I bought my Escort RS Cosworth from a bloke who brought it in under the personal import scheme.
Before buying the car, I looked at the option of bringing one over myself and having it complianced, to get a good idea of landed value of these vehicles.
The import requirements are Commonwealth requirements. Registration is under state requirements. Modifications rules are similar Australia wide with some individual state rules.
Mine passed through compliance with 3" exhaust, cone filter, GGR chip, 18x8's, and morretes.
Talking to the government department is a waste of time, better off talking to the companies the government has authorised to comply vehicles.
Here's some links to places that can provide the service.
If you own the car already, then the Personal Import process is the way to go. Better tax wise as far as I know.
http://www.j-spec.com.au/info/Personal-imports
If you import one that you don't own, then it will be under the SEVS scheme.
http://www.j-spec.com.au/wiki/Ford/E...osworth/id-182
j-spec quoted me a lot less than chalker.
http://www.chalker.com.au/compliancing%20-%20RAWS.htm
Or you could buy one that is already here.
http://www.chalker.com.au/For%20Sale.htm
You have not said where you will be moving to in Australia, It would be easiest to deal with a RAWS compliance service in that state.
You need to contact compliance companies and tell them you have a 1992 ford escort rs cosworth, what mods are done, and ask about personal import vs SEVS for your circumstances.
Aussie customs don't want dirt and other contaminants risking our eco-system, hence some of the odd requirements.
My car has a 'mod plate' on it for one of the mods to the car. Modifications can be done here to an extent. Some do not require a 'mod plate', some do. If a modification requires a mod plate then certification is done by state sanctioned companies who issue a blue rectangular ally plate with numbers stamped on it. Typically the plate goes in the engine bay somewhere.
Where people get grief from police, is when having mods that require certification, but no mod plate on the vehicle.
1. Changing/adding forced inductions - Changing I believe you are allowed one mod to the intake, but all plumbing must remain stock. Adding FI I think will kill emissions and therefore be unroadworthy. Any serious hp mod will require an engineers cert
I also have a 1972 Mk1 Escort, it's allowed a turbo, EFI etc. etc. so long as I get certification and fit the mod plate.
Talk to the import certifier about your mods. I don't think there is any 1 mod rule.
2. Running with/without a catalytic convertor (emissions) - Thats a no no.
Did the 92 EsCos have a catalytic from the factory ?
3. suspension, shocks, springs, coilovers, sway bars, end links etc...any height restrictions - Springs/shocks are free for all. Minimum height of any part of the car is 100mm. They have a 100mm cube and pass it under the car. If it hits anything you fail
Not quite. If the car is under 100mm clearance from the factory then it's OK. If it's under 100mm at the axle line then it may not fail either. Mine is under just 100mm at the front crossmember and arrived here that way.
4. Exhaust (sound/size restrictions?) - There is a noise level. Don't know what is is
90Db last I looked.
5. ECU modifications - None, under any circumstances.
Another one of those state based mod plate certification requirements.
6. Brakes - Apart from pads and fluid an engineers cert is required.
Rotors of the same size and mounting are fine. Once different rotors and callipers are done, then state level mod plate is required.
7. Body kits (including widebody and cutting of stock fenders) - Not sure. I think go for it
Some mods are allowed, but what would you really want to change on an EsCos.
8. tire/wheel change restrictions! - 25mm increase in wheel size in either direction
Wheel regs have changed many times over the years. Currently, any width that fits under the fenders and keeps the track within 25mm of OEM is OK. This equates to up to 12.5mm difference in wheel offset from the factory offset. Overall diameter allowance used to be +-10%, now it's 15mm or something. I don't know if the 15mm is retrospective or not.
The LHD requirements have been relaxed recently.
Here is a link to my state governments requirements.
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Veh...fications.aspx
From a governance standpoint, we are over governed by wowsers. We have our selves to blame for being to chilled out and not marching in the streets demanding change. Meanwhile the wowsers moan endlessly about modified cars.