LS7 Barstool Australian style

[styla21]

Australia.. I love it. The only country in the world, where the most important news to make the front page of the newspaper, is of course a 520hp, Chevy powered barstool.

I've been posting on MW about trying to import a Z06 downunder, but this is just on another level..
Talk about a mid-engined supercar! :-D

"Australia's first V8-powered bar stool has been built on the Gold Coast.
A bunch of mates who call themselves SOF (Silly Old Farts) Club decided to construct the motorised stool after one of them got the idea from TV.

The bar stool has a 502 cubic inch V8 engine, can travel at 40km/h spins at 5000rpm and develops 520 horsepower.


http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/4521/v8barstool1iw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us/)

[toffytofik]

LOL, good find! A proper mid-engined lightweight muscle! :laugh:
Now remove driver's seat, add some wings, make it remotely controlled and put it on the dragstrip! :D

[Ghostbat]

What a waste of a LS7 engine. 40km/h :-(

[fordgt84]

isn't the ls7 a 427 cubic inch? or is that a stroked/bored out version available in australia?

anyways this is pure madness :chair:, at least it can easily be disassembled and moved into a car

[styla21]

^^Ford GT, that's a question for the Vette experts to answer! I wasn't sure, but that is what the article stated. I wasn't sure about it either - but it is a brand new engine, straight out of the crate. How many other chevy engines are producing that power?

No doubt i'll be corrected soon? :detective:

[RC45]

No doubt i'll be corrected soon? :detective:

Ask an yeee shall receive ;)

The GM 502ci crate engine comes in 3 flavours - 502/338hp HT, 502/450 HO and 502/502 RamJet and finally 502/502 ZZ502 variants.

There is no tunnel ram intake or FI - so its not the RamJet - but could be any of the others with tweaks :)

[ferrarif1fan89]

They don't sell the Vette in Australia? It couldn't be because emissions or tax reasons. Thats one hot barstool!

[HeilSvenska]

That counts as a barstool? Looks more like a quadricycle.

Anyways, this calls for a comparo test with the Hemi-Trike! :mrgreen:
http://www.uberreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/hemi%20trike.jpg

[RC45]

Wow - the ultimate Big Wheel

[79TA]

isn't the ls7 a 427 cubic inch? or is that a stroked/bored out version available in australia?

anyways this is pure madness :chair:, at least it can easily be disassembled and moved into a car

RC already answered, but it should be obvious that an aluminum LSX block cannot be stroked or bored much further than 427 ci (7.0 litres.) The 502 is a MUCH larger iron big block that's offered as a crate motor (as RC already said.)

[HeilSvenska]

Well. It was a simple mistake. Styla just said that he wanted a Z06 while talking about the "barstool", and Ghostbat mistook that and thought that it was an LS7 powered thing.

[RC45]

Well. It was a simple mistake. Styla just said that he wanted a Z06 while talking about the "barstool", and Ghostbat mistook that and thought that it was an LS7 powered thing.

Yeah - no harm no foul ;)

RC already answered, but it should be obvious that an aluminum LSX block cannot be stroked or bored much further than 427 ci (7.0 litres.) The 502 is a MUCH larger iron big block that's offered as a crate motor (as RC already said.)

Well - just when we thought so... folks are rolling out LS7 block based 440ci beasties hehe

[Mattk]

I have seen imported Corvettes in Australia, but no GM-factory dealer carries them.

This looks like a lawnmower.

[styla21]

Matt, you are right. :)
Do you know of any decent conversion places here though?
By converting in Aus, rather than in the US, i'd save about $20-30,000 AUD in tax alone. As the luxury car tax is applied to the whole vehicle cost inclusive of conversion. Which imo is the dumbest thing going.
Also, the Vettes on the used market here, are predominantly 1995 - 2000 models. I want the C6 ZO6 :-), so importing new and converting to RHD is really the only option.

[Mattk]

The ones I seem to come across are already-converted models sold by private importers. They're so rare that I know next to nothing about getting one (I also don't aspire to own one, but that's beside the point). Ford Mustangs are more common, so an alternative investigative route could be to ask some Mustang owners.

[dutchmasterflex]

You sound like K.I.T.T.

[HeilSvenska]

You sound like K.I.T.T.?

[RC45]

Matt, you are right. :)
Do you know of any decent conversion places here though?
By converting in Aus, rather than in the US, i'd save about $20-30,000 AUD in tax alone. As the luxury car tax is applied to the whole vehicle cost inclusive of conversion. Which imo is the dumbest thing going.
Also, the Vettes on the used market here, are predominantly 1995 - 2000 models. I want the C6 ZO6 :-), so importing new and converting to RHD is really the only option.

Here you go.... right hand drive conversions exist, and seem to be very well done - when you pay the price :)

http://www.worldcarfans.com/2070219.004/chevy-corvette-z06first-ever-right-hand-drive-version

and

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92190

[styla21]

Here you go.... right hand drive conversions exist, and seem to be very well done - when you pay the price :)

http://www.worldcarfans.com/2070219.004/chevy-corvette-z06first-ever-right-hand-drive-version

and

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92190

Thankyou!
I just got off the phone with Performax. Their workshop is only only a couple hours from where I am located, and I'll head up on the weekend to check it all out.
Apparently it's the right time to do a deal, as the AUD is the strongest it's been in decades..

So.. The hunt begins.
Thanks again.

[HeilSvenska]

^ You mean, the US dollar's weakest in decades... :-(

Well, good luck with your hunt! :-)

[RC45]

Thankyou!
I just got off the phone with Performax. Their workshop is only only a couple hours from where I am located, and I'll head up on the weekend to check it all out.
Apparatly it's the right time to do a deal, as the currency is the strongest it's been in decades..

So.. The hunt begins.
Thanks again.

You are welcome.. I told you that it is being done ;)

[styla21]

^ You mean, the US dollar's weakest in decades... :-(

Well, good luck with your hunt! :-)
You're right Heil - But I did mean what I said. MY currency (Aussie $) is the strongest it's been, against the USD in a very long time. And it appears the trend will continue..

(Now edited) to avoid confusion :-)
And thanks!!

[T-Bird]

importing shit to Australia is a bitch sometimes. We ship stuff there all the time and it could get there in 3 days then sit in customs for as much as 3 weeks I've seen and it cost a ton of money. People ask us to call it a gift but we won't because if it gets lost or stolen we aren't splitting the bill on that.

[Mattk]

Customs is so stringent in Australia they have a television show about it. It's actually quite entertaining watching people arguing with customs officials.

[styla21]

Yeah, it's quite amusing watching someone with 87 condoms inside them try to justify how / why they got there :mrgreen:

[Pokiou]

They don't sell the Vette in Australia? It couldn't be because emissions or tax reasons. Thats one hot barstool!

we do sell the vette in australia. We get all teh exotics in australia.. there just hard to spot cause they owners are all pussies and to scared to drive them.

[Mattk]

Maybe in Melbourne. In Sydney, drivers of such cars like to show them off, especially if they have hot wives/girlfriends/mistresses and they are driving with the top down.

[styla21]

we do sell the vette in australia. We get all teh exotics in australia.. there just hard to spot cause they owners are all pussies and to scared to drive them.

I don't know where you are coming from.

Privately imported cars does not mean they are sold here. Converted Vette's are not considered imported "exotics" in most classifications, and even so they are still not officially sold or imported.

We don't get the Mclaren SLR. Nor the Carrera Gt, Ferrari Enzo, Bugatti Veyron, Saleen, Caterham, Maserati MC12.

Base model Ferrari / Lamborghini is as good as it gets. But we certainly don't get "All the exotics".

[Pokiou]

From what your saying non of the cars we have here in australia other then Major Holden Ford are sold here as 90 of the market is imported.. Doesnt mean they are not sold here..

Goto Duttons off toorak they sell Corevettes.

Ferrari in Richmond

Lambo on Chapel.

Porsche on Alexander Parade.

Importing a car and selling them means your still BUYING them in australia meaning they are legal in australia to import sell and purchase and drive.
There is a few koeninsigg here.. Plenty of R8's
Maseratti dealer in the city
Jag dealer in the city and Lotus up the road i cant remember where.
So these cars are sold here whether they be imports or not.
BTW we do have and SLR in Melbourne.. SOB never drives it :/ seen it in toorak.
Also we do have they the Vyerons here also.
If you want to buy it froma bugatti dealer.. then you need to go France :P Just like any other exotic dealer. If you want to buy it from a legit Ferrari Dealer you need to goto the Factory in Italy. Any1 that sells exotics here sell it as franchise.

[styla21]

No, you've mistaken what i've said.
We get the bread-and butter Porsche, Lambo, Ferrari, Audi, Benz, BMW.

But we don't get any of the premium, supercar stuff. I know the importer of Pagani personally, who is still yet to sell 1 car here.

And please understand the distinction: If Mazda global, import officially into Australia, and sell through their dealer network, it's an officially imported car.

If John Smith from Sydney (hypothetical), privately imports a corvette, then takes it to a chop-shop for a RHD / compliance conversion - it is a private import. Nothing more. This scenario does then mean "Corvettes are sold in Australia". Because they are not! I've been trying for 3 months to get this scenario to happen, and I've resorted to potentially importing from Texas, shipping the car to QLD, and getting a RHD job done there.
Does this make me an "official Corvette importer"? How about a dealer?
No, i'm importing a commodity for myself. I can't facilitate a purchase for anyone else. The car is not sold here.

EDIT: Is the Dutton dealer you were referring to?
http://www.duttondirect.com/automotive/for_sale?make=chevrolet&price_min=&price_max=&year_min=&year_max=&country =

The latest model Vette they are selling is a 1971 model ;)

[Pokiou]

My understasnding and your understanding is different. Whether a conversion be done here at a factory or in america . IF you can buy the car internationally and import it then that means the car is sold here.. IT CAN BE SOLD TO australia ... thats what im talking about.. Oh andi did spot a Zonda at BP a while back with Vic plates.

Just cause you imported one as your own commodity doesnt mean that duttons only import it for them selves. They import them to be sold as is. mostly still right hand drive and registerable in australia. Thus The car is sold here. Whether it be at a dealership or from your back yard.

As for the last comment i have pictures of there floor room with the 06 vette in there or an 07 i cant tell the diff.

[Pokiou]

http://www.duttondirect.com/data/users/photos/large/4/624.jpg
Dutton


also there is a post i made here of the dutton show room with some nice pics. you should check it out :D nice rare Panther and even rarer m1 :D

[xbeakerx]

i would love to see a video of that thing running...

[styla21]

Pokiou, Great pic. I understand what you are saying, and you are right.

We are essentially on the same page. I was being somewhat technical regarding the fact that you cannot purchase many of the most desirable exotics, direct from a dealer..
I get shitty about the fact that we will likely never see an Enzo, MC12, Carrera GT, SLR, etc on our roads. I was fortunate to live in Beverly Hills for a while, and it was the status quo to see one on each block. In Australia, a Gallardo is something to stop and stare at for most. (That wasn't intended to sound elitist!)
My distinction is that in the US, for example, there are 20 dealers around LA alone that you can walk in to, drop some cash, and drive out with one. It takes a lot of engineering to contemplate purcashing one over here, and taking it to the chop shop for conversion really makes it a private import.

This is sort of like arguing about importing cocaine into the country. Of course it can be done, but it's not really the done thing :-)..

The yellow Zonda is the official company South-East Asia demo car. It is the only one in the country, but not for sale. (Although obviously I tend to think anything is for sale, for the right price!..).
But supposedly it is not on the market. You can place an order with Pagani and take delivery in 3 years though. Thank god that they make RHD and we may see a few down here.

It appears we are both exotic fans, and would both like to see more of them on the road. :-)

[Pokiou]

^^^ for sure!

but i also seen a Grey one driving around near the Rich side of town :P
but once.

also the Mclaren F1 in melbourne. ?? you know that one yea parked in Lt Flinders Ln.

[styla21]

Smartass...
Pics or stfu :mrgreen:

[RC45]

Smartass...
Pics or stfu :mrgreen:

Hehe - BTW, if you want I can put you in touch with a place here in town that is well versed and experienced in selling and shipping Vettes (stock and highly modded) around the world...