Registering a DeHavilland GT
 

G'day fellas,

I'm in Australia and looking at importing a DeHavilland GT.

Due to our (interesting) import laws I have 2 options:
1- import a car built prior to 1989, or
2- wait until 2018 (change in import laws) and import a new car.

As such I wondered if anyone could tell me whether a factory built DeHavilland is registered as a 68/9 206, retains the age of the MGTF donor or is classed as a new car?

I can't even think about applying for an import permit until I know how to accurately describe the age of the vehicle.

Cheers,

SIMMO

Never looked at these before but the Mgf stuff bolts into a chassis so doubtful it keeps the original I'd of the mg

Drop them a line and ask

http://www.dehavillandmotorcompany.c...ontact-us.html

That's good news. The only outcome that would have screwed me was if the car retained the original MGTF date of manufacture.

My hope is that it is classed as a new car so I could import to Australia in 2018.

I have tried contacting DeHavilland - they are helpful but not exactly prompt with replies to enquiries.

My understanding is that because of major changes to the chassis of the donor car a Dehavilland GT cannot retain the identity of the original donor car.

However as it uses the original engine, transmission, steering, suspension etc when registered with the DVLA in the UK it would have enough points under the DVLA system to be given a "date related plate".

This would mean that the Date of manufacture would be the same as the donor car.

Since the MGF was only manufactured between 1995 and 2011 it looks like you might have a problem with Australian import rules.

Would it be possible to import or purchase a donor car in Australia and have a kit shipped out from the UK?

Thanks Neil,

It would be possible but there aren't many MGTF's in Australia. The ones that are here are ridiculous prices. There was a 2010 model for sale recently that was $35000, which is about £20,000! Very low mileage but they probably cost less than that new!

Hey Simmo. If you did import a kit you could probably fit the MGTF bits in the same box and bring them over too. Otherwise they are readily available in New Zealand in good going order for 1/10th of the price you mentioned. I could point you in the direction of an MG wrecker in Auckland who could box up the bits and ship them to you.
Cheers
Ross (in NZ)

Thanks Ross,

I have my heart set on a Dino with a V6 so I enquired to DeHavilland about the rumours they were building a V6. They answered that and my rego question.

Apparently they are building a Dino with a Rover KV6 from an MG ZT mated to an MGTF PG1 gearbox. If the car was sent to Aus from England UNREGISTERED it would retain the MGTF build date. This would fall foul of the import laws as a used vehicle must not be made after 1989.

DeHavilland also stated they could register the car in the UK as a new car (DeHavilland GT) but upon import it would be classed as used and built after 1989.

My other option is to apply for a one-off import exemption allowing me to import the registered DeHavilland as a used import built after 1989.

That seemed like the best option until I read the cost (£44000). That puts the car in with some VERY serious company including new cars from established brands. In Australia I can get a new VW Golf R, Audi RS3 or Lotus Elise (to name just a few) for that price. The big problem here with kit cars is there is such a niche market that resale value is very hit-and-miss. I doubt that a DeHavilland, however special, when fitted with an aging KV6 would return even half of any of the other cars listed and as such I can't make the man maths work.

I know with kit cars that the heart usually rules the head, but in this case I really can't get past the cost versus potential future return. I have already considered building a kit, but I have too many time commitments so would never get one finished.

I'll have to keep on looking!

The Australian state you live in makes all the difference.
Without seeming cynical if you live in NSW buy a real Dino it will be cheaper.
Other states and Victoria in particular are much easier.
Even when the new import laws come into effect it is very unclear as to the compliance requirements.