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What paperwork is required for Registration (in Victoria)
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Quackers Offline
#1 Posted : Monday, 10 March 2025 4:07:35 PM(UTC)
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Long story short I have stumbled upon a 2 owner ht GTS 186S which the seller has owned since 1976. It’s not cheap, perfect or original but it’s well worth saving. I’m unsure as to how best protect myself during the purchase as it’s been unregistered for so many years, and I’ve never bought a car that’s spent so long off the vicroads register before.

Seller is a honest old school farmer type and I have no red flags that it’s stolen or anything untoward, he has signed a bill of sale with the deposit that ive put down and was happy to sort the rest out when I collect it.
I will be going for club registration in Victoria, do people get one of those ppsr checks on cars so old or something else?
Do vicroads need anything other than the bill of sale signed by the seller? (Plus a valid RWC and club permit paperwork)

Last question is it left the factory as a 186S and was later swapped to a 253 V8 which he tells me he never notified vicroads so is this going to be another hurdle when I eventually do go for registration?

Will post an update & some pics when I collect shortly.

Cheers.
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HK1837 Offline
#2 Posted : Monday, 10 March 2025 7:53:28 PM(UTC)
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Not sure what searches there are in Victoria. But make sure you get it searched both chassis number and engine number wise to make sure it has no theft or other encumbrance on it.
You can also try an AOMC search, these were by engine number but if it’s been regoed in VIC it should come up. It’ll be easy if he has paperwork showing it’s 186S engine number.
As for the engine swap, there isn’t much needed to turn a standard HT GTS into a standard HT V8 GTS. The brakes are the same. The rear springs are the same except the GTS has a large front spring bush (V8 GTS is the same as HK GTS). I think the front springs are the same. The main difference is the larger uni joints on the V8 GTS meaning V8 banjo diff centre and tailshaft with larger front and rear unis. What I mean is even if there are minor hoops to jump through rego wise, as in either self engineered or by a consultant Engineer, it won’t be difficult. Where it might get hard is if he butchered the main floor crossmember to fit something alien like an Aussie 4spd or Toploader or similar. That floor member is a large part what supports the front seats.
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Quackers Offline
#3 Posted : Monday, 17 March 2025 7:59:59 PM(UTC)
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Thanks for the reply HK1837,

Luckily the v8 driveline swap was just a simple 253 and trimatic auto from that of a donor Holden premier (seller couldn’t remember what exact series but he thinks HX or HJ ring a bell(we are talking 40years ago after all) he also said he swapped the diff sometime after that.

Will keep you posted when I collect in a few weeks.

Kind regards
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HK1837 Offline
#4 Posted : Tuesday, 18 March 2025 6:22:19 AM(UTC)
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Just be wary of how he did the T-bar. If the floor is butchered to fit a W body T-bar you might have to get it properly fixed. Hopefully he used a HG T-bar, If so its of interest to me if you don't want to run an auto!
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Quackers on 18/05/2025(UTC)
Quackers Offline
#5 Posted : Sunday, 18 May 2025 11:15:21 AM(UTC)
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Well all went smoothly collecting the HT GTS, was a bit of a shuffle to get it out of the tight spot that it had sat for the last 30 years. Tires pumped up and brakes weren’t seized so we were off to a good start.

The car itself is a very solid & honest thing very happy with the purchase.
Unfortunately I’m snowed under with work, other projects and all the things that keep you busy with life so can’t see myself getting a chance to touch it much before Xmas but it’s safe & dry on the hoist at home now.

Rust wise it’s very good, a few bubbles under the paint in the lower edges of doors and hanging panels but nothing structural or significant enough to stop it passing a road worthy.
Engine turns over by hand and seller included a spare trimatic which he says shifted smoothly when it was removed from the donor car.

A bit more to the story of the HT was the seller changed the front seats with some period correct high back seats out of something European but I’m yet to find an exact match. The closest so far I can find online is an early seventy’s Renault.
He has swapped the top half of the rear seat with a HK Monaro to better match the euro front seats styling. When he repainted the car from Sebring orange to a ford bright red, He also added a vinyl black roof, XA-XC side mirrors. Aunger jelly bean mags and removed the wheel arch stainless trims. It’s missing the rear parcel shelf trim and the centre console hinge panel Would love to share some pics but unsure how to do so on this forum.

The plan is still just tidy it up and rock around as is, while slowly gathering all the bits to convert it to 350 vortec and TH350 trans. Not enough cash in the bank to see a paint job back to Sebring orange happening for a long time yet.

Edited by user Sunday, 18 May 2025 11:26:49 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified
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HK1837 Offline
#6 Posted : Sunday, 18 May 2025 3:11:38 PM(UTC)
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If you haven't bought the 350 Vortec and TH350 yet I'd reconsider, and fit a Holden 5 litre and keep a Trimatic. The simplest way is to use a manual 308 block with a whole EFI top end, no Engineering required.
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