Sedan Swap meet rant and Rave

[oz_toffa]

hey everyone
Got up early today to head of to Sedan in SA, down near the Murray River, for a Swap Meet.
did the usual wandering around and met back up with my mate part way around the oval.
"Did you find or speak to the owner of the Bellett?" I ask him.
"What Bellett" he replies.
"The one just over there." I said, pointing it out.



We hunt high and low and scrounge thru box after box looking for the Bellett parts and no one notices the whole car sitting there.
A quite tidy Auto white 67 Sedan, Member of the Murraylands Car Club.

think its the first time I have seen a non-member of the SA clan or Bellett.net car at a show!

didn't manage to meet the owner. another day

OZ

[Retroasted]

Good to hear there are more out there

[pa_man]

Dave Knows him (no surprise there) and he will be at the Nats
Josh

[oz_toffa]

Dave knows everyone with an Isuzu except OzLuvtrucker's mate from Qld who did off with one of our Florian's

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

too many contacts, has he!

didn't see him at Sedan today but I was still asleep too

[dave]

Hey guys,

I worked the SMASA Historic Rego Inspection Day. Great day at the Shannons office seeing all these cool restored/original cars grumble in and out!

Lucky they had me on hand too, as they had to photocopy nearly everybody's paperwork (nobody brought copies; myself included) and clubs can't access the office area without a staff member handy.

They must have looked at about 90-100 cars over the course of the day; the carpark was usually packed!

There have been some changes to the rego scheme; you need to bring a stat-dec now stating the car is still standard (annoying) and they 'need' to inspect the car every year. I argued that really, they only need to inspect it every logbook renewal (3 yrs), especially given you've just literally signed a legally-binding affidavit stating the car is standard. I think they kinda take it on a case by case basis... a guy with 10 modified Holden V8s and one standard one might be tempted to chrome up his stocky or swap his mags around.

The Belletts are an unknown, so if we did stick a different carb on there, they're not likely to notice anyway! Not that I would flout the rules; the GTR has non-standard air filters on it, and that's only because the original doesn't fit thanks to the wrong-model brake booster (or the right model brake-booster and my car's not a GTR; whichever way floats your boat).

They also decided to stop charging the $60.00 initial inspection fee (this was arbitrary it seems; I've never been charged and I'm not exactly the most active member of the club - poor Colt Craig has been charged every time for 3 cars!!!); instead they have introduced a $20.00 annual inspection fee. Ok, but that's PER CAR, which brought my fees up from $50.00 to suddenly $50 + $80.00!!!!

The committee were on hand and admitted they didn't think of people with (and I quote!!) 63 cars (I don't really have this many). So I suggested how about $20.00 for one car, then $5.00 per additional car. There was some too-ing and fro-ing amongst the committee members (of which I am not one, I should clarify) as to whether it should be $5.00 or $10.00, then they settled on $5.00 (whew) and the deal was done.

All a big hassle, but still a LOT better than paying $700+ per year, per car for rego, plus the associated insurance cost (Shannons Insurance do an excellent rate on historic rego'd cars).

But man; what a great day! I didn't take too many photos as I'm not sure if it's the done thing at a thing like that, but I did see a VB Commodore SLE with only 31,000ks on it. I don't get too excited about old Commodores, but my GOD this thing was sweet! Triple-tone green too!

As for Sedan; I spoke with Laurie the Auto Man a few days before. He's the fella who met up with us at Mannum a year or so ago when we cruised down that way. Nice guy but not across computers at all. I posted him some entry stuff and he rung to say he's booked into the caravan park for Friday and Saturday and is stoked to be involved. He will not be coming on the Bay to Birdwood though as he has something else on.

Cheers guys!


Dave

[gt orphanage]

I find it strange that they are changing the rules down there as last I heard they are trying to make the rules nation wide We are lucky here as it does not have to be stock, I think our driving restrictions as to when you can drive them is more limited.
I suppose something has to be a little positive in qld car scene they just revamped it, any excuse to impound cars after 3 times off to the crushers. The upside here is we are the police contractor here so this improves our income but it does not mean I totally agree with it. my theory is the third time torch it why should someone else have the fun in destroying history.
It's going further than hooning also.

[dave]

I certainly don't abide by the 'crush it' rule, as that could take some very interesting cars off the road forever!

Perhaps it should be "auction it with a restriction that the previous owner cannot buy it".

Alternatively, sell it as a wreck only, never to be re-registered. At least this means the parts can be used!

Crushing it just reeks.

As far as club regos go, the Vics now have the best system!

45 or 90 days per year, whenever you want, wherever you want! Modified or standard!

Personally, I prefer our current system to those in Qld or NSW, simply because I can drive my cars when I want. I've driven the GTR heaps; have a baby seat in it and everything, and I haven't got close to hitting 90 days so far. Plus I can use my Wasp to cart stuff to the dump!!!!

I guess it also made me buy the GTR (assuming it is one...). The white GT I had was so far from standard with the G200 EFI in it; I was never gonna club rego it here, so the decision to buy the GTR with the (correct) theory that I could club rego it will eventually pay for the difference I paid in the vehicles! The changeover wasn't that bad and with the club rego at $140/yr plus about $100-something insurance, it will pay off vs $750ish/year and ltd or extreme limited use insurance! And although it needs work... well so did the white GT (which I sold to a sucker... Gav....)

Anyway, if they do nationalise it, my God I hope it's the Vic version and nobody elses!

My 2c worth!

Cheers,


Dave

[Farmer]

I couldn't agree more Dave. Crushing good cars is as bad as dying and not letting anyone have your organs!

The NSW system is a bit restrictive, but it is cheap at $50/yr. It too is for unmodified cars, but each club can write in some acceptable mods. Our local club allows any version of the original motor, for example, a 202 red in an EH.
I have to say I like the Vic permit system as I could have 4 cars on permits and drive them every day of the year! (90 days/ea x 4 = 360 days, oh well 5 days in the Sube ain't so bad )

As long as we have some way to use our old cars a bit without too much cost, I'm happy.

Cheers, Matt.

[gt orphanage]

We have some loop holes but we have 2 cars on full rego for when we get the urge but that is only twice a year. Patches is out today the first time since motorfest in july 2012 for a car show Liz has some desire to drive it tomorrow. 1st time driving a manual since the biffo. She promised she will keep it off the wall .

Dave you seem to be hung up on wether your car is a GTR or not what does it matter it's your car you love it and who is going to know for sure anyway. Its the only masked grill pr91 in Australia . My yellow gt is a gtr themed yellow gt the only one of its kind in Australia, themed means a half ass attempt for the real replica, But it is a gt well most of it but I love it to bits.
As far as you wanting to know for sure if its the read deal you could try and get the shockren info from Japan this will confirm. I have been told what to look for I must admit I am keen to have a look but I don't have to tell anyone including yourself and it still will not be 100% accurate either. Just my opinion based on knowledge passed on to myself.
My advise love it for what it is and you think it's a real R treat it like 1.

[Glenn]

We have some loop holes but we have 2 cars on full rego for when we get the urge but that is only twice a year. Patches is out today the first time since motorfest in july 2012 for a car show Liz has some desire to drive it tomorrow. 1st time driving a manual since the biffo. She promised she will keep it off the wall .

Dave you seem to be hung up on wether your car is a GTR or not what does it matter it's your car you love it and who is going to know for sure anyway. Its the only masked grill pr91 in Australia . My yellow gt is a gtr themed yellow gt the only one of its kind in Australia, themed means a half ass attempt for the real replica, But it is a gt well most of it but I love it to bits.
As far as you wanting to know for sure if its the read deal you could try and get the shockren info from Japan this will confirm. I have been told what to look for I must admit I am keen to have a look but I don't have to tell anyone including yourself and it still will not be 100% accurate either. Just my opinion based on knowledge passed on to myself.
My advise love it for what it is and you think it's a real R treat it like 1.

My understanding of the shockren info is it's the 'rego' certifiicate. I have these for the 2 Sports and it really tells you little, just the Body number and a few other details. I don't really know, but I doubt it would actually identify a GTR as such ? Unless the old issue of the "W" is true and it shows that also.
I would assume that Dave would have this shockren info anyway as i think it's required for the import process.


glenn

[gt orphanage]

Glenn there is a overall length of the car on the shockren papers this will identify the gtr as they are 10 mm longer.
FYI I posted on the GTR thread on the forum a explanation how it was described to me how it worked basicly the car was known on the production line as a w model there is a few differences in the shell and the w was indicated the car was to receive a w engine i.e twin cam. there was never a w stamped from factory the Japanese explained some individuals stamped them but this caused shockren issues.

[Stickman]

My advise love it for what it is and you think it's a real R treat it like 1.

Donkey 'IS!' my GTR and there ain't no frigin' human of the face of God's green earth that will ever convince me otherwise!
Dave mate, I LOVE your masked GTR....... and YES IT IS

[gt orphanage]

Wait until he gets his new hips and ankles from donkey to race horse .
I have a email for you Geoff pm me your email so I can forward it to you.

[Glenn]

Glenn there is a overall length of the car on the shockren papers this will identify the gtr as they are 10 mm longer.
FYI I posted on the GTR thread on the forum a explanation how it was described to me how it worked basicly the car was known on the production line as a w model there is a few differences in the shell and the w was indicated the car was to receive a w engine i.e twin cam. there was never a w stamped from factory the Japanese explained some individuals stamped them but this caused shockren issues.

Why is the GTR longer. One would assume rear bumper is the same. That only leaves the front bumpers and fog lights to be different which they are. And easily duplicated. Or am I missing something?

[Glenn]

Glenn there is a overall length of the car on the shockren papers this will identify the gtr as they are 10 mm longer.
FYI I posted on the GTR thread on the forum a explanation how it was described to me how it worked basicly the car was known on the production line as a w model there is a few differences in the shell and the w was indicated the car was to receive a w engine i.e twin cam. there was never a w stamped from factory the Japanese explained some individuals stamped them but this caused shockren issues.

Why is the GTR longer. One would assume rear bumper is the same. That only leaves the front bumpers and fog lights to be different which they are. And easily duplicated. Or am I missing something?

[gt orphanage]

The fog lights are what makes it longer. The point is shockren papers go back to the day it was first registered and if you swap to the front to gtr style the paperwork does not change. I believe the gt is 4000mm gtr4010 I am only passing on what I was told.

[dave]

Dave you seem to be hung up on wether your car is a GTR or not what does it matter it's your car you love it and who is going to know for sure anyway. Its the only masked grill pr91 in Australia

Nah, not hung up at all; I did the research and I know what it is.

I'm interested to get the papers though, more to vindicate my research than try to prove anything. However, if the papers confirm that it's not, then I won't mind too much as I didn't pay GTR-levels of money for it. I think probably because there was no way it was going thru one of those Japanese roadworthies any time soon, rather than it being a fakey.

So far as I can tell, it's really only the brake booster that is wrong, and therefore the air filter. Oh and the brand of spotlights.

I was told that all the GT bodies were stamped early and stockpiled (like they did with the HQ-HX Monaros) but I'm not sure that pans out; later bodies like Geoff's were stamped PR95 as they were 1800s, yet mine was still stamped PR91 and has a very, very late body number.

The spacing of the rear valance panel supports is different to the earlier models (same as Geoff's though) to take the big square tail lights; it's not like they would have cut those supports out and re-welded them when they re-designed the tail lights.

I was also told GTR mirrors are supposed to be black, that may be true for the 1970-model, but I have brochures showing the same grey mirrors on the GTRs that you'll find on my car.

I was also told the GTRs all have an engine number starting with 100... but if they made 1300+ GTRs, and the engine numbers are all 6-digits, then really only the first 999 GTRs can have a 100-engine number. My engine number is 101268... so is it the 1268th car?

Hey sorry I digress; I'm not out to prove it... ok I guess I am a little bit. I guess I'm just putting the facts out there and people who are hung up on it can make their own decision!

There are plenty of nicer GTs around than mine but it is what it is... an awesome way to fly!

[Stickman]

There are plenty of nicer GTs around than mine but it is what it is... an awesome way to fly!

Amen to that

[gt orphanage]

They are all nice some have just had more money sunk into them