Corvette heading to Australia?

[Dr. Show-Me]

Are all vehicles sold in Oz required to be RHD? If so, are there any exceptions?

[EJD1984]

Here's a quick engineering fix.

[jzchev28]

Lol, I'd hate to see that set up in a new vette and ruin that interior. But I hope they really do make a RHD version, this car needs to be sold everywhere.

[RedVee8]

Are all vehicles sold in Oz required to be RHD? If so, are there any exceptions?

Yes.
Classic cars more than 20something years old.

[Tornado42]

Joining a special car clubs allows you to drive LHD cars like the Corvette within a certain distance of the club or on club road trips.

[Commodoreman2000]

Are all vehicles sold in Oz required to be RHD? If so, are there any exceptions?

I have done a bit of digging and found that all states require a vehicle to be converted to RHD if it is less than 30 years old, with the exception of Western Australia which allow LHD but it only has to be 15 years old. I assume that with the reference Tornado made about car clubs the conditions are strict with a maximum number of days per year and the requirement of a log book to be filled out for every trip. Or big penalties apply

[kts350]

I'll believe when it when I see one sitting in my local Holden dealers, sure it's something that should be done but look at the Camaro engineered in Australia by Holden built on the Commodore platform and we can't get one because GM wont make it RHD.
How hard would it be for GM to do I mean the VE was engineered for LHD better still let Holden run the RHD production.

[Commodoreman2000]

I'll believe when it when I see one sitting in my local Holden dealers.

That right there is part of our problem according to Lee. the Corvettes not a Holden, It's a Chevrolet. I bet anything they would really love to nix the Holden name as it hinders certain product.
Plus I think it is about time LHD laws be revisited I mean if it is good enough for the 2 of the Biggest RHD markets to allow LHD then we really are upside down and backwards. I know there are inherent issues but really those issues would be more of an inconvenience IMHO eg: drive through's, car parks but are easy to remedy just bring a passenger

I am just curious as to why we cannot import and drive LHD modern cars equipped with all the modern safety features that can be thought of, however it is fine to be able to drive a 30 plus year old LHD (15 if you're in WA ). Does anyone on here know where to look in legislation or who to talk to? I would really like to know the exact reasons behind it. None of this closed shop BS and stuff because I mean we barely have import tarrifs now and countries we just recently signed FTA's with cough *Thailand* cough then turn around and make it impossible to send anything over what! 3 litres. thats just BS in my opinion.

[vt6banger]

With electric steering and fly by wire surely it is a lot easier to make lhd also rhd


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[RedVee8]

That right there is part of our problem according to Lee. the Corvettes not a Holden, It's a Chevrolet. I bet anything they would really love to nix the Holden name as it hinders certain product.
Plus I think it is about time LHD laws be revisited I mean if it is good enough for the 2 of the Biggest RHD markets to allow LHD then we really are upside down and backwards. I know there are inherent issues but really those issues would be more of an inconvenience IMHO eg: drive through's, car parks but are easy to remedy just bring a passenger

I am just curious as to why we cannot import and drive LHD modern cars equipped with all the modern safety features that can be thought of, however it is fine to be able to drive a 30 plus year old LHD (15 if you're in WA ). Does anyone on here know where to look in legislation or who to talk to? I would really like to know the exact reasons behind it. None of this closed shop BS and stuff because I mean we barely have import tarrifs now and countries we just recently signed FTA's with cough *Thailand* cough then turn around and make it impossible to send anything over what! 3 litres. thats just BS in my opinion.

It's possibly because Holden, Ford & Toyota have invested in production here and would be disadvantaged if new LHD cars could be imported and sold through dealers etc. also, there has always been (not saying it s correct) a thought that LHD cars are a hazard, witness the large LEFT HAND DRIVE signs that must be carried across the rear of the car.

[Commodoreman2000]

The Dodge RAM has been sold through Dealers to mines I found an article the only problem is they can't be driven off site and onto public roads. And not sure about eastern states but here in SA and WA they dont require LHD cautions labels. None of the old beauties I see ever have them. I do remember seeing them when I was a kid though so it must be fairly recent.I suppose I could import one and just take it to the track and wait the 30 years to legally register it It would be low mileage just driven hard on Sundays

It's possibly because Holden, Ford & Toyota have invested in production here and would be disadvantaged if new LHD cars could be imported and sold through dealers etc. also, there has always been (not saying it s correct) a thought that LHD cars are a hazard, witness the large LEFT HAND DRIVE signs that must be carried across the rear of the car.

One way to make it possible would be to limit a dealer or brand to only one or 2 product choices that are not engineered RHD and let Holden, Ford and Toyota ( nothing exciting in their lineup and pretty much everything is available RHD ) bring in a bigger selection as they produce and create jobs here. Just my version a tarrif lol.

I would seriously consider one for trackday use only though. not ideal but hey whatya gonna do

[Commodoreman2000]

You say "Hazard" I say " minor inconvenience to the drunk guy thinking my car is driving me home"

[RedVee8]

The Dodge RAM has been sold through Dealers to mines I found an article the only problem is they can't be driven off site and onto public roads. And not sure about eastern states but here in SA and WA they dont require LHD cautions labels. None of the old beauties I see ever have them. I do remember seeing them when I was a kid though so it must be fairly recent.I suppose I could import one and just take it to the track and wait the 30 years to legally register it It would be low mileage just driven hard on Sundays

One way to make it possible would be to limit a dealer or brand to only one or 2 product choices that are not engineered RHD and let Holden, Ford and Toyota ( nothing exciting in their lineup and pretty much everything is available RHD ) bring in a bigger selection as they produce and create jobs here. Just my version a tarrif lol.

I would seriously consider one for trackday use only though. not ideal but hey whatya gonna do

Buy an R8, or Elise, or 4 86GTs

[V-Car]

Having owned two LHD cars here, i can confirm that there is next to no problem driving them with RHD traffic.
Its 15 years in WA, 25 or 30 in other States.
Witness Japan and the UK (amongst others) having no problem with LHD vehicles.
Caution stickers arent required now.
Also used to be a 15 year rule for easy import of vehicles so that they didnt have to comply with ADR rules.
That was stopped (especially by Toyota) as newer Landcruisers and Japanese cars would have undermined the used market....they say. They are 15yo vehicles FFS!
Now the cutoff date is 1/1/88, anything built after that date has to comply with costly regs.
Its just our nanny state and lobbyists vast amounts of money changing hands from people with vested interests to keep them off our roads. Read manufacturers and converters.
Australia has the best political system money can buy!

[mchicha]

you have to admit this is pure ignorance of the world by GM corporate types