My SSR: #1740 - Yellow ~ Built 11-18-2003 Took Delivery 12/05/2003
SSR's Down Under...
Chevrolet SSR ute to come Down Under
Gavin McGrath
05aug05
America's hottest sports ute has arrived Down Under. A local company is converting the Chevrolet SSR to right-hand drive.
Motor Cars International (MCI) has already taken seven orders for the sleek convertible ute, managing director Joe Scordo says. It can be "Australianised" in limited numbers only and is being sold under a special scheme.
"We're the only people in the world converting SSRs," Scordo says. "We've already got one on the road, registered and ready to go. One will go to Queensland for Indycars.
"It is getting an unbelievable amount of interest."
Development work was done at the company's base in the western Melbourne suburb of Braybrook. The Federal and State governments checked the first car before giving approval. Delivery takes about 16 weeks. MCI buys the utes from Chevrolet and registers them in the US.
They arrive here with no kilometres on the clock, are converted to Australian specs and are then reregistered. The conversion takes about 350 hours.
The engine has to be moved to fit a new steering rack. "You're looking at $130,000 for a new one," Scordo explains. "A lot of it has to do with the value of the Australian dollar, which helps keep it affordable. There's also no luxury tax because it's classified as a commercial vehicle. But it's not like your usual American pick-up.
"It drives like a sports car and it's a convertible too. It's a modern hot rod."
It is available with a 290kW 6.0-litre V8 engine and six-speed manual; or a 225kW 5.3-litre engine with a four-speed auto. Leather trim is standard. The cars have a three-year/100,000km warranty. MCI says the Chevy SSR is only the first step in its US odyssey.
MCI is looking at other General Motors vehicles to convert to right-hand drive. The company has already converted a Chevrolet Corvette C6 and a Hummer H2 to undergo tests here.
"We haven't got compliance for the cars yet," he says. "But we've already had heaps of interest in the Hummer and the Corvette."
I could see these getting a lot of attention there. I used to live not far from where they are converting these. They didn't have conventional pickup trucks there, the closest thing was something similar to an El Camino.
It took me awhile to get used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road. On the plus side, you got to see exotics not available here. I had a guy pull up next to me and hop out of a Porsche 959 one day - never legalized here due to bumper height laws or some such nonsense.
The UTE is a Holden Commodore that has a pickup bed like an El Camino. The one I drove several years ago had a Corvette engine like the GTO. I believe the chassis is the same as the GTO which is Commodore based. I am not sure if they come with other engines.
My SSR: 05 Slingshot Auto # 20087 Brickyard Track Vehicle
Quote:
Originally Posted by SSR-Club.com
Thanks for the info Keith, I just had a couple from Australia join our SSR-Club and I passed on your information ant this website address...
We might have an SSR-Club over there some day....
That must be us he is talking about. Joe from MCI on Melbourne, Victoria is doing our conversion for us but can't fit it in until maybe December or January. Then with the approx 12 weeks to convert we may be driving it about this time next year!!!! Can't wait - I haven't even seen one in the flesh!!!!
Our 2005 Slinghsot Yellow was to be leaving Indiana today Monday 19 June and heading for LA to be loaded on to a ship for transport to Melbourne. Starting to get very excited now!!!!!! The accessory bug is biting with us looking at shirts, caps, sill plates, car covers, name plates, etc. etc. etc.
Poor bank balance!!!! - but hey, you only live once.
My SSR: 2005 SlingShot Yellow #14279 – Flamed Engine Cover – WindSupreSSR – Corvette Servo + a lot more!
I wonder how the engine can be moved over without causing all sorts of alignment problems for the driveshaft and rear end?
Can't they just drive a car the way it was originally built? I've seen British type cars being driven here in the States. I suppose it would be somewhat strange to begin with either way you would go. But, I think I could get used to the difference. It would be a lot cheaper anyhow.
My SSR: 05 Slingshot Auto # 20087 Brickyard Track Vehicle
Quote:
Originally Posted by DakotaDocMartin
I wonder how the engine can be moved over without causing all sorts of alignment problems for the driveshaft and rear end?
Can't they just drive a car the way it was originally built? I've seen British type cars being driven here in the States. I suppose it would be somewhat strange to begin with either way you would go. But, I think I could get used to the difference. It would be a lot cheaper anyhow.
Beats me why cars that are over 30 years old can be imported and be left as L/Hand drives but anything younger than that has to be converted. Have read a few items on this and they have to change the w/screen wipers, safety belts, sometimes the windshield, headlight alignment as they aim at the wrong side of the road, steering box, brakes and brake lines, more, more more........... the list goes on. No wonder it takes about 380 hours to do the conversion. Must admit I would not like to try and overtake someone on the right when my position is on the left of the car. Could be pretty dicey at high speeds might turn into an
.....I'm getting wired
Ute ? ? ?
Home of the free 
