VS Compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards??

[Crazy_C]

I am going to be moving to Florida, and I want to take my '96 VS wagon with me cos I love it. Looking through the importation requirements, cars that are being imported need to meet the federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and I was just wondering if the VS met these standards at all?

I know that the airbags were tested with compliance to part number 208 of the crash test standards, but was wondering if the whole car would meet all the safety standards at all?


Any help would be greatly appreciated on this, as I will be taking my VS to Florida, but I really don't wanna have to spend fortunes making it meet the safety standards.


Cheers

[Calaber]

Vehicles sold in Australia have had to comply with Australian Design Rules since the late 1960's. Just how ADR's would align with FMVSS standards, who knows? As only the Monaro and VE have been marketed in the US, it is probable that they would be the only ones to actually be built to comply with FMVSS regulations. However, I recall that the Monaro had to undergo quite a lot of modification before it could be sold in the US. (eg moving the fuel tank from under the boot into the boot was a major one). As your VS has the under floor tank, it might not be acceptable.

Perhaps one of the US members on the forum would know what the rules are regarding the importation of older models like the VS. I imagine the US regs would have changed a fair bit since 1996; you might be able to import the vehicle under some special provisions.

[Crazy_C]

I know the regs that apply to the car are the ones that were in force in the same month and year of manufacture of the vehicle.

Only information I have found that sort of applies is this:

(b) All passenger cars manufactured on or after September 1, 1989, and before September 1, 1996, that, as originally manufactured, are equipped with an automatic restraint system that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208;

The VS restraint system does comply with FMVSS number 208 so hopefully that'll be enough, but wasn't sure on the rest of it all y'know?

[Calaber]

I know the regs that apply to the car are the ones that were in force in the same month and year of manufacture of the vehicle.

Only information I have found that sort of applies is this:

(b) All passenger cars manufactured on or after September 1, 1989, and before September 1, 1996, that, as originally manufactured, are equipped with an automatic restraint system that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208;

The VS restraint system does comply with FMVSS number 208 so hopefully that'll be enough, but wasn't sure on the rest of it all y'know?

Does the FMVSS reg include airbags as part of the automatic restraint system, and does your Berlina have airbags - they weren't standar on VS Berlina's.

[Reaper]

I am going to be moving to Florida, and I want to take my '96 VS wagon with me cos I love it. Looking through the importation requirements, cars that are being imported need to meet the federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and I was just wondering if the VS met these standards at all?

I know that the airbags were tested with compliance to part number 208 of the crash test standards, but was wondering if the whole car would meet all the safety standards at all?


Any help would be greatly appreciated on this, as I will be taking my VS to Florida, but I really don't wanna have to spend fortunes making it meet the safety standards.

Cheers

Unfortunately not. US crash regs require the fuel tank to be in front of the rear axle line which pre VE sedans are not. The only pre VE Commodore passenger vehicle which was engineered this way was the Monaro that was sold in the US as the GTO. That car had the fuel tank behind the back seat with a large crash protection brace fitted between the wheel arches. Most of the other ADR/FMVSS are similar but enough different to cause a problem. Not sure how you will go with the LHD/RHD thing either.

Reaper

[Crazy_C]

The VS is an Equipe, not a Berlina, so it's got the airbags n all that (can't remember if they were standard on the Equipe or not, but it's got the drivers air bag), but that meets the requirements too from what I can find.

Ahhh, didn't know that about the gas tank though. Is that a new thing though, cos the VS only has to meet the standards that were in place in '96?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Why don't you email the regulatory authority in Florida and find out? I think they would know, I doubt your's is the first VS to be imported into that state.

[304runner]

The airbags are actually the trickiest to pass... If you import a car from the states that has airbags fitted they need to be changed to meet our ADR simply because airbags are set off easier on cars in the states due to their relaxed seat belt laws...So vice verser.

Big bucks anyways, about 3k to just get it there.....

[Reaper]

The VS is an Equipe, not a Berlina, so it's got the airbags n all that (can't remember if they were standard on the Equipe or not, but it's got the drivers air bag), but that meets the requirements too from what I can find.

Ahhh, didn't know that about the gas tank though. Is that a new thing though, cos the VS only has to meet the standards that were in place in '96?

Since the late 70's/early 80's AFAIK.

Reaper

[Andrew426]

I doubt your's is the first VS to be imported into that state.

I think it probably would be the first, if not one of the first.

[Crazy_C]

I think it probably would be the first, if not one of the first.

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if it was the only VS in America. There aren't many of them here, and we're a right hand drive country and fairly easy to import cars to. America is a fair bit tougher so most don't. The only Holden on the approved list for import from another country is the HSV GTS and that's it.


I'll get in touch with the registered importers in FL to see what they say. Otherwise, I'll just keep it there for a year on the UK license, buy a Chevrolet Caprice / Buick Roadmaster, and make a replica from one of them. Ideally I'd want to keep the Holden there permanently though.