Want a Holden Ute? You're 20,000 Signatures Away

[Blake Noble]

Want a Holden Ute? You're 20,000 Signatures Away

by black-knight, C&G Editor/Reporter

15th November, 2011

Yes, you read the header right. The weeping and teeth-gnashing could very well come to an end if you've pined for the Australian counterpart for the much beloved and long departed ElCamino. The same goes for any other car that, due to some sort of general incompetence, wasn't offered here: Alfas, Fiats, Vauxhalls and Opels ... the list marches on.

This possibility is made possible in part due to an online petition that is trying to change the grey-market import laws regarding cars and trucks, which currently state that no foreign automobile not approved for U.S. consumption can not be legally imported into the country unless it's twenty-five years-old or older. If it's even six months newer than the cut off date, then you can forget about bringing it here.

However, our northern neighbors in the mass of land known as Canada have it much better than we do here regarding grey market cars and trucks. Instead of twenty-five years and older, their laws allow for cars and trucks fifteen years-old and older. While it won't allow you, at the moment, to import a 2006 Ute to Canadian soil, it will allow you to import the VS model from 1996 and, if you're patient, eventually a VX model from 2000 in four more years (if you didn't know, the VX was based on the VT Commodore, which we would more commonly recognize as a four-door GTO).

Making the U.S. law match the Canadian law is what the petition is aiming for, so yes, the catch to the Canadian law I explained above would be the catch to the law here if it's changed. In my opinion, it's worlds better than what we have right now. It also would mean the Department of Homeland Security wouldn't be wasting our tax dollars on confiscating Nissan Skylines anymore and instead would be, you know, more apt to fighting terrorism within our borders as it was intended to do. Shoot, maybe the money the government could potentially make from allowing individuals to import some cool cars could help contribute to reducing the deficit (okay, a long shot, but who knows?).

If you're interested in getting some sort of Holden Ute or any other bad ass car that we didn't get to buy fifteen years ago over here, well, the petition has 20,846 signatures to go before December. Even then there's a chance nothing can come of it. Hopefully, though, everyone who posts here will do their part and sign it and, just for good measure, tell two friends to put their name on it as well.

You can sign the petition here.

Edited November 16, 2011 by black-knight

[Drew Dowdell]

I thought we tried this already

[G. David Felt]

Interesting, but the link goes to a whitehouse web site petition on grey market auto's and does not seem to have anything with getting Chevy / GM to have a car based Ute here.

[67impss]

I like where this is going I may get a Holden wagon yet or a HQ-HZ maybe

[67impss]

Interesting, but the link goes to a whitehouse web site petition on grey market auto's and does not seem to have anything with getting Chevy / GM to have a car based Ute here.

Per above post that is the purpose to change US law to equal Canadian law allowing any car at least 15 years old to be imported thus we could have a newer used Ute(wagon coupe sedan...) sooner.

[Turbojett]

Did you say "ute"? What is a "ute"?

sorry, couldn't resist.

[Blake Noble]

Well, as of right now, the petition still has 16,343 signatures to go in about two weeks time. Again, spread the word. Since this has gotten out through various channels on the 'net, including here, it's gained roughly 4,500 signatures in two days. At that rate, the remaining signatures should be there come next month.

I know I want to bring one of these over here so that I can do naughty things with it:

Same for one of these:

Edited November 18, 2011 by black-knight

[daves87rs]

Might happen...