Another 68 Charger has left the US

[Darkman]

Just got shipping confirmation. My 68 Charger ( see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nVKMk5rnYk ) has left US shores and is scheduled to land in Adelaide Australia on 26th October 

It has been a long time coming (almost a year since I began looking). A very big thanks goes out to every one that has put time into this forum. It has been very helpful and has saved me big $$$ and taught me valuable lessons (patience, what to look for and what to stay away from) when buying a car I could not physically see in person. I did have a few minor issues with the importer I used, but they were sorted out and at the end of all of this I will officially be a Dodge Charger owner. I do strongly recommend using an importer if you plan on buying overseas (and Shermatt America is a good one to use). I have copies of all the paper work (Title, bill of sale etc) and a new roof skin was purchased through Tamraz (a big thanks to them also, they are a great bunch of guys - A+ for customer service!). Although some are against my decision to convert it to RHD, and I completely understand, but it has to be done for registration purposes and the fact that this will be virtually a daily driver. I will get the roof replaced first, repair the dent on the front guard and then maybe have a bit of fun with it (living in a small town in the middle of the desert, there are planty of places to take the car without the interference of the law  ) then the conversion to RHD will commence.

Here's to many, many, many years of enjoyment driving the best classic muscle car ever produced   

[charger Downunder]

Great news you must feel good.

[Darkman]

Relieved more than anything. I will feel good when I can sit it in and turn the key 

[G-man]

It finally left... cool.

Hope mine gets regestered this comming week. You must be excited.... I know I was 

[rooks]

Awesome news Darko! 

Glad to see someone's overseas buying experience is going well 


Keep the updates comin' 

[Laxy]

Good to hear, hope it arrives safely. Can be a nervous wait but all worth it when you first lay eyes on it!!!

[Dans 68]

All right, enough of this "down under" henning around.    Lets get a North American perspective. 

A tear or two    as another '68 has left the shores of it's birth, but a big smile  as it will be lustily appreciated in the land of wonder. I'm looking forward to the photos of its arrival and driving about. 

Dan

[tan top]

good stuff . looking forward to seeing pictures when you get it  
conversion to right hand drive    , thought you no longer needed to do that down there in oz

[G-man]

good stuff . looking forward to seeing pictures when you get it  
conversion to right hand drive    , thought you no longer needed to do that down in there

We dont if its 30+ years old. But it is 'safer' if it is as you sit closer to the middle of the road to see whats going on, hence in the US they made them LHD cause you drive on the right side while everywhere where you drive left side they are RHD. I have seen where RHD is more convinient to have down here and its when driving through narrow bends around the mountains... pretty weird when you can't see anything around the mountain face as to which truck might be comming and cutting accross your lane cause you're sitting on the left side driving. Very personal thing to do though cause it does cost and does change the originality of the vehicle.

[tan top]

good stuff . looking forward to seeing pictures when you get it  
conversion to right hand drive    , thought you no longer needed to do that down in there

We dont if its 30+ years old. But it is 'safer' if it is as you sit closer to the middle of the road to see whats going on, hence in the US they made them LHD cause you drive on the right side while everywhere where you drive left side they are RHD. I have seen where RHD is more convinient to have down here and its when driving through narrow bends around the mountains... pretty weird when you can't see anything around the mountain face as to which truck might be comming and cutting accross your lane cause you're sitting on the left side driving. Very personal thing to do though cause it does cost and does change the originality of the vehicle.

oh right  , i got it  , thanks for explaining  

[68r/t]

good stuff . looking forward to seeing pictures when you get it 
conversion to right hand drive    , thought you no longer needed to do that down in there

We dont if its 30+ years old. But it is 'safer' if it is as you sit closer to the middle of the road to see whats going on, hence in the US they made them LHD cause you drive on the right side while everywhere where you drive left side they are RHD. I have seen where RHD is more convinient to have down here and its when driving through narrow bends around the mountains... pretty weird when you can't see anything around the mountain face as to which truck might be comming and cutting accross your lane cause you're sitting on the left side driving. Very personal thing to do though cause it does cost and does change the originality of the vehicle.

oh right  , i got it  , thats for explaining 

Darkman lives in South Australia which has the dumbest law of all, the car can stay LHD if it is all original and STOCK,  and any modification  (wheels, extractors etc) means you then have to convert to RHD.

[tan top]

good stuff . looking forward to seeing pictures when you get it  
conversion to right hand drive    , thought you no longer needed to do that down in there

We dont if its 30+ years old. But it is 'safer' if it is as you sit closer to the middle of the road to see whats going on, hence in the US they made them LHD cause you drive on the right side while everywhere where you drive left side they are RHD. I have seen where RHD is more convinient to have down here and its when driving through narrow bends around the mountains... pretty weird when you can't see anything around the mountain face as to which truck might be comming and cutting accross your lane cause you're sitting on the left side driving. Very personal thing to do though cause it does cost and does change the originality of the vehicle.

oh right  , i got it  , thats for explaining  

Darkman lives in South Australia which has the dumbest law of all, the car can stay LHD if it is all original and STOCK,  and any modification  (wheels, extractors etc) means you then have to convert to RHD.

thanks for the reply   
!! thats nutts    

[Darkman]

Spot on 68rt. The laws here are strange. The car would have to be fully restored to "original" condition, right down to period correct interior material, rims, tyres, paint even the stereo. Since I want to put brake discs and better suspension, it automatically disqualifies me to register it as a LHD. Which means if I want to drive and enjoy it, I have no choice but to convert it. It was never intentional, but now necessary.

Tan Top, the rules are nuts! However, on the bright side once it is inspected and passed for registration, then it never has to be inspected again (unless it gets defected)

[1969chargerrtse]

Bad news is another Charger leaves Americas shores.  Good news is there are still plenty here and it's going to a new owner that really really loves the car.  Good Luck mate.

[41husk]

Congratulations! how far do you live from George?

[Darkman]

Congratulations! how far do you live from George?

Far enough 

George is on the Eastern side of Australia. I live in the heart of South Australia which is in the centre of the country. With out knowing George's exact location, I would say about 20+ hours drive

[charger_fan_4ever]

Silly question maybe, but how would the inspectors know that something like interior material or magnum 500 vs rallye wheels wasn't original on a car they probably have no clue about ?

what do they base it on ? I'm sure they are not reading fender tag codes right.

[Darkman]

There are plenty of ways to track down this information (fender tag decoders, construction options etc). The internet is a wonderful thing. The inspectors down here are very switched on, they 90% of them are car enthusiasts themselves, and there are a lot of different US cars imported regularly so they are well researched. I have learned heaps of information about these cars just from reading this forum, so I guess if I (a normal car enthusiast) can learn this info, then a professional would know a whole lot more.

Either way the upgrades I want to do to it (mainly suspension and brakes) will automatically disqualify me from registering it LHD

[tan top]

There are plenty of ways to track down this information (fender tag decoders, construction options etc). The internet is a wonderful thing. The inspectors down here are very switched on, they 90% of them are car enthusiasts themselves, and there are a lot of different US cars imported regularly so they are well researched. I have learned heaps of information about these cars just from reading this forum, so I guess if I (a normal car enthusiast) can learn this info, then a professional would know a whole lot more.

Either way the upgrades I want to do to it (mainly suspension and brakes) will automatically disqualify me from registering it LHD

what about if you  use the factory disc set up & factory Hemi /R/T  suspension !! its still stock then  !!!  not like you gone for willwoods all round &  XV motorsports suspension stuff 

[charger_fan_4ever]

guess they are hardcore down under. When i brought my 70 threw the border neither CDN or US border guards had a clue what it was. One was like wasn't there a car like that in smokey and the bandit 

[Bob T]

good stuff . looking forward to seeing pictures when you get it  
conversion to right hand drive    , thought you no longer needed to do that down in there

We dont if its 30+ years old. But it is 'safer' if it is as you sit closer to the middle of the road to see whats going on, hence in the US they made them LHD cause you drive on the right side while everywhere where you drive left side they are RHD. I have seen where RHD is more convinient to have down here and its when driving through narrow bends around the mountains... pretty weird when you can't see anything around the mountain face as to which truck might be comming and cutting accross your lane cause you're sitting on the left side driving. Very personal thing to do though cause it does cost and does change the originality of the vehicle.

oh right  , i got it  , thats for explaining  

Darkman lives in South Australia which has the dumbest law of all, the car can stay LHD if it is all original and STOCK,  and any modification  (wheels, extractors etc) means you then have to convert to RHD.

So, with the conversion gig, is there any advantage to getting it registered in a state that has a better "workable" law on lefties.? A mate of mine just imported a 68 Muzzie into Perth, not sure if he had to convert it ?
We have a 20 year window, i.e. if older tha 20 years and then no requirement to convert it. Late model car and trucks must be , unless they meet the "special Interest Category", - application and paperwork etc , mustangss , camaro's vipers etc

[Darkman]

what about if you  use the factory disc set up & factory Hemi /R/T  suspension !! its still stock then  !!!  not like you gone for willwoods all round &  XV motorsports suspension stuff 

As far as I have researched and asked it is how that car came off the production line not what options were available. The decision has been made to convert so I ask that the decision is respected. If you don't like it then fine, I understand but please do not keep on me about it (I have already copped enough in previous threads), I do not want this thread to turn into another LHD RHD debate.

[doctor4766]

Bottom line is that Darkman lives in the wrong state.
Move to Western Australia Darkman..
We need more American Muscle here anyway and we don't have the dumbass laws.

Enjoy your Charger mate.

[tan top]

what about if you  use the factory disc set up & factory Hemi /R/T  suspension !! its still stock then  !!!  not like you gone for willwoods all round &  XV motorsports suspension stuff  

As far as I have researched and asked it is how that car came off the production line not what options were available. The decision has been made to convert so I ask that the decision is respected. If you don't like it then fine, I understand but please do not keep on me about it (I have already copped enough in previous threads), I do not want this thread to turn into another LHD RHD debate.

 oh i see ,
no no !!   not having a go at you wanting to convert it !!  if you got to convert it to RHD ! no worries you got to do what you got to do  , its the odd law down there , as to what i was saying!!  

good stuff . looking forward to seeing pictures when you get it  
conversion to right hand drive    , thought you no longer needed to do that down in there

We dont if its 30+ years old. But it is 'safer' if it is as you sit closer to the middle of the road to see whats going on, hence in the US they made them LHD cause you drive on the right side while everywhere where you drive left side they are RHD. I have seen where RHD is more convinient to have down here and its when driving through narrow bends around the mountains... pretty weird when you can't see anything around the mountain face as to which truck might be comming and cutting accross your lane cause you're sitting on the left side driving. Very personal thing to do though cause it does cost and does change the originality of the vehicle.

oh right  , i got it  , thats for explaining  

Darkman lives in South Australia which has the dumbest law of all, the car can stay LHD if it is all original and STOCK,  and any modification  (wheels, extractors etc) means you then have to convert to RHD.

[Darkman]

Tan top - I know what you were trying to say. I have thought about those options too. I may be lucky and get a good inspector who may be a little lenient, but I alsomay get a stickler for the rules. I don't want to take that risk. Also a bit further down the track if I upgrade something, I am at risk of being defected