was first registered in early 1969, so VicRoads wanted an engineers cert. Someone told him to get a Hertiage Certificate to check. Guess what, the car was actually made in Dec 1968. No engineers required.

PS: Good to hear from you Ian (AKA 1071). I'll flick you a PM.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Thanks everyone for these very helpful responses. I'll email him with the info. It's nice to think another original Cooper S will be coming onto the Mini scene.

He now has to make a choice of where he will be living - Sydney or Melbourne ...

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Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

ADRs are only enforcable from the end of 72 , compliance plates were fitted ealier than this date but mainly for vehicle identifacation to replace vehicle ID plates and just like today each state is a little different as to what ADRs they require for acceptance, the federals were hoping to finally get all states to conform at the beginning of this year but as yet it has not happened

As for where they will live is there is only 1 real answer is there not

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

If he has owned the car for more than 12 months and is migrating here the car can be brought in as a "Personal Import". In QLD (other states may be different) this means exeption from having to meet any ADR requirements apart from seatbelts. Will still require inspection, and will have to get a Roadworthy. If it's not a Personal Import it will have to meet all ADRs for the date of manufacture (pretty easy for 1970).

Duty and GST are payable whether or not it is a Personal Import.

There is no duty for cars older than 30 years old just GST

_________________
Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van