_Leon_
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2014
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 3
- Location
- Sweden
- Members Ride
- Preferably a VE (SSV) Ute
Hi everyone!
Nick from Sweden here! I am a Swedish- Australian living in Sweden (I usually refer to my self as a "SwAussie"). During the past 15 years I have off and on thought about the enticing prospect of shipping a Ute from Oz to Sweden. Until recently the idea has only been on a "thinking about it"-basis, but during the last two or three weeks the idea has infested itself in my head like a virus. It has, in fact, become something of a small obsession to be honest.
Obviously legalizing a RHD car into a country with LHD traffic is tricky business to say the least, but it is being done now and again with Supras, Skylines and other Japanese "Jing-Jing"-cars.
However, a Australian Ute does not, to my knowledge, exist in the Swedish Registry Database and I feel up for the challenge :boxing:. If it were to be done, a fair few heads wold turn, more than once.
I have discussed the whole idea with the Swedish Department of Transportation, the Registration Office, the Holden customer service in Australia and a few aftermarket shops both in the USA and Australia.
For the car to pass the registration process certain (read a lot!) criteria need to be met. And for this I need information and so far I have only received bits and pieces from the above parties.
Instead I turn to you, dear Holden drivers, for assistance.
The planed import is a 2008-2010 Holden SSV (VE) UTE (I'll discuss he 2008-2010 choice in depth later on).
Question 1:
Some of the criteria is that it has to be totally, to the bone, stock equipment. Another criteria is the exhaust system and this is where I need your help.
What type of catalytic converter are used on these cars? Are they 2-way or 3-way catalytic converters?
Question 2:
Headlights. RHD cars and LHD traffic do not mix very well and would result in total chaos and crashing in the opposite lane due to blinding as I believe you use RHD ECE style headlights in Australia right?
Source: http://www.retrofitlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DOT-ECE-cutoff.jpg
To my knowledge there are no manufacturers of LHD ECE style headlight that fit a 2008-2010 Holden Ute.
However, the American Pontiac G8 (which is truthfully a Holden VE Commodore) are a perfect match mechanically, but do they work the same in the electrical sense? (Apart from the fact that they have American DOT-style lighting). No bulbs doing several tasks? (I realize that is a tricky question)
Question 3:
Tail lights. I suspect that Australian standards are more like European than they are American when it comes to layout, colors and function of the tail lights?
* Daytime running lights in red,
* Braking lights in red,
* Separate bulb for turning signals in either orange bulb or behind orange glass/plastic
* Rear fog lights
* Reg.plate lights
That will have to do for now.
I truly thank you for taking the time to read through and possibly answer one or more of my questions!
Best Regards
Nick form Sweden
Nick from Sweden here! I am a Swedish- Australian living in Sweden (I usually refer to my self as a "SwAussie"). During the past 15 years I have off and on thought about the enticing prospect of shipping a Ute from Oz to Sweden. Until recently the idea has only been on a "thinking about it"-basis, but during the last two or three weeks the idea has infested itself in my head like a virus. It has, in fact, become something of a small obsession to be honest.
Obviously legalizing a RHD car into a country with LHD traffic is tricky business to say the least, but it is being done now and again with Supras, Skylines and other Japanese "Jing-Jing"-cars.
However, a Australian Ute does not, to my knowledge, exist in the Swedish Registry Database and I feel up for the challenge :boxing:. If it were to be done, a fair few heads wold turn, more than once.
I have discussed the whole idea with the Swedish Department of Transportation, the Registration Office, the Holden customer service in Australia and a few aftermarket shops both in the USA and Australia.
For the car to pass the registration process certain (read a lot!) criteria need to be met. And for this I need information and so far I have only received bits and pieces from the above parties.
Instead I turn to you, dear Holden drivers, for assistance.
The planed import is a 2008-2010 Holden SSV (VE) UTE (I'll discuss he 2008-2010 choice in depth later on).
Question 1:
Some of the criteria is that it has to be totally, to the bone, stock equipment. Another criteria is the exhaust system and this is where I need your help.
What type of catalytic converter are used on these cars? Are they 2-way or 3-way catalytic converters?
Question 2:
Headlights. RHD cars and LHD traffic do not mix very well and would result in total chaos and crashing in the opposite lane due to blinding as I believe you use RHD ECE style headlights in Australia right?
Source: http://www.retrofitlab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DOT-ECE-cutoff.jpg
To my knowledge there are no manufacturers of LHD ECE style headlight that fit a 2008-2010 Holden Ute.
However, the American Pontiac G8 (which is truthfully a Holden VE Commodore) are a perfect match mechanically, but do they work the same in the electrical sense? (Apart from the fact that they have American DOT-style lighting). No bulbs doing several tasks? (I realize that is a tricky question)
Question 3:
Tail lights. I suspect that Australian standards are more like European than they are American when it comes to layout, colors and function of the tail lights?
* Daytime running lights in red,
* Braking lights in red,
* Separate bulb for turning signals in either orange bulb or behind orange glass/plastic
* Rear fog lights
* Reg.plate lights
That will have to do for now.
I truly thank you for taking the time to read through and possibly answer one or more of my questions!
Best Regards
Nick form Sweden
