Cobra from USA to you ?

[John-Tucson]

A friend is considering giving his Cobra to his son who lives in Australia. It is currently registered and titled in Arizona. It has a FE, 390, 500 HP, 5 seed tremic. Made by Lonestar about ten years ago. Are there any problems that he could encounter getting the car into Australia. Once in your country what is the registeration priocess like? Will they accept a USA registration or will a new one have to be made ? Any help that you can give is appricated. Thanks, John

[boxhead]

What is it titled as?
What year?

There seems to be a "loop hole" in the system, if a Cobra built in the USA is "Titled as (example) 1967, then the Australian authorities see it as a 1967 year model car, and in doing that the car can remain left hand drive and is legal with the pre emission motor.

It will all depend on its "title"

[spookypt]

Gidday John and Boxy, from witnessing another CC members import fun over 2009 - 2010 period, I can assure you from experience that that loophole no longer exists... Trying to get import approval on a "1965" titled Cobra to avoid ADR's etc into Australia from January 2010 has become....well almost impossible. They are onto it! That's not saying it hasn't been done before, it has.... but the future looks bleak for anyone now trying... You can still bring in any cobra you like, but it will need to meet meet ADR's unlike cars 30 years and older etc etc.
A genuine 1965 with proven documented history can still come in under the 30 year rule.. But at 700k for a real Cobra...you'll be paying LCT on anythng above about 50K plus GST on bill freight and shipping so it gets VERY expensive!
John, PM me if you want to know specifics...

SpookyPT

[boxhead]

There ya go, looks like things have changed.

[spookypt]

Current import calculations for bringing cars into Oz are...

If vehicle is less than 30 years old = 5% DUTY + 10% GST + Luxury car Tax (LCT) calculated at 33% for every dollar over AUD $ 57,180

If the vehicle is over 30 years old NO DUTY is applicable , however 10% GST and LCT calculated at 33% for every dollar over AUD $ 57,180

If a race vehicle Duty is calculated at 5% + 10% GST

SpookyPT

[PCC]

So I presume your next project is the 3rd option

[spookypt]

Still probing Mr PCC... You'r e a funny bugger.... Knowledge is power when making decisions...that's all
Just trying to be helpful and shed some info on a forum topic to those who may not have as much insight into the dark side of vehicle importing...

It can be a little intimidating and costly to the unwary...

SpookyPT

[Legless]

I've been looking into this and am still to talk to the RTA (still waiting on them to call me back) For those of you considering importing a Cobra to NSW Australia, one that you haven’t owned and driven whilst you’ve been living overseas for more than 12 months, these seem to be the requirements:

Before you ship your vehicle you need to obtain a ‘Vehicle Import Approval’ from the Vehicle Safety Standards Branch (VSSB) of the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS), allow a minimum of 17 days.

Then there are the various charges for shipping, customs duty 10% < 30 years 0% > 30 years, GST 10% and possibly Luxuary Car Tax which is about 25% of the landed value of the car (including all the charges) in excess of $57009 AUD.

Theoretically it is possible to register any vehicle that was manufactured before the 1st of January 1989 BUT only if the vehicle complies with the Australian Design Rules at the time the vehicle was manufactured. A statement from the manufacturer stateing that the vehicle was originally built and complies to Australian specifications relevant at the time of manufacture is a mandatory requirement.

Without seeking proffessional advice it seems to me that apart from the Road Vehicle Certification Scheme which is aimed at commercial enterprises, (Backdraft is listed but not approved) it seems to me that Conditional registration seems the only legal way to drive an imported car on NSW roads.

A car can be conditionally registered and driven on NSW roads even in LHD if older than 30 years. The headlights need to dip down or down and to the left and you need flat external mirrors that give a clear view to following and overtaking vehicles . Depending on how you interpret the RTA’s forms and which one has precedence it may be (conditional registration form) or it may not be (Left hand drive form) necessary to display a left hand drive sign on the rear of the vehicle. You can get a copy of the publication here:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...vsi40_rev1.pdf

The manufactured date, which is the date that the car was first registered, must be older than 30 years. NB It doesn't matter what it is titled as, you have to produce documentary evidence of the car being registered a minimum of 30 years ago. Applications must be accompanied by a Historic Vehicle Declaration form (RTA 1259) and signed by a club official stating they are a financial member of an RTA recognised historic vehicle club. Vehicles can only be used for authorised club events or for servicing or inspection. You can get one here: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/publicatio...s/45070967.pdf
.
You need to join an RTA recognized historic vehicle club. For a club to be recognized they need to contact the Historic Vehicle Coordinator, Driver and Vehicle administration at Grafton on (02) 6604 9391. This is the number I rang to ask about the requirements for the club to be recognized and I'm still waiting.

Don't take this as gospel as it's only what I've read and interpreted from the various government web sites regarding NSW requirements. If you know a better way please let me know.

[Legless]

Hi John
In summary, there is no problem getting the car into Australia, just have the necessary paperwork in place as per the previous post. The problems will arise when you try and register it for road use and those will probably be different issues for different states. Do you know what state he lives in.

[spookypt]

Hey Legless, very informative... Interesting your comment Re: BackDraft. I think PYTHON Cars was an agent for them here.. Wonder if this is why they are mentioned...not sure if they are anymore though?

I have heard a story about a Kirkham imported here a few years ago....

One story (From guys in our Qld Club) has it that it had to undergo massive alterations to meet ADR's and the fellow spent oodles to get it over the line..

The other (told to me by one of the Head Writers At Unique Cars - Phil Walker) a cobra Tragic.... that it was bought by a prominent car collector and it wasn't a problem as it was 30 years old....

Dunno which one is true, but as you say...anything is possible if time and money allows...

SpookypT

[Legless]

Hi Spooky
Both stories are possibly true and you are probably right regarding Python as Robnell is listed as well, which I thought strange considering they are an Australian manufacturer and listing was probably only due to something associated with importation or maybe they have to be listed under the scheme as well as a domestic supplier of vehicles under the 'Specialist and Enthusiasts vehicle scheme' I don't know. They have probably made the application but I don't know if they have actually gone through with it and imported a Backdraft and modified it to current ADRs. You can find the list at http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...evs/index.aspx
If the vehicle is used, you may be able to have it imported under the Registered Automotive Workshop Scheme (RAWS). RAWS caters for specialist and enthusiast used imported vehicles not available in Australia in full volumes by mainstream manufacturers. Under RAWS, eligible vehicles can be imported and modified to meet the Australian vehicle safety standards - the Australian Design Rules (ADRs). Only approved workshops can apply to import RAWS vehicles and only approved workshops can carry out the work to make the vehicles comply with the ADRs.
A vehicle is eligible for import if it meets the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS) criteria and it matches the eligibility entry in the Register of Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles (the Register). An import approval will not be issued if the vehicle details do not match the Register entry. You know before I started looking into this stuff I suffered from really bad insomnia........

[Plums]

I am a RAWS signatory, and to bring just one vehicle in (one singular vehicle, NOT one vehicle type) under the RAWS scheme would be very expensive.

It could be done as the "test vehicle" for that particular type of vehicle, but the testing is very intense....

Probably not an option...

[soulman]

I have heard a story about a Kirkham imported here a few years ago....

One story (From guys in our Qld Club) has it that it had to undergo massive alterations to meet ADR's and the fellow spent oodles to get it over the line..



Dunno which one is true, but as you say...anything is possible if time and money allows...

SpookypT[/quote]

[1985 CCX]

Sent my CCX there......

[Wazza]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

Sent my CCX there......

Don't worry Jeff....she's in good hands...

Look what I saw sitting out front of Craig White's place a couple of days ago!!
(RCR Australia)...



PLUS...

She'll have all these other playmates inside the shop....




Craig loves his cars, and she'll be looked after I'm sure.

Cheers,
Warren.

[spookypt]

What is it with No:7's! Ole Barry Sheene will be most happy! RIP!

[John-Tucson]

Thank you guys for all of the information. I have relayed it to the owner but I don't think that he will want to try and bring the car over there. It certanily seems that there are many hoops to jump through and various agencies to deal with. T'll keep you posted on what his decision will be.

[Legless]

Hey Soul
Did you have to do many modifications to get your Kirkham 'over the line'?

[BMK]

Mmmm and look what was next to it... When I was up in Queensland on Wednesday....



And look where it is now just four days later. In my garage..


Think this must be some type of Majic trick as this is over 2000k away....

[BMK]

Wazza

Sorry had to get back home for the All Ford Day, otherwise I would have caught up. May see you at Shelby Fest in Victoria at Winton Raceway.

Bernie