How to register an ILLEGAL car in the US 

We stole your LS engines for the commodore.. now you are stealing the rest of the commodore.. fair tackle, play on

"For cheap, we got a body into the United States on a container." VinWiki music plays

Holy crap! An American that actually knows and got most of his terminology right while talking about Aussie cars! Someone buy this man a Fosters! Not that we drink that shit here. Great content, love the fact that an Aussie ute made it on this channel!

The fact that 50 Cent never got his either is the saddest part of the story. RIP 50 Cent :(

In Australia, these things are everywhere. Cannot believe the effort to get one into the US!

"but he still wrote me a ticket to my 2009 Holden Ute.... and the ticket clinic took care of that" by far the SMOOTHEST plug ive seen.

09:26 - As an Aussie I love your "CRKEY M8" licence plates.

Makes me proud to see our Aussie cars getting so much love in the USA.

I love that Travis is using the correct Australian terminology and lineage of the cars.

I’m impressed how accurate and how well he articulated our lingo and laws here in australia

As an Australian who's driven Holden Commodores most of my life this makes me cry. Thanks for naming and badging it right mate. Nothing more tragic than someone badging up a Holden as something else GM. The death of Holden and the loss of the Commodore still hurts. Wish I had never sold my '04 SS now....

Nothing like a good old aussie Ute to tear up the streets with You guys would love the Holden maloo

I love seeing the joy that our home grown vehicles make on the other side of the world. *R.I.P* Holden

I think the 2009 Ed needs to live.

And then GM killed Holden. All over.

Awesome to see Holden alive in the US as well, thank you for keeping the name and badges 👊

"Killed Pontiac in 2010" and GM killed what was left of Holden in 2020. Although by then it was a mercy killing.

I need to find a way to do this with the V10 TT Audi RS6 Avant.

Absolutely loved the effort you made to create a LHD VE SS UTE. Also loved the knowledge you have for Holden. It makes me so sad that GMA is over. Thank you for the video.

I appreciate how you kept the Holden badges on it, now that Holdens R.I.P and turned re-badged Opel.

me trying to think how to convert an r34 to a campervan...

RIP Holden, a real tragedy that the brand is shutting down

Here in Australia , the start of the Commodore ( Known as a VB) was an opel sedan. They stuck a straight six banger in it (for most of the population) and also a 'Star Fire' four cylinder (just lopped two cylinders off the six, for the scrooges) and shoehorned a 'Five litre' 308 ci also a smaller capacity 253ci V8's into the same body. The later VC Commodore only came in V8 ,6cyl, and the misfire four (starfire four). Then they produced the VK Commodore once again with the 5 litre V8 the new (Blue motor 6cyl and the asthmatic 4cyl). The next was the VL produced with a normally aspirated 6 cyl or a turbo of the Nissan motor , no V8 due to the fuel crisis . They then released the VN with the old five litre (308) and the Buick V6 3.8 litre. Later V8s were the Chevy V8s.

And GM killed Holden. Makes my heart warm to know that there are aficionados in the US

Absolutely love the 'CRKEY M8' registration

Thank you for not putting a Chev badge on it!!

Great timing! Just got back 6 days ago from New Zealand and these things are all over the place there!

I find this absolutely fascinating how rare these are in the states, yet in Australia they’re everywhere. My girlfriends brother has a VE Sv6 so the V6 version as his car on his P plates (First year with a real license) and he picked it up for around $10K AUD so 6.6K USD

Practically taking a page out of Ed Bolian' book, he didn't give up and found a legal loophole to get the job done!

The "ticket clinic" ad was smooth 9/10

What an amazing video mate. I love your passion. Makes me so happy to see other countries enjoying the Holden Ute.

Me: Looking at my saws... My Chevy Cruze: *Sweating intensifies*

I’m really enjoying Travis Bell’s stories. Bless his wife.

This is why we need to eliminate the "25 year rule." EDIT: And the "Chicken Tax."

you's just havent seen a H.S.V (Holden Special Vehicle) with your eyes omg its amazing 😍😍🤤

I’m glad I found your RU-vid channel. I’m a fan of the Holdens too

Who’s watching from Australia 🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿

"Just spent quite a bit of money, but not very much..." Your wife still doesn't know the total bill does she? lmao

I’m on my 4th Holden ute. I learnt to drive in my dads V8 when i was 14 so I’ve always had a soft spot for them. I now have a VE SSV with HSV upgrades and a VU Gen 2. Two things I don’t love about the VE are the hard tonneau is quite high and i can’t see out the back window too well, and the seats are bloody hard!

This is amazing, I hope more people do this conversion

I’m going to miss Holden a lot especially for their Australian muscle cars I want a Ute so badly😭

Really impressed with his Australian vocab First American to get it perfect with the words! Glad you love it mate

I love these vin wiki car stories... so well narrated by the man himself 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

This is the type of stories I like watching. Ingenious!

Travis is a legend he pronounced all the names correctly! You rock sir!

The El Camino that never was. I really liked the Holden Maloo

Got to see this in person and meet Travis today. Such an awesome car to see in person

The wheels that are on your ute, I was with Holden Special Vehicles when they got designed. One of my colleagues, Rolly, had a immaculate 1969 Holden HT Monaro that he drove in from time to time. One of the CAD guys walked in to our area on this day and asked who owned the HT in the carpark. Rolly told him it was and and the next thing, the two of them are out in the car park taking off one of the factory hubcaps. Later that afternoon, the guy comes back and gives Rolly his hubcaps back. I can't remember exactly how long after that, we were shown the a sculptured design of a wheel for an upcoming model based off Rolly's hubcap. Whe you put the wheels on your car next to the HT hubcap, you will see the origins. But without knowing, most people wouldn't pick it.

GM killed Holden last week. RIP.

These videos are the perfect length for a 15 minute break.

Awesome story. I have a 2015 Caprice that I've been converting to the Holden badging, grille, wheels, etc..

Good to see someone from the US that loves utes as much as we do man, build looks mint. Plus it only owes u 40 or so grand

R.I.P Holden you shall be missed. My dad had a VE commodore wagon and that was fun Also Holden did make some left hand drive cars for export to the Middle East and other places. If you need LHD interiors (To clarify LHD commodores were sold as Chevy omega’s in brazil and as the pontiac G8/GTO/Chevy SS in America) (RHD commodores and Utes were sold in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Middle East ,Japan ,Etc. the Utes were no available in the UK, North America or Europe)

GM pricks killed Holden, Saab, and many many good brands. That what you get, when accountants take over automotive company. Edit: Thank you for so many likes guys/girls. You are awesome!

So awesome!! I always wanted a Holden Ute

Not a Holden fan here, but thoroughly enjoyed watching your journey in getting your dream ride. Well done with your perseverance, you now have a unique and desirable vehicle in the land of motor vehicle excess.👍

Take it down to the freedom factory at the opening

Australians- THATS OUR HOLDEN THATS OUR HOLDEN!!!!! Edit - thnx for the likes 🙂

You sir made a great series of decisions to get where you are. I've owned my G8 GXP for about a year; hopefully, I can follow your footsteps in a few years with a G8 V6, cause the gt's and GXPs are getting insane.

Great video, well done and congrats from Aus.

Indiana is going to be flooded with Nissan “240Skyline GTR”

Holden Utes are just ace! I've got one and I live in the Isle of Man.....

I lived in Australia for 9 months and traveled up the east coast from Sydney to Cairns and back. Never understood why these or similar versions sold here in the USA. The other variation of UTE's have aluminum flat beds, with or without tool boxes . I stayed at a camper village in Byron Bay for 3 weeks and a guy there had two really tall tool boxes on the sides . There was space in between and he stored his surf board and fishing gear. Had a roof top pop up tent , solar panels and regular tent also , 4 wheel drive. There is so much beautiful beach to go to , you have to have 4 wheel drive to get there but not all. All the beach on the east coast have killer waves not that you can surf them all. You can basically find places that you could just live and camp, fish and nobody cares or bothers you . The other thing you see there but not here are 4 wheel drive , diesel vans. Many back packers buy them and travel around the country . They will be outfitted with cooking gear and everything and when they get done they will sell them to another group of back packers and they will do the same thing. These kids have money from their families and they rebuild the motors and fix them up so they are dependable. I actually saw one here in Atlanta and a young guy had imported it from Australia . Brought back a lot of old memories of being there You rarely ever see an American style pick up truck , there are some around but not many.

Travis, I'm pretty jazzed that you left the Holden grille and emblem on the front of the car. Most Americans probably would have switched it over to the Pontiac one, for familiarity. The Holden front end would leave many of your kinfolk scratching their heads for a bit, unless they know of course. It's my second time watching this video, because it's awesome.

RIP Holden - You will be missed. I loved my 2004 Ute.

"When you tell them it's a 2009 they almost get depressed" Yeah. Yeaaaaaaah... Damn I really wish we got these so bad.

It still makes me sad that they never officially made these for the US. I would've loved to have one of these. Super cool that you basically made your own!!!

I met Travis at Cleetus and Cars Indy on May 1st. Super chill dude.

Absolutely awesome! The Utes are such an icon in Australia. Have always thought they were very cool and wished they were available in the US.

Entertaining vid. RIP Holden. My first car was a 1980 Holden Gemini panelvan. So many good times. Sad to see this iconic aussie brand disappear

This is awesome. Thank you for this video.

Got to love the ozzy Ute mate their bloody good looking vehicle's and sound really good. I enjoyed watching this as you was not going to take no for an answer you look like you truly wanted the holden ute nice mate hope you enjoy the ride like many of us here in oz

someone tell Cleetus that his dream can come true!!!

1948-2020.. rip gm holden..

I was just in Indy at Cleetus and Cars 2021 and saw this there. It is extremely clean and well done! Awesome ute!

6:56 that is such a hard revelation to have but many, MANY times the only realistic outcome. You sir, are a better man than many for coming to that conclusion. I hope you enjoy your UTE for many years to come. Cheers

I daily the exact same spec SSV ute here in Australia, Fun fact that redhot dash/seat combo was a $5000 option great ute!

Holy crap, I actually met you in person before! Supercar Saturdays, you said that GT8 Aussie is a better car builder than the guy from Colorado!

"I daily drive this thing", cuts to a massive cook

Such a cool story, so glad it all went smoothly!

I drive a 2015 Chevy SS stick (Holden VF). Love that thang!

"They know where I live, they AIN'T coming." 🤣

So good to see it badged as a Holden

Holy moly!!! Car fusion at it's best!!! This looks completely brilliant, fantastic origin story!! Mate, I'd love to see the cops reaction!!

Im Australian and this is still the best holden story I've heard!

The way he says "50 cent" with that accent!!!! Classic 😂

Enjoy the Aussie Holden Ute mate! Glad to see that you are still using the Holden grille badge too! Nice work, down here in the under they seem to want the chev badge, but certain models where available with the G8 front

I just bought one. 2008 VE Commodore Ute. The 6.0l L98 is coming out for a cam, tune and cold air box/headers/3" exhaust. Mad skidz !!! :)

Good story telling... Love the ute

As a Holden Commodore (Chevy SS) owner, I couldn't click on this fast enough!

This reminds me of the fun legal tape I went through to get a 93 Mitsubishi minicab u41t in Wyoming. Ultimately it was titled as a Multipurpose Vehicle that was road legal with the exception of highway use. I modded that little thing, carried my dirt bikes to the track and so on. I enjoy import vehicles more for that reason of appreciation.

I feel like the SSR is the closest thing to a modern El Camino North America will ever have.

Why does this guy sound like dr. Phil?

Being an Australian we take utes for granted. It’s also a shame you didn’t manage to squeeze in time to mention the Maloo LSA ute :)

Love the story. I've probably seen a dozen of them today in Canberra. Three of the guys I work with own them. It's nuts that they never went to the US, they would have sold tons of them.

I just seen another red Pontiac g8 last night in top notch condition with holden badges on it.....made me emotional a bit as I use to drive the same in Adelaide *SOUTH AUSTRALIA*.

Love that Ute! it is gorgeous in person!

Straya I wouldn’t be able to live in a world without my utes😂

If you want your ute to really look tough - throw a HSV ve maloo hardlid and sailplane combo on the rear. They match up perfectly to the original and really blend the rear of the cab to the tray a lot better than the original

I have always loved the el camino and the Holden Utes. I think GM missed it by not building one for the States based on the Camaro chassis!