Blog

At last I have wrested the car from Australian Immigration, albeit at a cost of some $1600 dollars. That has to be the most expensive car wash in the world and they have damaged the paintwork into the bargain. I am told that there is a six to nine month wait for paintwork in Australia generally and so the chance of getting it repaired, or for that matter an insurance settlement, is most unlikely. We have thoroughly inspected the damage to Bridget and have found (when I say we I really mean Tim Harland of the Sports Car Garage, Perth) the following problems: Windscreen to be replaced Exhaust to be refitted Nearside rear shock absorber to be replaced Differential universal joint bushes to be replaced Fulcrum pins in steering nearside wishbone to be changed Nearside steering rack arm bushes to be replaced Offside wheel bearing to be replaced Carburettors to be tuned Full service I have already started the work, with the...

Almost unbelievably I was given the wrong name of the container ship bringing Bridget to Perth and it had in fact docked last Saturday. I found this out on Monday and the immigration inspection was arranged for Wednesday along with the customs clearance. Customs duly gave her the OK and signed the carnet form but to her dismay she was judged to be too dirty to be allowed entry! I had been cautioned that this was likely as almost every car privately imported has to go through a thorough cleaning to remove any engine fluids, dirt, vegetation and, most importantly, any insects that may have hitched a ride from another country. This action is to protect the Australian habitat, indigenous wildlife and farming. The interior of the car, as well as the exterior, and the boot has to be cleaned and examined. What amazed me, however, is that the cleaning takes up to 4 days after which it is re-examined and...

Just a short up-date in case anyone thinks I have disappeared. I am still waiting, not particularly patiently, for Bridget to arrive. She should have been here on Friday 10th October but there has been no sign of the ship so far (Sunday 12th October). The MG team here have continued to look after me fantastically, showing me around the sites of Perth and towns within the area. I also visited a motor museum at York and have uploaded a few pictures of some rare cars. There are a surprising number of car clubs in Australia with, I am told, something like 42 in Perth alone. I already mentioned the Riley owners that we saw last weekend, and today, just across from my hotel, there was a gathering of the French Car owners clubs with Renaults, Citroens and Peugots. Also within 100 metres of them was a gathering of some of the Austin owners with some great examples of cars many of...

Fremantle is Western Australia’s principle port, and more or less a suburb of Perth the largest city of Western Australia. Originally established as a port for the Swan Valley Colony this is where many migrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries first set foot on Australian soil and this is where Bridget the Midget will come ashore from Chennai in India. I arrived from Phuket on the 30th September to learn that the container ship would be several days late and was to be expected on the 10th October giving me almost two weeks to acclimatise. The earliest that I am likely to be able to take delivery is the 13th October after all the formalities are completed. It has given me time to investigate the vehicle registration requirements which differ from state to state and source an insurance supplier that can offer cover acceptable to all states. I was met at the airport by a deputation from the MG Car...