Hi,

First of all welcome to Australia.

I've never imported a car so I can't help with that directly but I'm sure there is lots of information on the Australian Customs web site or the Victorian Roads Authority (I'm in NSW so I don't know their name down there but you should be able to Google it) - they look after registrations and licensing and will have what you need to know on getting the car registered.

The real reason I'm writing is that it might be easier (but not cheaper) to have someone do it all for you.  I bought a 164Q that was imported from Hong Kong with a full compliance plate attached.  It was imported by Brian Foley who sill runs a servicing operation and might still bring in the odd car on the side.  Either they could do it all for you or may be able to give you some tips.  Here's a link.

http://www.foleyalfa.com.au/contact.php

The other option with a 166 is to sell yours over there and buy another one here.  Their resale value is hopeless here and it might be a cheaper option than to import yours (but yes only the 3.2 auto and by all reports the auto is not too good).

Check out some prices:
http://www.drive.com.au
http://www.carsales.com.au

Good luck.

No problem importing an older car (prior to 1976) particulaly if you are imigrating. There are several freight ports from G.B. and simple requirements are that the car is steam cleaned and air conditioning gas (if fitted) is dumped. I wouldn't bother wih the other cars you mentioned. You wouldn't recoup the freight and trouble costs as the compliance laws are some of the most stringent in the world here in Australia. Also the market here poorly views private imports so G.B 166 models would be difficult to onsell.There is plenty of good examples of 166 here at very affordable prices and petrol cost is currently $1.10 a litre, so you should have little concern if you want a 3.2.
See you in 2009.

Absolutely 100% essential that you apply for and obtain an import permit from DOTARS (www.dotars.gov.au) BEFORE you ship out the car/s. 
If a motorised vehicle lands in Oz without the DOTARS permit - you have 2 choices - ship it back out or have it crushed.  There is no 3rd option. 
I know cos i do this for a living(the importing, not the crushing) and have had the pleasure of re-export (after someone elses customer imported without the permit) a car back to the UK.  The end result - about $15000 in lost expenses, 6 mths in lost time whislt the importer tried to argue the point and no car in Australia.  I have also imported an Alfa Race car and a Lambo drag car.

This applies to ANY significant motorised vehcile regardless of if intending to licence for use on public roads - Motorcycle, drag car, race car, truck, bus, motorhome etc. Doesnt apply to things like wheelchairs, gophers etc.

If in doubt check the DOTARS website.
Then you are still subject to relevant State licensing policy.

I know this is off the wall, but I think it's interesting:

$66,210 would buy a 2004 Maserati Quattroporte with 25,700 kms in the UK

$169,000 would buy a 2005 Maserati Quattroporte with 32,000 kms in Oz

If I could convince the wife!?!



There doesn't seem to be so much of a difference on the 159 so perhaps I'll go for a Q4 in Oz after all. 

You still don't make an economic case for bringing either of the 166 vehicles to Australia. Their worth here could be in the $5000 region as 'grey imports' are viewed pooly and there would be plenty of other late model manual Alfa vehicle to choose from at affordable prices. Certainly the Masser would be worth the pain....... but maybe not the cost of divorce.