Front of Chevrolet Camaro Zl1 in Rapid blue converted to right hand drive by autogroup

Affording a Right-hand drive American Muscle Car on a Budget

Many people in right-hand drive countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa and beyond dream of owning a right-hand drive Dodge Challenger or Chevrolet Camaro but their budget simply doesn’t stretch that far.

Although production of the Dodge Challenger ended in late 2023 and the Chevrolet Camaro production ceased in January 2024, there are still brand-new vehicles available in North America that Autogroup International can source and then convert to right-hand drive – in fact we can convert Challenger or Camaro models that are up to 3 years old.

Converting a Camaro or a Challenger that is 2-3 years old provides a huge cost saving over brand new, and suddenly owning a right-hand drive Muscle Car becomes more of a reality! Remember that all countries charge import duties that range from 25% to 175% of the purchase price – so any cost saving on the purchase price is magnified once the duty is calculated.

For decades Autogroup International have been converting American Muscle cars from left-hand drive to right-hand drive and exporting these to muscle car to their happy owners across the world. Whether your dream muscle car is a Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, or perhaps you are a diehard Chevrolet Camaro fan, there has always been a certain allure to American muscle cars. And for years Autogroup International has made that dream a reality with its left-hand drive to right-hand drive vehicle conversion services. Although most of the vehicles that Autogroup converts are brand-new, there has always been a demand for vehicles that are up to 3 years old. The cost savings can be substantial.

Brand New or USed?

At the time of writing (May 2024) we can still source brand new Challengers and Camaros from North America. However, although supply is dwindling fast, there is always an extensive range of 2-3-year-old vehicles we can access. With a North American-based team, Autogroup can source a good quality, low mileage muscle car and conduct an in-person inspection before purchasing. This helps to ensure we only source good quality vehicles and are aware of any issues such as it requiring new tyres, brakes or any bodywork issues.

Used Muscle Cars also demand careful attention to be focused on the entire vehicle including suspension, drive train and engine, as many will have been driven relatively hard during their life. This makes it all the more important to have an in-person inspection completed prior to purchase and it is often the ‘bargain’ muscle cars that have had the hardest life.

Benefits of 2 - 3 year old Muscle Cars

The obvious benefit of buying a Camaro or a Challenger that is several years old that Autogroup International then converts to right-hand drive is the reduction of vehicle cost, which ultimately reduces any import duty payable at the time of importing the vehicle into your country. This allows our clients to own a stunning right-hand drive muscle car for well under USD $100,000.

It is a more time-consuming process to purchase a used vehicle as all parties need to ensure the Camaro or Challenger is in good condition (don’t trust the online photos!) and that all costs are considered! Generally, a bargain or cheap muscle car is a bargain for a reason!

A key ‘hack’ to ensure the process goes as expected, is to ensure the vehicle is inspected before purchase in North America and to ensure all ‘unforeseen’ costs are accounted for. These costs can include state sales tax in certain US states, dealer delivery costs, service costs (new tyres, brakes, suspension, etc) as well as the land transport cost from wherever it is purchased to the appropriate North American Seaport. These unforeseen costs can quickly add up which is why it makes sense to work with an expert.

It is also vital to ensure the vehicle is not stolen and to ensure it has not been in an accident. Many trustworthy online sites allow a potential owner to confirm the vehicle’s identity and accident status. This is why we always source our new and used Muscle Cars in North America as these services are free and government-controlled. The used vehicles we often find overseas are the ones to look out for as they have been exported due to the above reasons… Buyer beware as they say!

It is also worth noting that across the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Camaro and Challenger models, there are very few discernible visual differences, so most people simply can’t tell the model year by looking at it. And sometimes huge savings can be made by buying specific models and then adding aftermarket options with one example being to buy a non-widebody Challenger and apply the aftermarket widebody kit.

The Art of Conversion

The process of converting a vehicle from left-hand drive (LHD) to right-hand drive (RHD), especially a powerhouse like the Chevrolet Camaro or Dodge Challenger, is a complex procedure that demands precise engineering skills, exacting manufacturing processes, and meticulous attention to detail. Autogroup International, with its team of over 30 dedicated engineers and over 100 experienced production crew, ensures that each conversion is executed flawlessly, adhering to stringent ISO 9001:2015 quality assurance standards, technical compliance, and homologation regulations.

An important consideration for the high-performance end of the Camaro and Challenger ranges includes specific engineering to deal with how the vehicles are driven. As a high-performance muscle car is often driven in a high-performance manner (fast and hard), when compared to an SUV which often has a more sedate life.

camaro chevrolet dashboard after conversion to right hand drive by autogroup

How to Buy a right-hand drive Camaro or Challenger

There are two distinct ways to own a right-hand drive muscle car:

Turn Key – Autogroup International will source your left-hand drive Camaro or Challenger in North America, arrange all logistics to ship it to our conversion facility in Sri Lanka, convert it to right hand drive, and then ship it to your country.
Conversion only – You can source your own Chevrolet Camaro or Dodge Challenger and send it to Autogroup International in Sri Lanka for conversion! We can help you with the logistics and shipping parts if needed.

In Conclusion

With its global business operations, Autogroup International has safely converted and exported vehicles to over 40 countries worldwide including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, South Africa and the UK. Each vehicle undergoes a meticulous conversion process to ensure it meets the strict ISO quality standards, technical compliance, and homologation. The company's steadfast commitment to these standards guarantees that its vehicles are legally compliant and ready to import into your country.

Autogroup International’s three decades of experience in converting vehicles to right-hand drive and its commitment to high-quality standards have set them apart as a trusted leader in the industry. Their right-hand drive Chevrolet Camaro is a testament to their technical prowess and their unwavering dedication to delivering the best to their clients. Talk with the team at Autogroup International today to make your right-hand drive Muscle Car dreams come true!