Importation And Certification, U.S

[Sniffs]

what a royal mess. the Statesman name for a Buick will scream old-hand for buick, a la the 50's. I don't think Buick needs THAT particular name in the US...after all, we tried it once, and the cars simply contributed to the death of GM's last rear drivers, anyway

i got an Idea for FoMoCo and the General...haul some Aussies up here to the US, and have em teach us to do "jellybeans" the right way. i check on Holden and Ford Australia every now and then, and think Ausie cars are the prettiest I've seen in a long time. just remembr to stretch the boot lid this time, kay?

 

[Jay]

I know Aussie Holden design engineers have been 'hauled' to the US already on a few occasions. I remember reading that some Holden engineers have been working on Cadillacs (mainly SRX and 4wd systems from memory). Aussies are not doing 'jelly bean' anymore that has long passed its used by date, VE Commodore is due October. The GM (and some Ford models) RWD cars you will see in the US in the upcoming years this decade will have had Aussie hands all over them.

 

[YSSMAN]

@Sniffs: Actually, GM AUS and GM NA have been working together quite closely on the new Zeta cars. Those photos I posted earlier this month showed that a Chevrolet was down in Australia in development alongside the new Holden models, presumably the new Impala with the Statesman and Commodores.

But they still have'nt said for sure what is going on. The only information that we know is what is going RWD, and what is not. Generally speaking, my assumptions as to what is going to be shared between Holden and GM NA is based on educated guessing.

As for Ford, I don't have a clue what the hell is going on with them. Sometimes they say that they may tap Ford AUS for the Falcon/Fairlane, and other times they say that they are going to develop a whole new RWD platform for their new cars. Presumably the new platform would be that of the next 2009 Mustang, available in several different sizes like the Zeta, to replace the Fivehundred, etc.

 

[Jay]

I know Ford Australia is working on a all new RWD platform for the Falcon (with Australian government help), Its would suprise me if Ford NA didn't tap into that to some degree but who knows.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Haha, I like that the approved import list included "1988 Nissan 240SX"

A car that was only sold in the US, in a year it wasn't sold here?

Or does that mean that it's legal to import a first-year CA18 powered Silvia?

 

[YSSMAN]

That would mean that it is legal to bring over an '88 if you can find one, if I'm understanding the NHSTA correctly...

Back at Viper:

Ford North America keeps saying that they have plans for a new RWD platform, but they won't say exactly what it is. Granted, the Mustang is actually based on the outgoing LS's RWD chassis (although thuroughly redone), so it all leads me to belive that Ford North America is working on a new "world" RWD chassis similar to the VE/Zeta chassis over at GM.

Chances are, whatever Ford is working on, it will probably stretch and shrink to match the needs of the company.

 

[Tornado]

The full list can be found HERE, and I found it to be quite interesting. I had no idea that the Ford Escort RS Cosworth was legal for importation here. Another funny listing was a specific line which states "All other passenger car models except Model 959" were legal for import with Porsche.

Well, you can technically import them over the "Show" car status, so long as you put verly little road mileage on the car. The reason they aren't allowed over here is not because of the cash test fiasco anymore, now it's over emmisions laws. You can get them emmissions certified by a couple of companies,, but they are still relegated to "Show" status until 2010.
I assume looking at that list that you can't import Ramchargers, and have a real Dodge SUV. I also assume that the list is not definitive, because it make no mention of Lotus and the Eprit Sport 350 (RHD version).
A Citroen XM would be hella cool, though.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Like how Wyclef Jean has his Zonda for "Show" here in the US?

It is so stupid how the whole NHSTA thing works out. I don't see why it would matter so much about some of these stupid laws, particularly those of the RHD-LHD stuff, but whatever!

I'm still wondering if Noble is going to be able to get the M15 here, as we have only had the M12/M400 for a short period of time...

 

[Sniffs]

Yss: wishfull thinking. if TVR doesn't think they can do it, could Noble?
remember, we, as americans, have a reputation for doing everything our way, which apparently still annoys the hey out of Europeans (as does america's "predominance" in media overwhelming culture where it's imported)

Viper: tell ford to send the whole shebang hooked with Falcon up here. an americanised version of that little hot rod would probably make ford money...till they tried to make a "comet" clone of it. i think ford is still smarting from the Capri ragtop yous sent up here (not to mention the Merkur's from Germany)

 

[Jay]

so it all leads me to belive that Ford North America is working on a new "world" RWD chassis similar to the VE/Zeta chassis over at GM.

Well I know for fact that the next Falcon RWD platform is actually being worked on here in Australia (Melbourne), if Ford NA is also working on a one they are either sharing to make this "world" platform or are making it independently (which I doubt as it seems inefficient).

I have a feeling they are doing the same thing as GM, Ford AU is making the platform universal for a world market and Ford NA is playing around with it figuring out what world vehicles they could make with it.
I have always been doubtful that the US would get the Australian Falcon, I am more convinced Ford is going to make the next platform universal like the Zeta and the US will receive same platform cars as the Falcon but not actually the Falcon.

Like I said, to me I think they are doing a GM type thing except not so public.

 

[JCE]

...Like how Wyclef Jean has his Zonda for "Show" here in the US?

WTF? He doesn't deserve to be on the same CONTIENENT as the Zonda much less own one. FOR SHAME!

 

[YSSMAN]

Hey now, Wyclef is a car guy through and through. He knows what he is talking about, he knows how to drive them, and I completely respect that!

...Although, I can't say the same for Frankie Muniz (or however he spells his name). That kid is just so damn cocky, he really does think he is hot stuff racing in the Champ Car series.

Someone needs to drop-kick him in the throat...

 

[JCE]

Hey now, Wyclef is a car guy through and through. He knows what he is talking about, he knows how to drive them, and I completely respect that!

...Although, I can't say the same for Frankie Muniz (or however he spells his name). That kid is just so damn cocky, he really does think he is hot stuff racing in the Champ Car series.

Someone needs to drop-kick him in the throat...

But no one is good enough for my Zonda. Not even YOU! Mwuahahaha!

And I agree on someone drop-kicking that Frankie boy, he annoys the hell out of me.