Hey guys This is one of those 'why would you?' Kind of questions, but read on and hopefully things will make a bit more sense. Basically, I want to know what the legalities and limitations are of constructing a left hand drive Model A sedan in Australia are? My idea was to get a body and hopefully somewhat complete ch***is from the U.S. And put it together as a left hand drive traditional rod in Australia. Why? Well. I could be spending time in the U.S. Over the next few years and an A bone is what I'd like to drive around in, however, Australian law stipulates that cars that have been modified after about 1970 (with plenty of paperwork to prove it) can't be brought back home, so if I bought a complete rod from the U.S. I'd probably not be able to bring it back, unless it was an older build and that would probably equate to being a more expensive car. Confusing, but I figured if I built it here it wouldn't be so hard to go between the two countries. So, can you build a lefty model A in Australia? Would love to make this happen. Any help would be genuinely appreciated. Cheers J
if you mean to export to the USA, cant see why not, if for rego and road use in Oz, no, stock model A (restored or original) no problem LHD, rod + LHD is a no no. Disclaimer - check your state rules for today - check import export rules for latest updates, as for next week get a crystal ball. The only people who can give the 100% correct answer are the rego authorities in your state and the Dept. of Infrastructure for import/export. (The question would go better on an Oz based forum)
Forget that 1970 rule, lots of myths. Cars up to 1975 from memory can be constructed from parts, there is a specific enthusiasts provision for this in a VSB that I don't have here at present. I built my 35 Chevy phaeton LHD, originally RHD. Building my 46 Olds LHD, it was LHD to begin with. Both are under Q'ld scheme. I've seen LHD rods in other parts of Australia however the Commonwealth has been vigilantly enforcing the provisions of the 'Motor Vehicles Standards Act 1989' However in saying that, if I sell them in Q'ld they can remain LHD under current scheme as Q'ld authorities have not adopted the new National guidelines that stipulate that street rods must be RHD, 5.10 STEERING POSITION: Street Rods must be configured as right-hand drive vehicles. If your state has adopted the National Guidelines, your car must be RHD. If stock and over 30yrs old, it can be LHD. Consult with the Dept Infrastructure, local TAC or State Rego authorities for guidance and ***istance. I know of a car imported under a DISPLAY ONLY import approval that was registered in contravention of the approval and put off the road by the authorities. It was LHD. We haven't heard the end of this ongoing saga. There is a lot of misinformation out there in relation to it etc. If you buy a car over there there is an exemption. It can be imported provided you've owned and driven it for 1yr. If not owned for 1yr you need to provide proof that it was modified pre-1989 otherwise it cannot be imported.
Stumpy, your comment about purchasing and driving the car for over one year in America interests me. Does that apply to QLD only? I'm based in NSW
no that's a national issue not state, so Australia wide, you need to be OS with the car and prove ownership etc etc contact Dept. Infrastructure before doing anything.
My thoughts also. Can't follow logic of OP, as it sounds like it would be easier to build right hand drive, legal in home country and probably legal in USA
RHD is acceptable in most (if not all) states in the U.S., I believe their postal vehicles are RHD from factory. It's only third-world countries like Australia that give a damn which side the tiller is on.
Okay gents, I think I'm sold. That's ironed things out nicely for me. Right hand drive and drive it wherever. Maybe I can get a second job as a postie when I'm stateside. I just hope Australia doesn't pull another weird law out on me if I want to take my RHD and Australian built car back from the USA...
Just got this good bit of advice from Stumpy: "The convention provides that vehicles can be imported under its terms for a period of up to one year. NHTSA has no authority to extend the one-year period that a vehicle imported in this manner is allowed to remain in the U.S." Earlier on this article stipulates that the whole do***ent is in relation to non American citizens. But if I'm lucky enough to score a greencard or a long term visa, I would be curious whether that changes things. Do any Americans know the score here?
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