Merv, the Anaconda was sold in Queensland by a Rick Percival of Yeronga and a Connor Craig of the North Coast somewhere (I think Buderim) under the Trading Name of AC Cars Anaconda. It had type approval in Queensland by the authorities and is, as far as I know, the only Cobra replica to endure and pass a multitude of tests to gain approval. It was then the only Cobra approved for use in Queensland.
It utilized a series 2 Jag front end and a Jag rear. Originally approved with a 302 Ford Windsor and a top loader or single rail box. To be accepted by Main Roads (in those days) it had to be built strictly to a published build standard and registration approval was conducted by comparison to that standard.
By the way, the tests I refer included a finished car being filled (literally) with damp sand to check the burst strength of the door latches. I'm also led to believe that prior to the tests the chassis was a single plane ladder chassis and they had to improve the side intrusion and did so by adding a second side rail.
The partnership of the above gentlemen dissolved when Conner Craig went to the gulf and attempted to assemble and sell the car in the United Arab Emirates. Rick Percival then purchased the Windmill snack bar on Wickham Terrace.
The car is highly respected by those who were around in those days and know the history of the Cobra replica business in Queensland. All this, by the way, was way before Dennis Bedford started making the first series DRB.
I'm also told a couple of the very early DRB cobras were registered using the Anaconda type approval and without an inspection. Merely a Stat Dec of build.
Having said all that, the car was then and is still manufactured by RMC.
The two gentlemen referred to above were the sole Queensland Distributor of the RMC ( via their Trading name) and sold it as the Anaconda.
In fact my car was one of the last three Anaconda built and was destined to go to the Arab Emirates as a left hand drive car. Conflict in the gulf caused Connor Craig to abandon that idea and after a while those three cars were sold off.
That help at all.
