Alternative option

[Baur323]

Morning all,

As you know, I am on the lookout for a cheapish starter pack.

Came across this car over the weekend. It's a crown based chassis, that has some paperwork from 1997 that says the modifications to the chassis have been approved in WA.

Still need the tub floor, fire wall and boot floor to be finished

Its got a 302 Winsor and C4 box, LPG tank in the rear.

Its priced at $6k.

I guess it would only ever get club rego on lpg in NSW.

Stephen

[Jaydee]

Why can't you register it with LPG? It's never going to be as good a proper chassis type kit. But for a cheap runabout, go for it. If it was bought in 97 then the rego will be easier. I wouldn't go spending to much on it, as it will never sell for to much, even when you finish it.
JD

[deano59]

looks like a early g force kit i concur with jd while there are a few of them around they dont sell well .
there is a nice looking one in adelaide thats been on the market for well over 12 months that i know of and there have been a couple on car sales that sat they for a bloody long time . but saying that and you dont care whats uner the body and it does not cost a small fortune to get on the road and your happy with what it is why not .
but if you keep looking im sure another unfinished kit will turn up sooner than later .

cheers dean

[David Hodgson]

It's not a G-Force, it looks to be an old Auto Styling. These were also out of WA but very basic chassis mods compared to the G-Force options. If you are not in WA, it may be difficult (not impossible - read $$$) to have the chassis approved elsewhere. Also if the chassis is not shortened in the correct location, you won't be able to get the seats in low enough and you will be sitting with your head above the windscreen height.
If you can get more pics I can probably tell you some more about it. Is it close to you?

Not sure if straight gas is an option for NSW rego any more so the engine may not be of use to you. This was certainly an option in NSW as recent as 6 or 7 years back. You should check all this before any decision and before continuing your search.

If you are purely after a cruiser then it could be worth your while, but if you want it to perform reasonable on a track day, understand there will most likely be more work than fully fabricated chassis kits. Brakes and steering will need upgrades, diff upgrade if using anything more than a sedate 302 driven by Nanna. This is not to say they won't perform. There was one at the Nats running in the low 1:13's and placed 35th out of 61, but he was suffering brake issues by 3rd lap.

What you win on purchase price will be lost on parts and labour.

I have a G-Force Crown chassis with Jag rear, and are planning brake and steering upgrades. I like my Cobra because I'm attached to it and it suited my circumstance at the time, but if I were to build again, it would NOT be another Crown chassis one.

[Aussie Mike]

A couple of things to think to think on...

It cost about the same to paint a good kit as it does a cheap kit.

Engine and trans cost about the same for a good kit of a cheap kit.

It cost the same to wire a good kit as it does a cheap kit.

Wheels and tyres will cost the same for a good kit or a cheap kit.

Interior trimming will cost the same for a good kit or a cheap kit.

Engineering will cost the same for a good kit or a cheap kit (possibly more for a cheap kit as the good one will come with reports).

A good kit should drive and handle better than a cheap one (especially a Crown based one).

A finished Cobra based on a good kit will always sell for much more than a cheap one and sell easier.

My advice is to start with the best kit you can afford as the extra investment will pay for itself in the long run.

Cheers

[Treeve]

OK, so LPG does actually have emissions test values, so you'll need a valid emissions test, even if you're running LPG.

You'll need a NSW approval to get the vehicle completed... which would mean an ICV under the NSW regs, and so you've got pretty much no chance at all of getting this through as an ICV - it would fold up like a crisp packet.

Save your $6k.

Treeve

[dhs.buckley]

Is that the torsion test treeve?

[LoBelly]

IIRC: - the crown chassis was used because it enabled the cobra to be a re-body of the year of the source car rather than an ICV and at various points in time this was a major advantage.

At that time the chassis mod would have need to meet whatever the test/ requirements are/were for lopping off a roof.

Don't know what sort of a paper trail you'd need for that or if the option is still available

LB

[LoBelly]

dooble loop
LB

[boxhead]

Yes, I too thought the Crown option was done as a "ReBody" so must only meet ADR from 1972 (or year of the donor chassis), I am sure however that the chassis mods would need to be done by a ticketed welder and approved (who does approval I am not sure, but no different to when a truck chassis is extended/shortened)

[Baur323]

A few more pictures.

[Baur323]

A few more pics

[Baur323]

A few more

[750hp]

So mate, how do you feel about the feedback/advice that's been provided so far?

[Baur323]

In truth a bit all over the place. I am happy with a cruiser, not looking for a track day car but am worried about the rego. I guess I would be happy with a 60 day club rego if that was available in a few years time.

I could probaby stretch to a CR chassis and body now, but wouldn't have any funds for a while to be able to do stuff, hence the search for a cheap entry into the club.

Stephen

[LoBelly]

I don't know where you are Stephen - or what options are available states outside Vic.

But if you're looking at older projects like this then you probably need to talk to a local engineer before you buy to see what can be done in cases such as this one - i.e: what would be required for a 're-body'.

That way you'll be ready when one pops up and will know if you can take advantage of a project when you come across it.

good luck

LoBelly

[David Hodgson]

Boxhead and Lobelly are correct on the re-body advantage, however I believe this was really only an option in WA, NT and ACT. This is the direction I took as in '90 when I got approval in principle in ACT it included Jag Rear, leaded fuel and emission for the year of the engine (mines '68), and live side pipes no questions asked. I wanted the old school feel and budget was tight.

HOWEVER, I would not do it again.

With some more steel added, that chassis could probably pass the tests, but you would not be able to use the loop hole I did for emissions etc. The chassis has been shortened in the correct place to avoid an high seat position, in fact it looks like a GT Fibreglass chassis out of Perth.

I'm with all the others here, with all the work needed on this car, you might as well start with a better package and you'll suffer less hassles.

Sit tight, something will come up.

[Baur323]

Thanks for all the feedback gents, I passed on this one. I guess I will have to be careful of being blinded by my desire to get going.

Thanks once again.

[Cords WA]

Hello to all,

I have been looking at this very same car. I am located only a 15 minutes away from the car in WA. The only thing to add was that it is a Moylan body according to the add.

I have been wanting/dreaming of a Cobra for a very long time and have a very limited budget at the moment.

What would you guys think would be a budget to consider to finish the car?

Many thanks
Steve

[boxhead]

Coist will depend greatly on what you are capable of doing yourself, and to what level of "bling" you are chasing.
First thing is to figure out what the build is classed as (ICV or ReBody).
As this will make a huge difference to final price.
Mainly in what level of emission standards you must meet.