Simon, could provide details of how this scheme worked and how many cars came here via the deal.
I have a 17 G that a previous owner obtained in june 1975, got to aus in 1978. I got my license in the mid 80's so this was before i was into cars.
Stew
Gee, a reply to this question is a long topic in itself.
In a nutshell, back in the middle 1970's, you could get European delivery of various marques for import back to Australia. At the time, the combined Australian import duties and sales tax were in the order of 98% of the European list price (ex-taxes).
By arranging European delivery through a local dealer, the various Australian duties and taxes imposed on landing a vehicle in Australia reduced over the time you owned and used a car overseas. From one month of ownership and use, the duties and taxes reduced until once you had owned and used the car overseas for 15 months, the car could be imported into Australia free of sales tax and import duties. Effectively giving the owner a half-price car on return to Australia. For example, in January 1974, a 17TL was listed at $2,420 including delivery in Paris and six-months TT (Temporary Transit) registration, with the Australian list price being $4,948.
Renault Australia offered such a scheme, where the Renault 15/17 or fully imported Peugeots were available for European delivery, as these could be ordered with Australian compliance equipment, making it easier to register the car on its return. Non-Australian specification cars could be imported, but it was a roll of the dice as to whether it was accepted for registration – certain States were more accepting until the ADR requirements became more specific. Renault Australia were very specific than any Renault model outside of a Renault 15/17 was imported at the customer's own risk.
A number of Renault dealers appear to have taken the opportunity to buy a car overseas, use it for a holiday, and then sell the car on its return to Australia. Corin Motors in particular appear to have taken advantage of the opportunity, importing both Australian spec and other non-ADR complied models (such as Renault 5 and late model 17) – registration in Canberra appears to have been easier.
So your car was likely delivered with French red TT registration plates, it would be interesting if is is an Australian spec (fuel filler flap) 17G, or an exposed non-ADR spec version. Ads for numbers that were imported, no doubt there are records available, but I wouldn't be able to hazard a guess - certainly a good number of cars appear to have been imported under the scheme until the scheme was discontinued.
