To clarify the vehicle is over 30 years old as it is an 88 MJ Comanche. It's specifically 34 years old. As it wasn't sold in Australia and finding a quality one for restoration is even getting hard to find here in America. I'm thinking the second it rolls off the boat it should be real collectable just in the fact that it was never sold there at all.
You are right about using XJs for parts over there. And that is what I am thinking as of right now. As of right now the only parts I see would be super beneficial to ship would be steering components as it is LHD and all doaner vehicles over there would be RHD but the driveline components over there should be identical.
For purposes of registration I'm just tying to figure out if it is easier to make the 4wd conversion before or after shipping since I already have all the parts from a 99 XJ on hand at this exact moment. But if it requires a 4wd club registration it might be required to be 4wd.
I'm also interested in doing a 99 XJ interior swap but haven't decided if I want the hassle. This is an extensive project that requires transferring the wiring harness from the 99. I can ship the dash and electrical components as well. I have pics I'll add of where I'd like to go as an example except most likely red. Because it's an extensive project I'm not sure I want to try to tackle this with the time I have left or honestly even at all. My first car was a 93 XJ so I can embrace the 1st gen interior. I would just change from a bench to bucket seats with a console.
I'm adding a few pics of the Jeep I'm heading over to pickup tomorrow as well. I wanted to wait on posting pics till it's actually mine but I guess whatever. I've got an XJ project that I've in the beginning stages of working on, BUT I know shipping an XJ isn't practical or likely legal as it's LHD. Big picture I've got a ton of parts and I'm trying to figure out what exact direction I want to take with the Comanche within the rules of going to Australia. I HATE the idea of putting tons of work and money into my XJ knowing I won't be the one that gets to enjoy it. The Comanche on the other hand has an opportunity to come with me and the parts I have can get used. Plus I've always wanted a Comanche. Just haven't gotten one because they are getting hard to find and are getting over priced because of it. I'm thinking do the bare minimum to get the current project XJ running and sold so I make my money back on buying the Comanche and put all of my work into the Comanche. The other thing is I don't want to make a change that will cost me in making it street legal once I'm there. I want to be able to take this Jeep to meetups and stuff once it arrives. And lets be real I will also be starting over once I'm in Australia. My credit won't carry over. I won't have good or bad credit, I'll have no credit. It will be as if I'm 17 and starting over when it comes to my buying power. My buying power for a new vehicle will be piss poor. I by no means want it to be a daily driver as it's a vehicle I want to keep but at least it will be a vehicle that will be fully gone through as a secondary vehicle I can use. I also will be starting over with everything furniture wise. We decided that since we have kids we have a ton of Ikea furniture. We never wanted nice furniture to get ruined by kids and animals. SO the reality is it's just not worth shipping Ikea furniture to the other side of the planet. We are going to need furniture and household goods when we arrive. Hey at least I will have a truck to go pick it up... just be gentile loading it.
This is the Jeep I'm going to get.
And this is the Jeep I'm kind of modeling after in my brain except red. The original color of this jeep you can tell is red. My first XJ was Flame Red with a grey interior so I can def see myself going this way. I'm fully aware of ride height rules there so this is a reason I'm seeking this information so I know where my limits are.