Australian Delivered Chevelle

[Damien]

Found this ad recently.
Whilst not necessarily commonplace, there were some Australian delivered, new U.S. cars sold by dealers here in the '60's and early '70's. All were converted to RHD locally before sale.
I wonder where this Chevelle is now!

[Postsedan]

Very cool.

Where is this ‘70 Chevelle today?

Dan

[Mr70]

This car was talked about before,thought it was known by someone on TC.
A few discrepancies like the 325HP engine & the flipped color combo description.

[67since67]

In 1970 while on R&R in Australia I happened across a storefront in the Kings Cross area of Sydney, large enough for 4 cars. 2 L34 SS Chevelles, an L34 El Camino and a Firebird. All were A/T, buckets and console and had been converted to RH drive. I don't remember numbers, but the prices were shocking, like 50-100% more than U.S. MSRPs.

Out on the street I saw a '69 Camaro pace car with a large sign on the back panel stating "LEFT HAND DRIVE". I was told by a local that was mandatory.

Something that seemed odd to me and totally un-cool was Ford Falcon FOUR DOORS running around with jacked up rears, mags with big rubber and noisey, rumpy exhaust. Four door hot-rods??:hmmm:

Bill W

[Postsedan]

Bill,

Thanks for sharing, great memories:)

Dan

[442w30]

That font looks quite contemporary for 1970.

[Lee Stewart]

https://i.postimg.cc/5NDsj2N3/1969-Shelby-GT350.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/SQvrtx8h/1969-Shelby-GT350-interior.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

First 1969 Shelby GT350 (a convertible) is RHD

[Lee Stewart]

https://i.postimg.cc/nzwv53Xk/ebay619606.jpg (https://postimages.cc/)

https://i.postimg.cc/zfxWbxFr/m-g.jpg (https://postimages.cc/)

https://i.postimg.cc/13ZdRrHB/ut.jpg (https://postimages.cc/)

1968 Camaro "Right Hand Drive" RS/SS 396 Convertible

[Postsedan]

It would be fun to drive a right hand drive Classic ��

Dan

[Damien]

In 1970 while on R&R in Australia I happened across a storefront in the Kings Cross area of Sydney, large enough for 4 cars. 2 L34 SS Chevelles, an L34 El Camino and a Firebird. All were A/T, buckets and console and had been converted to RH drive. I don't remember numbers, but the prices were shocking, like 50-100% more than U.S. MSRPs.

Out on the street I saw a '69 Camaro pace car with a large sign on the back panel stating "LEFT HAND DRIVE". I was told by a local that was mandatory.

Something that seemed odd to me and totally un-cool was Ford Falcon FOUR DOORS running around with jacked up rears, mags with big rubber and noisey, rumpy exhaust. Four door hot-rods??:hmmm:

Bill W


Thankfully no requirement for RHD conversion anymore or the LHD signage.
Lot's of 4 door modified cars down here. There were many 4 door performance models released with the Falcon GT probably the most prominent but also the Monaro and Torana very popular.
The 4 door sedan has been very successful in saloon racing here as well.

[67since67]

It would be fun to drive a right hand drive Classic ��

Dan

Especially a 4 speed! Banging 3rd gear could be a little tricky?! :3gears:

[6pakdave]

There ís a good chance that is my Chevelle.

My Chevelle is also originally that colour combo of Astro blue,white painted top and pearl trim. I also have the build sheet to confirm the options being. p/s tilt & p/w,console,timted glass and no D88 stripe. I know it was delivered to OZ new but the build sheet does not state an Australian dealer or export only .

Where did you find the add Damo? Great find, as from my research during the past 30 years of ownership, I found that 4 were imported all being L34/TH400 cars

cheers Dave

[Damien]

Hey Dave.
Good to hear from you.
The ad was posted on one of the Australian Facebook pages that is for vintage Australian dealer advertisements.


I'll get the info for you and shoot you a pm when I get home.

[Postsedan]

Very cool :)

Dan

[Postsedan]

Especially a 4 speed! Banging 3rd gear could be a little tricky?! :3gears:


Yeah, that would not be pretty....I would drive a right hand drive classic.....like Ryan Weaver drives a left hand drive classic, Yikes!

Dan

[6pakdave]

I presume it is a customer order and not dealer or "off the lot" car sale?
Not much I can see on the build sheet showing an Aust order through an Autralian dealer, so Im guessing the car was ordered directly through the Los dealer.

[442w30]

There ís a good chance that is my Chevelle.

Ordinarily, I'd suggest the image may have been part of a kit offered to dealers for ads placed in newspapers. But that prob wouldn't have been offered in Oz, so you may be onto something.

There's a similar two-tone car, with stripes, on this link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1677389095611174/

[6pakdave]

The chevelle in the add also looks to be rhd and avail for sale,so you'd be right about the dealer kit.

[Damien]

Some may have seen over the weekend that another Australian Dealer delivered Chevelle showed up on Facebook.
It is said to have been sold thru Sacks Holden in Sydney in 1970.
The guy found it after it has been sitting in a barn for around 20 years and then in the open shed you see in the pics for 4 or 5.
He paid the grand total of 11k AUD or about $7,700 USD in today's money!
Half his luck I say!

[Damien]

A couple more..

[Kurt S]

From what I know about export vehicles, GM didn't export them to Oz. But local Oz dealers did import a few. Hence the buildsheets note CA dealers, from which the Oz dealers bought them.

[Damien]

You are correct Kurt.

[TAR6569]

Guy on Facebook owns a 69 Impala 427/390hp 4spd with bucket seats/console that was shipped to Australia and converted around 1970 as I recall. Pretty amazing to see!

[Jonesy]

Wow that dark green Chevelle looks pretty nice.

[DW31S]

Yeah, that would not be pretty....I would drive a right hand drive classic.....like Ryan Weaver drives a left hand drive classic, Yikes!

Dan
Not a pretty sight! LOL Next we gotta teach the boy how to flatshift!!!

[Kurt S]

If you haven't driven a manual RHD, it's different. For the 1-2 shift LHD, you pull down and towards yourself. With a RHD 1-2, you pull down but away from you! Pulling towards you can get a 1-4 shift.
And it's hard to overcome learned habits - I've been in corners and try to downshift by grabbing the door handle. Oh yeah, use the left hand....

[Tracker1]

Thankfully no requirement for RHD conversion anymore or the LHD signage.
Lot's of 4 door modified cars down here. There were many 4 door performance models released with the Falcon GT probably the most prominent but also the Monaro and Torana very popular.
The 4 door sedan has been very successful in saloon racing here as well.

Yes Australians identified greatly with "real cars" being successfully raced in Saloon racing which has a rabid following there. 4-doors showed people that "their" cars could be cool, powerful race cars, leading to Monday sales once Sunday's races were over. It was an even more authentic version of the American "Stock" Car Racing with those extra door handles. :)

The sound and imagery of the old Australian Saloon racing films is as exciting to watch as the SCCA Trans Am racing from 1966-70 IMHO.

[Tracker1]

Pic