Looking at buying a cobra, needs help!!

[victord]

Hi all. Admittedly I am a newbie and welcome all responses and opinions.

I found a Cobra in South America that was actually manufactured in South America by a company called FAMI of Venezuela. I never heard of them and I can't find anything about them on the internet.

The car was built in 2000 by the mfg. on a Malibu chassis and has a 400 Chevy engine. It is mechanically excellent, the interior is excellent, and the outside is very good.

I have attached a picture of the car. I can acquire this car for a very good price. I already have everything setup to ship it to the U.S. although I need to talk to customs about this one.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Victor

[joeg]

Look's like Performance Car's Venom 427
Joeg

[rated x]

plenty of good cobras here in U.S. priced reasonable

[RallySnake]

Victor,

I would be a little worried about a chassis from an old car that has been cut and rewelded to fit under this car. Does it have a steel hoop up under the dash and behind the driver's seat? Does it have reinforcement through the doors? You want some protection in case someone hits you. I have looked up under some cars and been amazed by the lack of a proper perimeter frame without any crash protection. A strong frame is also necessary to keep the suspension working right in cornering situations and over rough roads.

The price would have to be very low to make me take a hard look at this car.

Paul

[Excaliber]

Hold out for the right price on a USA Cobra is what I would do. That "Chevcatastrophe" has got to be heavy as hell. I'm not sure a replica Cobra like that will even bring in the "teens" in terms of dollars in the US.

Look for an FFR out of Arizona for a "good deal". Occasionally you can find one in the "teens". Rumor has it you can also, all though rare, snag an ERA 427 at a reasonable price.

Ernie

[klayfish]

Victor, this isn't an Ebay car, is it? It's been a topic around here lately of "out of the country" Cobras and sellers. As was posted here, there are lots of good Cobras for sale in the US. I'd also be cautious of a Cobra built on a frame of a big old car. If it is safely built, it'll probably be heavy and may not handle as well.

Steve

[victord]

The car is going for around $5000. Plus it will cost me approximately $1000 to ship, so the total cost is around $6000.

The concensus appears to be that it won't be a great car. I think I agree without having seen the car in person yet just based on the Malibu chassis and the assembly in South America. "Chevcatastrophe" as someone put it (lol). However, the price is unbeatable for a Cobra replica in that excellent condition. Even if it doesn't have a "hoop-up" someone mentioned (whatever that is), it still might be a good value, and the reinforcement can probably be welded in later, even in the doors maybe, I don't know. Obviously I don't know much about building cars.

I'm in Venezuela right now visiting a girlfriend and I will need to drive or fly a few hundred miles just to see and drive it (not easy to do like in the U.S.) I need to decide in the next few days what I'm going to do. I'll keep you guys posted, thanks for the comments. Any more suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!

Victor

[Excaliber]

You know,,,,,, at that price,,,,,, maybe I would take a look. Aint no way you'll find anything like it in the US at that price.

..... then again probably aint no way you'll find anything like anywhere, period!

In the end, it DO look like a Cobra, if the doors don't open, what the heck, jump in! Don't open the hood, and BOOM, you got yourself a Cobra!

Ernie

[RallySnake]

Victor,

For that price, I'd go look. The body alone could be worth the price. Find a way to get under the car, a lift would be best. Look to see if the frame looks solid and comes out to the edge of the car outside of the seats.

By hoop, I mean a steel tube, could be round or square, that runs from the top of the frame up under the dashboad and across the car and down the other side. It should be over your legs while sitting in the car. This is important to support the windshield and keep the body from shaking and offer some roll-over protection and provide a strong point to mount the door hinges. Some manufacturers have another hoop that comes up behind the seats to support the rear bodywork and provide an strong point for the door latches. You can usually reach up under the rear fender and feel this hoop.

The Chevy 400 engine is very powerful for it's size and weight. It's weakness is in the thin siamesed cylinder walls. You do not want this engine to overheat. Check the oil dipstick to look for clean clear oil. A white milky substance would be very bad (water in the oil). If you can test drive the car, try to go more than ten miles keeping an eye on the water temperature. If it stays under control, it could be a great deal!

Importing a non-US spec car into the States could be a major hassle. If you need help with this part, let us know. There are ways to make it easier.

Good Luck,
Paul

[victord]

I do need help with importing. I'm guessing that the DOT will have no problem with giving it a "kit" car title. But I just don't know if the customs guy will accept the car based on rules which the car doesn't meet. I would hate to see the car loaded back onto the freighter and sent back to S. America! Paul please let me know what it will take to get this car into the U.S.

Thanks-

Victor

[grumpy]

victord,

I understand the mechanics are still in place for "importation of racing purposes only" vehicles, then they some how mysteriously wind up on the street registered and driven.

I brought a T70 LOLA full race and set it up for street. Had to go thru CANADA since the NYC guys are keen on this. A SA car, they'll probably worry more about digging thru it for drugs and not safety/omission certification.

So it's not out of the question.
grumpy

[victord]

Thanks to all for your suggestions and opinions.

I received some more information on the car today.

The engine is indeed a 400 small block Chevy. Does anyone know the stock hP and torque on that?

The model is a 2000 replica of a 1967 425 Cobra.

Tomorrow I have a seat reserved on Aeropostal and am flying to the city Valencia where the car is to see it in the morning and flying back to where I am staying in the evening. I have to put a 10% deposit ($500) on the car to hold it. I plan to complete the sale in the coming weeks when I figure out the best way to get it into the U.S. That is, if I like the car.

It looks like it needs a better paint job too, I'll know for sure tomorrow.

Any last minute suggestions on what to look for?


Victor