Victorian American Imports are based in Traralgon, Victoria
American Automotive Australia Pty Ltd
Victorian American Imports was launched back in the mid 1990’s by John Bakker who remains the sole proprietor of the business today. The business has been based in Traralgon Victoria since its inception.
John Bakker was into building and racing high performance inboard power boats and needed a vehicle that would easily tow his boats, with nothing appealing in Australia John looked at the USA market and Identified that a Chevrolet Pick up would do the job!
John went about purchasing a couple of vehicles and imported them, he contacted a converter in Victoria and arranged for the vehicles to go there and at the same time arranged to be trained to convert the vehicles.
Once this was done and John turned up to events driving his Chevrolet towing his boat the demand from likeminded people saw the business start and John saw the opportunity to work in an industry that he was passionate about.
From humble beginnings working out of various sheds and sites around Traralgon John slowly expanded from building boats and engines and doing fibreglass repairs and component manufacture to operating a conversion shop which today can import and convert some 47 models of vehicles from the USA and Canada. With Changes to the Motor car act in around 2003 Victorian American Imports was the First company to achieve the status of a Registered Automotive Workshop under the revised government scheme and was instrumental in the schemes rule formulation.
Victorian American Imports has had many firsts in the industry, being the first to introduce Hummer H2 to Australia achieving compliance in around 2005, from this the introduction of the stretched H2 Hummer buses was achieved with some 70 vehicles provided to and expanding industry.
John Bakker was into building and racing high performance inboard power boats and needed a vehicle that would easily tow his boats, with nothing appealing in Australia John looked at the USA market and Identified that a Chevrolet Pick up would do the job!
John went about purchasing a couple of vehicles and imported them, he contacted a converter in Victoria and arranged for the vehicles to go there and at the same time arranged to be trained to convert the vehicles.
Once this was done and John turned up to events driving his Chevrolet towing his boat the demand from likeminded people saw the business start and John saw the opportunity to work in an industry that he was passionate about.
From humble beginnings working out of various sheds and sites around Traralgon John slowly expanded from building boats and engines and doing fibreglass repairs and component manufacture to operating a conversion shop which today can import and convert some 47 models of vehicles from the USA and Canada. With Changes to the Motor car act in around 2003 Victorian American Imports was the First company to achieve the status of a Registered Automotive Workshop under the revised government scheme and was instrumental in the schemes rule formulation.
Victorian American Imports has had many firsts in the industry, being the first to introduce Hummer H2 to Australia achieving compliance in around 2005, from this the introduction of the stretched H2 Hummer buses was achieved with some 70 vehicles provided to and expanding industry.
Over the years Victorian American Imports Pty Ltd have expanded its operation to include new production facilities manufacturing components for its conversion process including dash boards, and fibreglass components, vinyl vacuum skinning, water transfer printing and much more.
All production activities are carried out within Australia with materials supplied from Australian manufacturers were possible. The group of companies know includes Victorian American Imports, American Automotive Australia, Prestige Hummers, Rival Marine, H4 international, Gippsland Fibreglass and Gippsland Hyrda Graphics.
The companies continue to look ahead and in February 2016 American Automotive Australia achieved the status of a full volume manufacturer for the Chevrolet and GMC HD series of pickups, removing any restrictions on the volume now available to the Australian public.
In another first H4 International is about to release the most exciting party bus since the release of the H2 stretched range of vehicles, This vehicle will be capable of seating 24 people in absolute comfort whilst delivering performance and economy never seen in this style of vehicle before. The first vehicle will arrive during March and will be converted to RHD and complied for use in Australia by Victorian American Imports.
From humble beginnings employing 3 to 4 people the group of companies now employees between 20 and 30 staff in a regional community providing quality vehicle to all areas of Australia.
At full production and with current staff levels Victorian American Imports - American Automotive Australia are capable of producing 12 to 13 vehicle per month.
All production activities are carried out within Australia with materials supplied from Australian manufacturers were possible. The group of companies know includes Victorian American Imports, American Automotive Australia, Prestige Hummers, Rival Marine, H4 international, Gippsland Fibreglass and Gippsland Hyrda Graphics.
The companies continue to look ahead and in February 2016 American Automotive Australia achieved the status of a full volume manufacturer for the Chevrolet and GMC HD series of pickups, removing any restrictions on the volume now available to the Australian public.
In another first H4 International is about to release the most exciting party bus since the release of the H2 stretched range of vehicles, This vehicle will be capable of seating 24 people in absolute comfort whilst delivering performance and economy never seen in this style of vehicle before. The first vehicle will arrive during March and will be converted to RHD and complied for use in Australia by Victorian American Imports.
From humble beginnings employing 3 to 4 people the group of companies now employees between 20 and 30 staff in a regional community providing quality vehicle to all areas of Australia.
At full production and with current staff levels Victorian American Imports - American Automotive Australia are capable of producing 12 to 13 vehicle per month.
Victorian American Imports - American Automotive Australia Pty Ltd
Specialising in importing and converting Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Dodge & Hummer commercial vehicles & spares.
Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme
www.victorianamericanimports.com
http://prestigehummers.com.au
http://heyautoshops.com.au
http://h4international.com
General Manager - Phil Tomholt
Managing Director - John Bakker
5 - 11 Standing Drive Traralgon, Vic, Australia 3844
P O Box 1417 Traralgon, Vic, Australia 3844
Phone: 03 5176 0600 Fax: 03 5174 0400
Specialising in importing and converting Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Dodge & Hummer commercial vehicles & spares.
Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme
www.victorianamericanimports.com
http://prestigehummers.com.au
http://heyautoshops.com.au
http://h4international.com
General Manager - Phil Tomholt
Managing Director - John Bakker
5 - 11 Standing Drive Traralgon, Vic, Australia 3844
P O Box 1417 Traralgon, Vic, Australia 3844
Phone: 03 5176 0600 Fax: 03 5174 0400
