Why does my car have orange taillights
04-19-2014, 11:35 PM
#21
Instructor
I never was 100% sure on the rules, I have been here in the US for 12 years, actually 12 years today.
And I never had the opportunity to own an imported car when I lived in AU.
Obviously you have experience with the process, are any of your cars still LHD?
It was a little awkward to get used to when I came here, especially since my first car was a manual shift.
I would often reach for the door handle when I tried to shift.
And when I would go out to my car in the morning, I would often walk to the passenger side first - this one took about 4 years to completely get over...
And I never had the opportunity to own an imported car when I lived in AU.
Obviously you have experience with the process, are any of your cars still LHD?
It was a little awkward to get used to when I came here, especially since my first car was a manual shift.
I would often reach for the door handle when I tried to shift.
And when I would go out to my car in the morning, I would often walk to the passenger side first - this one took about 4 years to completely get over...
I couldn't find any nice late 80's LHD Vettes in this country so I bought my Vette in Florida 2 years ago and exported it to Oz.
My 71 Firebird is also LHD, I've owned that since 2003, again I wanted it LHD, took a while to find one in original condition.
My 77 T/A is RHD but it was LHD when I bought it back in 1989, however back then I had no choice but to convert it if I wanted to drive it legally. I've been seriously thinking about converting it back to LHD.
I thought that C4's that were export cars to Europe that were to be sold to citizens had a different design for the outside mirrors in addition to the orange turnsignals. IIRC, the mirrors were rectangular and mounted on a post. There was no aero housing like domestic C4's. I think that new Corvettes sold in Japan were also configured that way.
The various accessory catalogs carried a conversion kit that had two orange tail lamp assemblies and a conversion wiring harness. Could be that the OP's car has a kit like that.
Also check the RPO sticker that would be under the console lid. There are a number of codes that identify export cars to specific countries. These codes should start with the letter "C".
The various accessory catalogs carried a conversion kit that had two orange tail lamp assemblies and a conversion wiring harness. Could be that the OP's car has a kit like that.
Also check the RPO sticker that would be under the console lid. There are a number of codes that identify export cars to specific countries. These codes should start with the letter "C".
I believe the Euro tail lights also had to sit flush with the rear panel, instead of being recessed and I think the provision for the license plate was made wider to accommodate the longer Euro plates.
The Japanese export cars (and I think the Euro cars) also had additional square reflectors placed in line with the black body molding.
04-20-2014, 07:40 AM
#22
Yes my 88 Vette is LHD and I specifically wanted it LHD, I wasn't interested in buying a RHD converted car with the issues/compromises that can sometimes come with them.
I couldn't find any nice late 80's LHD Vettes in this country so I bought my Vette in Florida 2 years ago and exported it to Oz.
My 71 Firebird is also LHD, I've owned that since 2003, again I wanted it LHD, took a while to find one in original condition.
My 77 T/A is RHD but it was LHD when I bought it back in 1989, however back then I had no choice but to convert it if I wanted to drive it legally. I've been seriously thinking about converting it back to LHD.
c4cruiser, you're correct on the export version/differences for the C4 sold in Europe and Japan.
I believe the Euro tail lights also had to sit flush with the rear panel, instead of being recessed and I think the provision for the license plate was made wider to accommodate the longer Euro plates.
The Japanese export cars (and I think the Euro cars) also had additional square reflectors placed in line with the black body molding.
I couldn't find any nice late 80's LHD Vettes in this country so I bought my Vette in Florida 2 years ago and exported it to Oz.
My 71 Firebird is also LHD, I've owned that since 2003, again I wanted it LHD, took a while to find one in original condition.
My 77 T/A is RHD but it was LHD when I bought it back in 1989, however back then I had no choice but to convert it if I wanted to drive it legally. I've been seriously thinking about converting it back to LHD.
c4cruiser, you're correct on the export version/differences for the C4 sold in Europe and Japan.
I believe the Euro tail lights also had to sit flush with the rear panel, instead of being recessed and I think the provision for the license plate was made wider to accommodate the longer Euro plates.
The Japanese export cars (and I think the Euro cars) also had additional square reflectors placed in line with the black body molding.
Last edited by tunedport85inject; 04-20-2014 at 07:43 AM.
04-21-2014, 07:38 AM
#24
Racer
I never was 100% sure on the rules, I have been here in the US for 12 years, actually 12 years today.
And I never had the opportunity to own an imported car when I lived in AU.
Obviously you have experience with the process, are any of your cars still LHD?
It was a little awkward to get used to when I came here, especially since my first car was a manual shift.
I would often reach for the door handle when I tried to shift.
And when I would go out to my car in the morning, I would often walk to the passenger side first - this one took about 4 years to completely get over...
And I never had the opportunity to own an imported car when I lived in AU.
Obviously you have experience with the process, are any of your cars still LHD?
It was a little awkward to get used to when I came here, especially since my first car was a manual shift.
I would often reach for the door handle when I tried to shift.
And when I would go out to my car in the morning, I would often walk to the passenger side first - this one took about 4 years to completely get over...
How ironic, I frequently visit Greenville South Carolina and stay in Pelham rd. Have lived there for 3 months straight. Know many friends there and love the deep south. I live in Australia half way between Geelong and Melbourne and own a 1990 Corvette. Part of the Corvettes of Geelong too.
Rules in Victoria as stands say that you can drive a left hand drive car if its 25 years old or older through club permit. This means you can drive a 1988 or older model Corvette in left hand drive but you need to fill in a log book everytime you drive. So its not something you can pop down to the petrol station in to get the paper and chips (no instant grits here or hershey's).
There is another rule that says anything 1989 or newer needs to be RAWS compliant which states the car needs to be right hand drive converted along with the amber blinkers and head light conversion by a raws acredited work shop. No back yard jobs allowed anymore. The catch 22 is for the cost of conversion $25-30k all ofthe places here are doing C6's. Even C5's are off the menu. Therefore the only 1989 or newer C4 corvettes that can be driven legally on full registration are the cars already converted in the past. Would be nice to import and own a 1996 Grand sport here in Aus but that will never happen.
04-21-2014, 01:35 PM
#25
Racer
[QUOTE=c4cruiser;1586695737]I thought that C4's that were export cars to Europe that were to be sold to citizens had a different design for the outside mirrors in addition to the orange turnsignals. IIRC, the mirrors were rectangular and mounted on a post. There was no aero housing like domestic C4's. I think that new Corvettes sold in Japan were also configured that way.
My '93 vert was exported new to Japan, and has the export Mirrors (ugly things
. I have US ones painted and ready to fit) Does anyone know if my rear turnlights are an original option, or home-brewed? They're neatly done, and mean I still have the proper iconic 4 red taillights 
My '93 vert was exported new to Japan, and has the export Mirrors (ugly things
. I have US ones painted and ready to fit) Does anyone know if my rear turnlights are an original option, or home-brewed? They're neatly done, and mean I still have the proper iconic 4 red taillights
Last edited by maddogwyatt; 04-21-2014 at 01:40 PM.
04-21-2014, 02:06 PM
#26
Instructor
Thread Starter
Aussie_g,
How ironic, I frequently visit Greenville South Carolina and stay in Pelham rd. Have lived there for 3 months straight. Know many friends there and love the deep south. I live in Australia half way between Geelong and Melbourne and own a 1990 Corvette. Part of the Corvettes of Geelong too.
Rules in Victoria as stands say that you can drive a left hand drive car if its 25 years old or older through club permit. This means you can drive a 1988 or older model Corvette in left hand drive but you need to fill in a log book everytime you drive. So its not something you can pop down to the petrol station in to get the paper and chips (no instant grits here or hershey's).
There is another rule that says anything 1989 or newer needs to be RAWS compliant which states the car needs to be right hand drive converted along with the amber blinkers and head light conversion by a raws acredited work shop. No back yard jobs allowed anymore. The catch 22 is for the cost of conversion $25-30k all ofthe places here are doing C6's. Even C5's are off the menu. Therefore the only 1989 or newer C4 corvettes that can be driven legally on full registration are the cars already converted in the past. Would be nice to import and own a 1996 Grand sport here in Aus but that will never happen.
How ironic, I frequently visit Greenville South Carolina and stay in Pelham rd. Have lived there for 3 months straight. Know many friends there and love the deep south. I live in Australia half way between Geelong and Melbourne and own a 1990 Corvette. Part of the Corvettes of Geelong too.
Rules in Victoria as stands say that you can drive a left hand drive car if its 25 years old or older through club permit. This means you can drive a 1988 or older model Corvette in left hand drive but you need to fill in a log book everytime you drive. So its not something you can pop down to the petrol station in to get the paper and chips (no instant grits here or hershey's).
There is another rule that says anything 1989 or newer needs to be RAWS compliant which states the car needs to be right hand drive converted along with the amber blinkers and head light conversion by a raws acredited work shop. No back yard jobs allowed anymore. The catch 22 is for the cost of conversion $25-30k all ofthe places here are doing C6's. Even C5's are off the menu. Therefore the only 1989 or newer C4 corvettes that can be driven legally on full registration are the cars already converted in the past. Would be nice to import and own a 1996 Grand sport here in Aus but that will never happen.
The world gets smaller everyday.
04-21-2014, 02:46 PM
#27
Le Mans Master
[QUOTE=maddogwyatt;1586711892]
Check on the backside to see if the bumper was molded with the extra orange turn lights. I suspect they were. I've never seen those before though. Kinda neat.
I thought that C4's that were export cars to Europe that were to be sold to citizens had a different design for the outside mirrors in addition to the orange turnsignals. IIRC, the mirrors were rectangular and mounted on a post. There was no aero housing like domestic C4's. I think that new Corvettes sold in Japan were also configured that way.
My '93 vert was exported new to Japan, and has the export Mirrors (ugly things. I have US ones painted and ready to fit) Does anyone know if my rear turnlights are an original option, or home-brewed? They're neatly done, and mean I still have the proper iconic 4 red taillights
My '93 vert was exported new to Japan, and has the export Mirrors (ugly things
. I have US ones painted and ready to fit) Does anyone know if my rear turnlights are an original option, or home-brewed? They're neatly done, and mean I still have the proper iconic 4 red taillights
04-22-2014, 12:31 PM
#28
this is an export configured early C4,as you can see wider license plate housing,reflectors ,export mirrors(ugly!!!),amber turn light,and now i can see from the pics even the back up lights are different desing under the license plate
Last edited by tunedport85inject; 04-22-2014 at 12:34 PM.
04-22-2014, 04:09 PM
#29
yellow lamps
t as turn signals you will have to do some wiring changes, look up forum questions to add European signal lamps for turn signals.