Importing 1971 Alfa from Australia to NZ

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Marmalade

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#190641 7-Jan-2016 12:12

I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience or knowledge related to importing an (old) car to NZ from Australia. Specifically in my case a 1971 Alfa GTV. We've owned it in Au for 15 years.

I heard somewhere that when it arrives here in NZ someone disassembles the interior looking for rust or something. I would find it very hard trusting some random mechanic to touch any part of this particular car (it's mint, factory-original).

Are there any particular NZ requirements on such an old car? eg will it need an NZ VIN, or is the Aust. one good enough?

knoydart

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#1465070 7-Jan-2016 12:19

Maybe NZTA?

Marmalade

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#1465073 7-Jan-2016 12:21

Thanks for the link. Sorry, I should have mentioned I'd already read whatever I could find online—I'm mostly hoping someone might have actually done it (or know someone who did) and could share how it went.

Coil

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#1465074 7-Jan-2016 12:22

Hi,

Yes the compliance process involves removal of body panels to inspect rust, body damage and mounting points for seat belts. I used to work in compliance and i can safely say dont use North Shore Compliance center if your concerned about damaging a delicate car.
I have a friend who works for one in Auckland here and if you want i can ask him who he suggests is the best for the job. (he also used to work for them and gave me warning)

Cheers

lxsw20

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#1465083 7-Jan-2016 12:35

Inphinity

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#1465093 7-Jan-2016 12:53

I am unsure if there have been any changes in the last few years, but when we went through this for a family member sometime around 2007, being the existing owner of the vehicle in Aus, and a vehicle over 20 years old, meant a lot of the requirements and such were exempt. In our case it was a family member who had been living in Aus for a few years moving home, and bringing the car with them, so there may be a different ruleset if you've not been 'living' there as such. We went through the AA at the time for some assistance on entry certification, I believe VTNZ, VINZ and a few other places are also certified to do this. Probably the best option is to talk to one of these places with specific details about the vehicle and situation.

gzt

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#1465233 7-Jan-2016 15:44

lxsw20: .

@lxsw20 ?

Lego

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Coil

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#1465253 7-Jan-2016 16:20

If you can provide me pictures of the belt fixtures, Boot, Front guards, door jambs and sills i can outline what will be removed as i used to do this myself.
They also do a whole car check so it must be up to NZ road standards... Brakes, Tires, Bushes..

Marmalade

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#1465432 7-Jan-2016 21:32

Wow, thanks everyone for the info.

@TimA — I imagine the car would be shipped straight to Christchurch, or would it be Dunedin? Would your friend know anyone in those places to recommend?

Also, thanks for the offer to look at photos, that would be awesome! Unfortunately my car is in Australia and I'm now in Oamaru, so I can't easily provide photos, but the following are the same car: 1971 alfa romeo gtv 1750

There are some pics of the sills cut open, the inside of the boot (although with the spare wheel well cut out), and of the door jambs here (similar model to mine): http://1750gtveloce.com/tag/renovation/page/2/

Is anything there of use to you?

I don't really understand you saying body panels would be removed, as they're not removable? e.g. if the sills are rusty you can't see that without cutting a hole in the body work to see inside (incidentally they're not rusted, both sides were replaced).

lxsw20

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#1465589 8-Jan-2016 08:48

gzt:
lxsw20: .

@lxsw20 ?

I thought he would need to get it in via SIV but because it's older than 20 years I don't think he does so removed comment.

Coil

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#1465597 8-Jan-2016 08:56

Stripping of the interior would be very basic since its just door sills and carpet to slightly move back.
The seatbelt mounts on the B pillars would usually be removed too so they can check the structure.
Boot is always stripped.

You can always strip it yourself and send it in. save them touching it.
They will take all the wheels off and brake pads out by default.
Does it have inner guard liners or are they exposed?

If they say it needs new rotors/pads etc make sure you get the parts yourself. A lot of places go to the likes of Excedy and get cheaper lower end parts.

Coil

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#1465645 8-Jan-2016 09:22

I also assume the car will come into port in Christchurch?
So look for a transport company from there directly to compliance and hope that you can meet up with it and drive it over to Dunedin the same day.

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Marmalade

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#1465743 8-Jan-2016 11:25

All really valuable info, thanks! My car being so old, there are some upsides — the door cards are screwed on with little philips-heads, the boot lining can just be folded back etc. But when you said they will take all the wheels off I shuddered. I can just picture someone snapping all the wheel studs on the left hand side wheels because they didn't realise it was a left-hand thread on that side of these cars. That's a perfect example of the sort of accident I'm nervous about. Would that kind of damage be covered by the compliancer's insurance?

Am I underestimating the kind of person who does this work? I imagine they'd see more than a few unusual cars? Or is it 10,000 Subaru B4's : 100 Corvettes : 1 strange old Italian car :p

> You can always strip it yourself and send it in. save them touching it.

Hmm, I do like the sound of that, although it would be tricky due to being 4 hours from where I live. Definitely worth thinking about.