I thought I knew the new law, but maybe not. It seems you cannot get a regular corvette/ camaro/ mustang etc registered under this new law because they don't meet 3 out of the 4 criteria. 1.must not be manufactured in RHD. tick. 2. must be a high performance coupe. tick. 3. must be manufactured in annual volumes of less than 20,000. no. 4. must be a classic or collectable car as defined by a major motoring publication. no. I was told over the phone, if a car was produced in numbers of more than 20,000, they wouldn't consider it a classic or collectable car anyway, so there's 2 fails out of 4 to start with. A basic mass produced mustang/corvette or camaro does not meet the criteria, so how come people keep selling them saying they do!
jfp1,
Mar 26, 1:03pm
I think what happens is that rather than count the total number built in a year, they look at the sub groups, ie, so many coupes, so many convertibles, so many ZO6 or Grand Sports (in the Corvette case). The sub group numbers do fall under 20,000 annual volumes.
tgray,
Mar 26, 1:22pm
Fair enough, but if you exclude the subgroups, the 'average' corvette/camaro and mustang still wouldn't quality, as more than 20,000 of the base models were made in virtually every year.
jfp1,
Mar 26, 2:53pm
I agree. I'm not sure about Mustang and Camaro numbers but I have the Corvette numbers upto 2009. Only 16,956 in total that year so all OK but from say 2000 on, total build exceeded 20,000 per year and some years, even the subgroups exceeded 20,000. Maybe they distingush between auto trans models and manual trans. All the VIN codes vary depending on engine, trans, body style etc so if they just look at that, maybe than explain it. With all the options available again now, it's hard to know what a base model (average car) is.
stevo2,
Mar 26, 2:58pm
And remember, its not the year first rego'd, its the year it was built. Cheers Stevo
tgray,
Mar 26, 4:00pm
Yes 2009 and 1997 corvette's were under the 20,000 production numbers. All other years were over however. They DO distinguish between hardtop and convertible, but DON'T between manual and auto. And yes, good point mentioned that it is the production year, not the year of registration, meaning all 1997 corvettes are ok and some 1998 ones that were built in 1997. The production year is on the inside of drivers door. It appears to be, if you want a 'standard' C5 vette, you can only have a 1997 and if you want a C6 one, you can only have a 2009.
lookoutas,
Mar 26, 4:24pm
It's that 20k number that one needs to be aware of. Mustangs don't qualify, but a Shelby Mustang is OK. Problem with GM is there's no special Shelby like equivalents.
jfp1,
Mar 27, 6:21am
I guess the only other answer is that maybe somehow they do meet the criteria as a collectable car. There are plenty of magazine devoted to the cars mentioned and there are articles in them refering to future collectability. Anyway, I'm just grateful that somewhere in Wellington, some inspired, thoughtful person is allowing these cars into NZ without having to be cut up by converting them to RHD. Long may that person reign.
lookoutas,
Mar 27, 7:58am
You never know where a petrolhead might pop up. Bill Clinton has a 67 Mustang convertible.
ginga4lyfe,
Mar 27, 8:07am
which is a dumb requirement, because if you think about it, most of those cars wont be around in 3 years, the ones that last, no matter what model will be a classic or collectable at some time
lookoutas,
Mar 27, 8:25am
And then it'll be 20 years old, and won't require a RHD change.
smac,
Mar 27, 8:41am
Seems to me the easiest option would be convincing a 'major publication' that it's collectible.
Is a stock Mustang collectible in the States! Not really. Here! Pretty strong argument for it, otherwise people wouldn't be wanting to import them. Need to take a factual/logical approach, not an emotional one.
tgray,
Mar 27, 9:28am
I don't think any law should a subjective one. ie 'classic' is not an absolute and can be interpreted in different ways. I think anyone who is willing to spend all that money on buying a car from the states (yes you have to buy it first because you have to supply the VIN number on your application), and then go through all the cost of importing etc and commit to a 4 year ownership, should not then have their application denied, because someone says your car is not a classic. You've just spend $40,000 getting it here and they say that! What the hell do you do then! Again, no law should be subjective and rely on interpretaions. It's simply not fair to the applicant to knock it back on that. Imagine bringing in the newcamaro and then being rejected because they say a mass produced GM car is not a classic! Your signing up to4 years of ownership, so it's obviously for your own personal use. Isn't that what the new law was all about! Genuine enthusiasts who want to own and drive a 'classic' car!
mig5,
Mar 27, 10:40am
Aren't there enough batshit boring Mustangs/Camaros etc here already!
tgray,
Mar 27, 11:02am
Well, if you wanted a new camaro, they are around $50NZ over there and $80+ here, so worth getting one yourself. Have you seen the new camaro! nothing boring about them, that's for sure. 6200cc V8. Even the V6 has 300BHP.
pat56,
Mar 27, 12:37pm
You can thank that Mustang Club tosser who had the ear of some politician (was it Joyce) for the changes to Left hook imports rules.
hotrodtodd1,
Mar 27, 12:46pm
well I dont see a 2009/20110 Camaro/Corvette/Mustang/Charge- r as a classic.
Maybe a special edition one MAY become one oneday, but now! naa, they are just new plastic from the USA.
lookoutas,
Mar 27, 12:58pm
The main change has been the canning of the 90 day period that one could spend in the States as an owner, then bring it back retaining LHD. You can still bring one back and convert it.
les6,
Mar 27, 3:04pm
you mean devalue it!
powerstar40,
Mar 27, 7:45pm
If you search hard enough ,you can usually find a magazine article stating that a particular car is rare and collectable .I have a permit for my 2003 50th anniversary edition corvette as such an article exists .The same article says that the 04 commerative edition also is rare and collectable .
bubbles244,
Mar 27, 8:02pm
smac has the point.
you can pick up a muzzy in the states for 3 to 5 grand(obviously in not great condition) but over there they are to them what a falcon or commodore is here.
an example of the same model been collectible would be a 87 brock or walkinshaw commodore as opposed to a holden commodore or berlina.
same basic lights grills panels body's motors gearboxes, just limited production of that particular line of cars as apposed to the general run of the mill.
point being if you want to import a muzzy(or what ever) you want to research "transAm" as back in the day it was like our group A racing class where a car manufacturer got a tuner such as AMG, AC schnitzer,cosworth, brock, walkinshaw, carrol shelby TRD, Spoon, Nismo, etc etc to make a hot version of 500 or so. just enough so it can be classed as a "production car" but not a mass produced version.
lookoutas,
Mar 28, 7:09am
That's why the only late model Mustang that can be brought in & left as LHD, is a Shelby. They are modified limited production, hence rare & collectable. Powerstar has a collectable Corvette. Now chancing on buying an anniversary edition type car, (which would only have minimal changes such as badging etc) and then hoping to set it in, would be a big call. Good to win that one tho PStar
pat56,
Mar 28, 7:25am
Don't all convertibles qualify!
lookoutas,
Mar 28, 7:27am
No. Think they covered that loophole too. Note - I only said "think" Would say they're a derivative of a sedan & standard production. That's why I'm surprised about the Ann models getting through.
jfp1,
Mar 28, 8:00am
The law as it currently stands, allows for the limited importation of certain "high performance" 2 door coupes and convertibles that meet the criteria mentioned in the original post without having to go through the painful (and in my opinion, dangerous) conversion to RHD. Once imported, the car must remain in that owner's hands for a minimum of 4 years. At last it is possible to obtain and legally use a late model interesting American built car. Some of the cars being produced over there now are simply stunning, reliable and actually handle as well. Not everyone wants to own an Asian/Australia/Euro look alike.
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