American Cruisers

[Coffin]

Ok so I know sweet fuck all about american cars.

Lets say theoretically I was over in the US for a couple of weeks next year, and bought an old American car to cruise around in, and decided to bring it back with me.

Whats worth decent money over here? .... budget to buy would be say 2-3000. ... has to be big and pimp'esque and be able to be sold to recoup costs, plus more when back here.

Thinking of things like Lincoln Continental Mk III or something?

Ideas?

[Coffin]

must seat 4 ppl as well

[bugle]

Get an ex cop Dodge Monaco
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-...item2a08647bc6

[thedude]

Has to be dead stock if you're importing.

Stupid new import laws mean basically if it ain't stock, it ain't coming in.

[Coffin]

Even for an old 60's cruiser?

I guess a stocker is ok, as long as its a lazy big v8

[willsy01]

Doesn't the car need to stay in it's country of purchase for 12months before it can be exported?

[ITS60S]

not an old car - but yep has to be 100% stock with the recent law changes

Doesn't the car need to stay in it's country of purchase for 12months before it can be exported?

[Euroboost]

Get an ex cop Dodge Monaco
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-...item2a08647bc6

Not this one, the seller is full of shit.
I don't even know if it's a real cop pack, can't remember if it's AHB or A38 in '78.

[S_E]

I'd fucking love a ex-cop 92-97 Crown Vic as a daily shitbox, probably crap to drive, but they're just so damn cool. Would be cheap, dunno what they're worth here though. I'd say not much since a Falcon would be better in almost every way for cheaper.

What age to cars need to be converted to RHD in the eastern states?

[Euroboost]

You don't want an excop '92-'10 Clownvic. They would either be completly fucked, overpriced or both. For the same coin you can pickup a similar Lincoln towncar owned by the local bank manager, or mobster if you like them black with dual exhaust.

[Lobster]

Hmm... How stock do they have to be? Like if it has a new muffler on it does that still count as stock? If it has new paint does that still count as stock?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-...item4150eb49ef

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-...item20b1dbba06

Suicide doors! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1962-...item35aa7f0749

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-...item3f0109cf12

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CLEAN...item2a0841b65b

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1965-...item3caecb6b02

[ITS60S]

It's pretty convoluted at the moment - I read something the other day where a bloke with a 34 ford had 36 ford brakes and when he went to import it because he couldn't prove the modification happened before 1989 it was rejected entry.

I also read about a bloke trying to import something that had a big block factory being rejected as it had a non matching but still big block engine in it - a lot of people have a lot of money tied up sitting in docks/transit at the moment

Hmm... How stock do they have to be? Like if it has a new muffler on it does that still count as stock? If it has new paint does that still count as stock?

[CussCuss]

whaaat.

Surely they arent that retarded.

The last thread we had about this said only that you couldnt fuck with the chassis and if you did, then the manufacture date is considered when you fucked with it.

Any links to the new rules?

edit:

Website still lists sections about modifications.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...ria_2.aspx#one

- if the vehicle has been modified, supply a complete list of all modifications and evidence of when the modifications were completed

[ITS60S]

The theory being - old mate can't prove the brakes were changed prior to the cut off date so they are just as "illegal" as brakes made a week before the cutoff if you can't prove it.

evidence of when the modifications were completed

[exwrxex]

My vote would be 61-68 Cadillac Coupe de ville or ragtop if it fits within budget.

Coupe should be doable for reasonable dollars and seem to be advertised for high teens-low twenties depending on condition.

Big and slow but classic lines and heaps of chrome

[CussCuss]

they are retards, when do the modifications have to have been completed?

[Euroboost]

Big arse wagon
Buy this and I'll buy it off you when it lands here.
Would prefer a '96 Collectors edition with wood delete, but they only built a couple of dozen of them. Although I know a bloke who has had 4 of them in the last 10 years, offered to sell me them every time too the bastard!

[MRMOPARMAN]

Get an ex cop Dodge Monaco
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-...item2a08647bc6

get the model before catalytic covertors, they run good on regular gas

[ITS60S]

Jan 1 1989 apparently.

Although suprisingly there is inconsistency in what is getting import approval and what isn't, some highly modified cars are getting in while some with restored/upgraded driveline only are getting rejected and everything in between.

they are retards, when do the modifications have to have been completed?

[JamesB]

Find yourself a 1994 or 95 Chevrolet Caprice 1A2 spec Wagon (the 1A2 is the wagon version of the 9C1 police spec sedan).

[Coffin]

Ian, its too new.

We'll we're (Me, Ed, Rorge and Shell) are heading over in May for a wedding, so we have plenty of time to work out the laws/rules and find a car.

[EVOSTi]

in nsw if a car is under 30yo i needs to be converted to rhd.

[Euroboost]

Find yourself a 1994 or 95 Chevrolet Caprice 1A2 spec Wagon (the 1A2 is the wagon version of the 9C1 police spec sedan).

Good luck with that!
Besides, from what I've been told by guys in the know, the Roadmaster estate with the LT4 and tow pack basically had the 1A2 bits anyway and won't be completely fucked like a cop wagon.

[Mr Ed]

Big arse wagon

That has got to be the ugliest piece of shit car ever. It encompasses everything I hate about Americans and their shit modern cars/mentality.

If you find that car even remotely enticing there is something seriously wrong with you. Seriously.

[Euroboost]

I've had too many wagons!

I'd try and find the biggest Buick, Mercury, Oldsmobile or Chyrsler I could for the coin. You want something big and comfy with a big block, just because you can. I'm not sure if a 2 door would work though, would probably be easier to sell here though.

[MRMOPARMAN]

'64 chev implala bubbletop with hydraulics

/thead

[rowdytoot]

Big arse wagon
Buy this and I'll buy it off you when it lands here.
Would prefer a '96 Collectors edition with wood delete, but they only built a couple of dozen of them. Although I know a bloke who has had 4 of them in the last 10 years, offered to sell me them every time too the bastard!

:ghey:
a friends old man had one (without the wood) when I was in florida in 1994- even new they were the nastiest, most horrible piece of shit I've EVER had the misfortune of sitting in.... no grunt, no suspension ,no style, lots of NVH, interior is pure dogturd etc...

[Euroboost]

Yeah, just looking a the photos makes me think a HQ Belmont wagon would be a nicer place to be. Actually, that pretty much sums up most American cars coming to think of it.
Reminds me of a joke I heard once.
What's the difference between an American and a cave man?
Cave man discovers new things and evolves, Americans shun new things and regress.

[Coffin]

:ghey:
a friends old man had one (without the wood) when I was in florida in 1994- even new they were the nastiest, most horrible piece of shit I've EVER had the misfortune of sitting in.... no grunt, no suspension ,no style, lots of NVH, interior is pure dogturd etc...

Wow thats a big call ... you've driven my VE!!!

[thedude]

I'd go for something different that there isn't alot of here in Aus.

Something like a big '60s Oldsmobile or a full size Mercury or Plymouth.

The new import laws are a massive joke and the worst part is they are open to wildly fluctuating interpretations of the rules.
Like what was stated above '34 Ford, stock aside from '36 brakes gets knocked back.
Other more modified stuff gets let in.