Press Release
CHEVY'S Corvette Z06, the ultimate race-bred development in a family line of iconic American sports cars stretching back 54 years, is now on sale new in Australia.
The 7.0 litre coupe, boasting a top speed of 319 km/h, is imported and sold by Sunshine Coast company Performax International, formerly Corvette Queensland.
Performax International imports the vehicles and converts them to right-hand drive and Australian Design Rule requirements in-house at its Gympie factory.
As Corvette Queensland, it has had an 18-year history in importing and converting American cars and trucks. It is the biggest and most experienced such company in Australia and is certified for ISO Quality Assurance.
To reflect its growing and diversifying national business, Corvette Queensland recently changed its name to Performax International.
The Corvette Z06 comes in only one highly-defined version - a coupe with manual transmission - and is priced at $240,000, plus on-road costs. It is retailed directly by Performax International.
Performax International also imports new from the US, converts and sells -
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Corvette C6 Coupe automatic ($180,000), Convertible automatic ($190,000)
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Hummer H2 ($149,000)
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Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks, fitted with 6.6 litre Duramax 890 Nm turbodiesel V8 ($115,000)
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Cruiser 5th-wheel caravans ($115,000)
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And carries out customer-ordered conversions on Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette C5, Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Plymouth Prowler
Founded by Greg Waters and Brian Learoyd out of personal desire to own a Chev Corvette, the company quickly found itself the destination for like-minded enthusiasts.
The business grew steadily, importing and converting a variety of GM and other brands' products, until an order in the late Nineties for several hundred GMC cab-chassis for the Victoria ambulance service boosted operations into a higher gear.
Performax International currently employs 40 people with a variety of specialist skills.
They include engineers with CAD-CAM ability, who design new components required for conversions and supervise the ADR compliance process.
Vehicles are converted mostly under the Commonwealth-administered Regulated Accredited Workshop Scheme (RAWS), which allows conversion of up to 100 vehicles per category. Performax International also is able to operate under the Low Volume New vehicle importation scheme.
Performax International's engineering and installation standards, ensuring a seamless and comprehensive conversion to right-hand drive, are considered the industry benchmark in Australia.
Such is the company's expertise and reputation, it is often consulted on relevant industry issues by the Federal Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS).
It is now also an exporter. Since early 2006, Performax International has exported 10 new converted Corvettes to South Africa, also a right-hand drive market, on behalf of a local importer.
It's All Right (-Hand Drive) In Oz
The Chev Corvette Z06, manufactured only in left-hand drive in Bowling Green, Kentucky, undergoes a seamless conversion for right-hand drive Australian roads at Performax International.
All vehicles carry full Australian Design Rule compliance, with work performed in-house to certified ISO Quality Assurance standards, ensuring customers can have complete confidence in their investment.
The process of converting a new Z06 to road-ready right-hand drive takes four weeks.
Work such as moulding all-new fascia and door panels is done by Performax International and achieves original equipment-standards of fit and
finish, thanks to the use of CAD-CAM design and many years of experience.
The conversion process includes -
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Stripping the interior
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Re-manufacturing the dashboard
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Modifying the firewall to accept the steering column
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Re-locating the gear lever to the right-hand side of the tunnel
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Swapping airbags left to right and vice-versa
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Fitment of a new locally-manufactured steering box, which retains Corvette's Magna Steer system
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Re-locating the pedal assembly and brake master cylinder
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Swapping the electrical wiring harness from left to right
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Moving air-conditioning ducts
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Manufacture of new door panels, incorporating window switches and all electronics
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Fitment of new Australian-approved seat belts, light lenses and other parts
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Re-assembly of the interior
The result is a vehicle that retains its ex-factory look and feel. Performance and other dynamic aspects are unchanged.
