How hard would it be to register this?

Hi all, Im new to the forum, I had a HQ Sandman many years ago along with a 2 custom wagons, I was also a member of the old Wagons United club here in Victoria.

Anyway was looking for a van project and come across this on car sales































and here is the blurb:

Brief Comments One of a kind custom wagon, real head turner, been garaged for the last four years, regrettable sale

Comments1976 HJ Holden Panel van/Wagon chop-top custom, excellent condition, been garaged for four years after new 2 pac aqua paint, customized carpet and valour interior with matching GTS dash and steering wheel, GTS front guards, customized Chev S10 mags, stock 253 V8 engine with painted engine bay and triple core radiator, T-bar auto trans, stock GU4 rear axle, Twin gas strut rear one piece tailgate, was bought straight out of the muscle car show in 94 and was a much loved surf cruiser for ten years until garaged and 202 and M20 replaced with 253 and T bar auto trans and resprayed over a couple of years then entered into the 2008 wagon and panel van easternats at Geelong winning best smooth custom and then garaged since, would suit wagon club enthusiast or any holden or custom car fan. Does not come with rego and roadworthy or custom engineering papers!



So my question is by the look of the number plates it has full rego in Victoria, but probably as a stock standard wagon, if i have to get a RWC for it will I also have to supply an engineers certificate for the mods? Do these mods need engineering?

I appreciate any advice on this
Thanks Grant

I have to admit I do like it but the engine bay does let it down but that can be soon soughted out,the first thing I would do if not sure mate is contact the RTA in VIC and have a talk to an engineer before forking out on the ready's mate.

Regards Tony.

"leave em"wanting more!

i think you might find it's originally a ute

strange that its a show car but wont come with RWC

If it was originally a wagon it'd be easier, because all you'd need to do is remove the rear seat belts and seat after they welded up the rear doors.......job done.

But looking at the floor ribbing it may have been a van, in which case it'd have a full chassis and should engineer easily, there was a heap of convertible utes running around that started as vans, they've at least put a roof back on this!

The main issues would be, the quality of the workmanship, who does your inspection and your state laws regarding mods. As we've all discussed on here before the rules vary from state to state.

Cheers Rob

If it was based on a ute or van then it will be much easier than if it was a wagon with a roof chop. I looked at doing this in QLD to a VG Safari wag and like Rob said it was simply a matter of removing the rear seat and belts and reducing the seating capacity to 2 or 3 depending on your choice of front seats.

Would look cool with a tidy up

Simo

my i think it started life as a ute or a van i think this cos of the fule filler if it was a wagon to start the filler would be further back as well as the ribs in the floor lean me towards ute

but the roof looks wrong
not ugly wrong just not right i cant work out what it came off

but as far as en-ger-mar-ner-ing it you would have to have a VERY close look at it and find out all the pices to the puzzel and see how well thay all fit but if hes not selling it with RW theres probly a reason why

Great detective work spotting the filler position and ribbed floor, im leaning towards a ute / van conversion, probably a ute as therer would be less roof work to do.

So if the rear ( behind the seats ) part of a ute is tampered with or removed would you need engineering? In theory its no different to a van setup although a vans full length rood would add strength..... not that you need it with a full chasis?

Grunt wrote:Great detective work spotting the filler position and ribbed floor, im leaning towards a ute / van conversion, probably a ute as therer would be less roof work to do.

Be easier to do a van, as you stated dont need to remove behind the seats and also wouldnt need to weld up tarp clip holes.

what about the seat belts position?
was there a difference between the utes and vans ?

or how about just ringing the chap selling it get some info ring the local RTA and find out how many hops you will have to jump though to get it on the road