Im an Aussie currently living in Atlanta, GA and loving my '09 C63, however when I return to Australia next year I'll have to sell the car because we cant drive LHD cars there unless they are over 30 years old.....

OR

I could take the car back with me, strip it right down (lose a couple of hundred pounds worth of seats, A/C, door panels, dash junk etc) and just use it as a "track toy"

OR

Could I buy an Aussie delivered "lesser model" and transplant all the juicy bits over: engine, transmission, differential, suspension, brakes, wheels etc

I know you're asking why dont I just buy a C63 when I get back??

Cost of used C63 in Australia US$120,000 (yep)

I paid US$49,000 for my C63 here...


Im thinking I could take my C63 back home (in the container with my furniture, dirtbikes and "other car") and buy a RHD Aussie C200 for $30k (yes, that's how much they are...) and turn it into a C63 by transferring the goodies over and selling off all the leftovers (LHD C63 bodyshell, C200 running gear etc)

SO, to THE QUESTION..do you think this is possible? (not financially, but technically). I will have access to my brothers workshop with hoists, tools etc and will have plenty of time to screw around with the transfer of parts.

Are all the C class bodyshells the same? My understanding is that AMG takes a Merc C class and fits their components to it anyway (suspension, brakes, engine etc)

My other idea is to stuff the engine, transmission and differential into an "old school" MB like an SL or create a mid-engined VW Kombi monster......

I welcome any thoughts or links to "been there, done that's".......

Cameron

here is something that would save you a tone of money and time. go on german ebay and purchase a righthand drive dash and steering rack parts along with front door panels and just do a swap, ive done it to nissans and hondas in the past.

Why German ebay? This makes no sense.
I would rather say go on English or Australian Ebay.

It's more complicated than that. The AMG version has a longer hood, longer fenders and a different "front". IMO the swap is out of the question

just stay here

God knows the Mexicans do--j/k of course!
we don't even have Mexicans in New England

the front are just from the extended brackets for cosmetic purpose, i wonder if the chassis r the same

you are correct i meant to say british ebay, the website address is "www.ebay.co.uk" you can use the same steering wheel, cluster, navi, radio and switches on the dash, the only switches you have to cahnge is the headlight switch, you can also use the same pedal assembly. but you will have to shift stuff in the engine back and re-do the firewall.

I just got back from NYC and can't get over how cheap cars are over there!!!

I saw a BRAND NEW Maserati Quatroporte convertible sitting in Grand Central station advertised for $130,000!!! In Australia you'd be looking at
USD $350-400,000?

Just insane!!!

P.S. I reckon you'd be hard pressed to get a used C63 (driveaway) for anything less than 130K (inc charges etc)...

For our friends on the other side of the pond, my C63 brand new was roughly USD$165,000.

Cheers,

John

I believe you meant Maserati Gran Turismo Convertible

Apologies, my Maserati spotting skills aren't the best

Just checked and they're around US$300,000 on the road here - still a massive price differential.... CRAZY!

You probably thought about this but why don't you buy a salvage C200 or C180 for cheap, transfer the VIN and the engine serial number, dashboard and other necessary parts to your C63. Does the state check your car every year?

Also, don't they ask you what are you going to do with your C63 at the customs?

When I go back I can take the car in as a "personal import" and I was thinking of buying a salvage C200 to use as the basis for rebuilding as a "63"..
Thanks for your comments and inputs, however it looks like I need to do some more research on what the AMG build does with the original Mercedes C class bodyshell.