TIL

"Where have all the lightweights gone?" (sniderjadam09)
07/13/2017 at 16:29 • Filed to: Wagon, Chevy SS, Holden, aussie car

Not only are there two companies selling road-legal utes in the USA, but they also do wagon conversions, too!

I knew about !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in Colorado, but when asking about wagon conversions, they recommended me to another place in Arizona: Holden Utes USA.

I was in some sticker shock when they told me the price on converting a G8/Caprice/SS to a wagon, but I instantly fell in love with the result!

DISCUSSION (31)

gawdzillla > Where have all the lightweights gone?
07/13/2017 at 16:34

link to their site ?

xyzabc > Where have all the lightweights gone?
07/13/2017 at 16:37

Just get a well-cared for CTS-V Wagon. Likely less expensive / less hassle.

Plus the body panel paint will match better.

Dsscats > Where have all the lightweights gone?
07/13/2017 at 16:39

Note that neither of these companies actually make the cars US legal

Future next gen S2000 owner > Dsscats
07/13/2017 at 16:45

Lol. Wut?

syaieya > Where have all the lightweights gone?
07/13/2017 at 16:45

Theres been a few forbidden or just flat rare cars ive wondered how this would turn out for. Maybe not gm based and i always worry how theyll crash.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > Dsscats
07/13/2017 at 16:50

Doug did an article on left hand utes. They actually give them a new VIN, making them legal. Not that it is a cheap process though

http://lefthandutes.com/about.html

Dsscats > Future next gen S2000 owner
07/13/2017 at 16:56

What? It’s true, the cars aren’t NHTSA or EPA certified/legal

Dsscats > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By
07/13/2017 at 16:57

If it was actually made to be US legal, it should have the original VIN

crowmolly > Dsscats
07/13/2017 at 17:03

Not necessarily.

Most of the utes we have converted get insurance through. places like Chrome, Grundy or Hagerty. They insure them like a kit car or hot rod.

This line leads me to believe they are registered as kit cars, not as Holdens or Chevrolets.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > Dsscats
07/13/2017 at 17:09

EPA legal. Read their about page. Cars come with a clean colorado title. Kits cars more than likely.

As far as I understand. The are their own manufacturer. Therefore, the new VIN.

Quote from their page

“They all come with a clean clear Colorado title, and will pass emissions in all 50 states”

Matsayz > Where have all the lightweights gone?
07/13/2017 at 17:20

Kinja'd!!!

$65k

Dsscats > crowmolly
07/13/2017 at 17:31

Yeah, that’s not legal.

Dsscats > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By
07/13/2017 at 17:32

Its a regular production car. If its a production car, it shouldn’t be registered as a kit car...

Title doesn’t mean anything. They say its EPA legal, the EPA hasn’t certified anything of theirs. They are not their own manufacturer. Passing emissionslegal.

crowmolly > Dsscats
07/13/2017 at 17:34

Why not? How is this any different than a replica Cobra built from South African parts?

CaptDale - is secretly British > Dsscats
07/13/2017 at 17:41

THEY ARE NOT IMPORTING CARS! They take US spec vehicle and make Utes and Wagons. I could take my 06 GTO and have it turned into a Maloo if I wanted.

Are you able to convert a G8 or GTO into a wagon instead of a ute?

Yes, we can do the VY,VZ,VE,VF wagons

They only import the bodies and use US spec cars and parts to make their little creation. It would be like making your own hot rod at home and registering it which happens all the time. These are real cars that can 100% be use in the US of A

More info via Jalopnik article

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > Dsscats
07/13/2017 at 17:42

Then how is it illegal? If you have the proper title. The parts were imported. Uses us parts were legally required (i.e kit cars). As far as the dmv is concerned they are no longer chevys or holdens

They use emissions approved engines, and make their cars follow the legal requirements for the US. Such as head light laws.

Show me proof that’s it’s illegal. These guys are running an advertised business making kit cars. Don’t you think they would be shut down if anything they were doing was illegal? Simply claiming your right doesn’t make it so.

DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By > CaptDale - is secretly British
07/13/2017 at 17:44

Bingo!

AfromanGTO > Where have all the lightweights gone?
07/13/2017 at 19:01

I know the guy who converts them. I recognized the wagon instantly. I saw a pic of it a few days ago, and it’s dirty.

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British
07/13/2017 at 19:02

Exactly.

Dsscats > CaptDale - is secretly British
07/13/2017 at 20:04

No, in legal terms in the eyes of the NHTSA they are importing cars. Taking parts off of a car and shipping it here doesn’t make it any less of a car in the NHTSA’s eyes, and they aren’t just converting an existing US spec car. You can’t just say that an already existing production car is a kit car and have it be “legal”

Dsscats > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By
07/13/2017 at 20:07

Kit cars are manufactured VIN-less, not pre-built by a manufacturer. They take an already built full car, disassemble it, then say it’s a kit car. Not legal. What the DMV thinks doesn’t matter, what the NHTSA/EPA thinks does. I could throw emissions approved engines and US safety things such as headlights on an R34 GTR, still wouldn’t make it US legal.

Don’t you think drug dealers would be shut down if what they were doing is illegal? I’m not claiming I’m right with no experience, I have worked on and off for a shop that imports cars for 3 years...

Dsscats > crowmolly
07/13/2017 at 20:09

A replica Cobra is built with the intention of being a kit car. It was sold new as parts to be assembled by a customer or shop. A Holden was already sold new as a complete car, manufactured by a real automotive company, not meeting US standards and being an actual production car. Stripping off parts from a production car (the engine) doesn’t make it any less of a production car. Also note that a kit car isn’t sold with a VIN, where as a Ute is.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Dsscats
07/13/2017 at 20:13

Well apparently you are wrong because they do it and the governments allow it. That being said I could take the pan of a 1963 VW Beetle and put everything from my GTO on it and you know what it would be registered as in the eyes of CA? A 1963 VW Beetle. That is because the pan is what they recognize as the vehicle in a 1963 Beetle and as long as CA DMV inspectors agrees then is it a legal vehicle.

It is the same idea. I don’t understand why your panties are in such a bunch right now. They should be dropping to own a “real” Holden.

Dsscats > DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By
07/13/2017 at 20:15

https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/kit-car-policy

Note item #4

Dsscats > CaptDale - is secretly British
07/13/2017 at 20:23

You’re proving my point further. That 63 Beetle would still legally be considered a 63 Beetle no matter what you put on the chassis, just like a Holden Ute is still legally a Holden Ute no matter how many GTO parts you put on it.

My panties are in a bunch because I hate it when people blatantly lie about what they’re doing and people actually believe me. There are dozens of LHDUtes customer out there who have been fooled by their bullshit into believing their cars are legal and paid a stupid premium because of it when in reality that’s just not true. I could happily own a real Holden, RHD, and registered properly as a Holden Ute within 2 months if I wanted to.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Dsscats
07/13/2017 at 20:26

Hmm, well as far as their site goes it sounded more like they take US spec vehicles and convert them with the imported body which then would be my beetle case, but legal. If it is the other way around then you are right.

Thus making emissions testing unnecessary if they leave all the drivetrain alone., because it was all passed already in that form by GM and the EPA.

Dsscats > CaptDale - is secretly British
07/13/2017 at 20:30

They don’t. What they do is ship the shells in and throw US-spec parts on them. The owner Randy thinks that makes them US legal because they MAY meet EPA and NHTSA specs, but that doesn’t matter when 1. It hasn’t been converted by a registered importer and 2. It hasn’t been actually acknowledged or certified by either branch.

I’m genuinely not being a dick towards his work, its some really cool stuff, I’m just sick of seeing people believe all the bullshit that he spouts when it isn’t true. Ask him a copy of the bond release on any of his Utes, I guarantee he won’t be able to produce it. Have the NHTSA and I bet you they won’t have the VIN on file.

random001 > Where have all the lightweights gone?
07/14/2017 at 07:48

Hey GM, you want to see the SS? Because THAT’S how you sell the SS!

Where have all the lightweights gone? > AfromanGTO
07/14/2017 at 09:44

It’s dirty in that pic, too!

CaptDale - is secretly British > Dsscats
07/14/2017 at 11:41

Well that is both interesting and highly disappointing

AfromanGTO > Where have all the lightweights gone?
07/14/2017 at 20:20

Not as bad as the pic on the lift. lol