This is my current collection of Aussie Holdens. From left to right: 1973 HQ Monaro GTS, 1976 LX Torana Hatchback, 1973 HQ Ute.
Something of an annual event in May for me now is the Lane Automotive Open Header Cruise. Last year Bill and I cruised in the Ute, this year Bill was busy with his sons racing activities at Hartford Speedway, so Tom and I did it with the Torana. On the Friday before their carshow, Lanes hosts a cruise from Coloma to Watervliet where you can run open exhausts and slicks if you want. These pics from Lanes website.
Question: How long does it take and what does it cost to import a quarter panel from Australia to the US?
Answer: 8 months and $1300, not including the cost of the panel itself. Of course 6 months of that was spent brow-beating the guy I bought it from to get his ass into gear to make the crate and drop it at the docks.
The crate was ultimately delivered to a bonded warehouse on the west side of Ohare Airport in Chicago. I hooked up the trailer to the back of Nicoles mommy-mobile and did the 350 mile round trip yesterday to pick it up. Would I do it again? Probably not.
