[elky] Re: The new El Camino, (Shrimp on the Barbie style)

Yeah, they're RHD.  But that's never really prohibited cars from being imported at a personal level.  The problem is that when a non-EPA and OSHA conforming vehicle is brought into the country, it's impounded until one of a very small number of federally-licensed inspectors can look it over...and with a little luck and the moon in the 2nd house (thanks for the reminder of that old phrase, Fuzzy) it can be declared kosher uhhh...approved.  It's a very costly and slow process.  Ohh....I forgot.  There are only a few customs impound areas where the imported vehicle can be stored and that ain't cheap, either.  And if said inspector happens to give it a "thumbs-down" the vehicle can only be shipped back to the country of origin or confiscated by the customs bureau. 

I looked into this when I heard of Mexican Monte Carlo SSs with 350s and 4-speed manual transmissions.  I really wanted to get my hands on one.  But the logistics of doing it legally was a nightmare and the possibility of getting caught smuggling didn't appeal to me.

As far as GM bringing vehicles in, they'd have to be LHD, and meet all of the nanny regulations (just like Toyota, yanno?) including crash-testing and a buncha other shit. Pontiac seemed to feel it was worth it, but the reason for not bringing Utes into the country was postulated to be the fact that it would cut into saled of pickups which have a higher profit margin that sedans.

Take it with a grain of salt.  I don't have any data to back it up, but that was the gist of numerous discussions a few years ago when the Holden Maloo was released.  I've attached some really low quality images of the Maloo.  The Superbird spoiler is a bit over the top, but it seemed to be in keeping with the time at which it was released.  Ohh...I think they were 350 V8s with manual transmissions available.  At that time I could have afforded one.  I can't now. :(

This is a 1990 version



and these are 1999s.

 


I could have lived with that red one very nicely.

r

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Remind me again why a guy can't just import one of these? Are they right hand drive? Is the emission system not up to US standard? This vehicle seems like a no brainer to me. They are already making it for goodness sake.

JC

133d0d2310

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John Christensen
1984 El Camino "Elkenstein" 350 TBI
NECOA #042 http://www.myelcamino.net
Saint Charles, IL

133d0d2310

On Tue, Mar 2, 2010 at 9:36 AM, Ray Buck <rbuck@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

How about the Aussie Holden Ute?
http://www.holden.com.au/vehicles/Ute/SS-V-Series 

This is the top of the line with a 6 liter (364 cid), 362hp pushrod V8.  It can be ordered with a 6-speed manual trans (presumably a T-56) or a 6-speed auto with Active Select (sequential shifter, also known as Tiptronic...I remember that from VWs back in the late 60s)...and a gorgeous orange color called Wildfire Metallic.  (sigh.)

The "lower level" Utes get a DOHC V6 with the same transmissions.
http://www.holden.com.au/vehicles/Ute/SV6

Then there's the Omega model (DOHC V6 with 4-speed auto) that can be ordered as a "Dual-Fuel" package that runs "petrol" or LPG.
http://www.holden.com.au/vehicles/Ute/Omega-LPG

Why don't we get stuff like that here?  (bitch, moan, whine.)

r

Sent from my Dreadnought using that gawdawful Thunderbird email program

On 2/28/2010 7:01 PM, CTSVMONGO wrote:

Thought you might like to see this… not sure if you have seen one of these but they were everywhere in mexico, I am pretty sure (cant remember what makers for sure ) nissan and Renault had similar (nearly identical) versions of this.

 

Ford had 4 door rangers

 

Chevy had several very small cars there-

 

http://www.chevrolet.com.mx/content_data/LAAM/MX/es/GMMGM/showroom/chevrolet/modelos/tornado/colores.html

 

Not the GTO version for sure, its more of the size of an Aveo