Cobia cars- a beginning

mickieb49 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 01:45 AM

Hi guys, over the past 8 months I have been developing a 2/3 scale cobra. I cnc machined the body plug out and am nearing molding, body measures 2.6 x 1.4 x 550 mm high.
It will be powered by a 1300 cc hayabusa motor, which will be dry sumped, shortened hilux diff, 15" rims, wilwood discs all round. Be a 2 seater and yes they will be ADR compliant to be registered here in NSW, yes I already have a engineer on side to help get it thru.
I plan on being ready to market the body and chassis kits early next year.
For those avid scale guys, not it is not 100% scale as I had to widen, lengthen and raise heights to get things to fit, but it is a very close example.
Regards mick

PeterAllen · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 02:15 AM

Just curious, where do you believe is your market?

mickieb49 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 02:25 AM

Peter, More at the guy who can't afford the full size car, hill climbs, dad and son project, or just anyone who wants something different.
This project just started off as just a idea to put a 250cc atv engine into a oversized go cart with a body on top, now it's just grown into a road registerable go cart. If putting 200hp into a 400kg car doesn't seem like fun, then so be it.

mickieb49 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 02:27 AM

Peter, More at the guy who can't afford the full size car, hill climbs, dad and son project, or just anyone who wants something different.
This project just started off as just a idea to put a 250cc atv engine into a oversized go cart with a body on top, now it's just grown into a road registerable go cart. If putting 200hp into a 400kg car doesn't seem like fun, then so be it.

750hp · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 03:21 AM

That should be a cool little thing. I hope you are able to keep everything to scale.
What do you expect it to weigh?

mickieb49 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 03:42 AM

Craig,
Expecting around 400 kg.

Modena · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 04:27 AM

Interesting idea! What do you think the cost will be????

Tommy · #8 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 04:36 AM

So, Cobia was not a typo. It's close to but not exactly a Cobra, right?

mickieb49 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modena

Interesting idea! What do you think the cost will be????

Looking at approx $2k for a body, expecting the chassis to be around $2500
For a Roller probably close to 10k, but this is not locked in fully yet

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

So, Cobia was not a typo. It's close to but not exactly a Cobra, right?

Cobia is the name of the cars I will be doing, sorta like the "brand" I am going to be doing a variety of bodies to fit on the same chassis, from cars like a Porsche 356 , 57' corvette, Holden Efigy, XY Falcon. Obviously this will be a long winded process as making the plugs is a very time consuming passion.

Gav · #10 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 02:31 PM

Looks like a whole lot of fun to me!

Linden · #11 (**permalink**) 02-09-2016, 07:02 PM

If you ever need inspiration or parts I race a legend car which is a 5/8 scale hot rod running a Yamaha 1250cc motor. They race on dirt and tar.

mickieb49 · #12 (**permalink**) 02-10-2016, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linden

If you ever need inspiration or parts I race a legend car which is a 5/8 scale hot rod running a Yamaha 1250cc motor. They race on dirt and tar.

Appreciate the help Linden, im familiar with the Aussie Legends, lively little cars indeed.
Regards Mick

Donunder · #13 (**permalink**) 02-10-2016, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gav

Looks like a whole lot of fun to me!

Me too!

A light-weight two seater mini XY with a turbo'd Hyabusa engine and sequential box sounds a hoot.

Not to get carried away just yet though -- sounds like Treeve would have his work cut out with these little fellers if they were to ever see road use.

Treeve · #14 (**permalink**) 02-11-2016, 02:52 AM

G'day Gents,

I have made the decision to do no further ICVs.

Please can you pm me the name of your engineer (or put it up here) so I can refer all further customer requests on to him?

I will also not be continuing with the ICV / LVM thing. I no longer have the energy to argue with the RMS and just want my life back before my kids have grown up.

Treeve

deano59 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-11-2016, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treeve

G'day Gents,

I have made the decision to do no further ICVs.

Please can you pm me the name of your engineer (or put it up here) so I can refer all further customer requests on to him?

I will also not be continuing with the ICV / LVM thing. I no longer have the energy to argue with the RMS and just want my life back before my kids have grown up.

Treeve

sorry too hear that treeve
you will be a great loss but i understand wanting to spend time with your kids they grow so fast best of luck
deano

boxhead · #16 (**permalink**) 02-15-2016, 09:31 PM

Could be a fun little car, I dont really like your chances at registration, but you never know until you try.

Probably better to market as a "race car" type series, either on dirt or on a circuit.

Maybe a NSW series to get yourself started.

mickieb49 · #17 (**permalink**) 02-17-2016, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxhead

Could be a fun little car, I dont really like your chances at registration, but you never know until you try.

Probably better to market as a "race car" type series, either on dirt or on a circuit.

Maybe a NSW series to get yourself started.

Hi, I've already got a engineer that will sign it off. Provided that I use all adr compliant components there wont be a problem.
As you said , time will tell.

Molding the body this weekend...yay.... I'm over the sanding..

Bernica · #18 (**permalink**) 02-17-2016, 03:52 PM

Me thinks that this car will be a big hit at retirement communities, especially if street legal. They can leave the community and drive to the market or whatever. Also would be big on the golf course if it could be converted to carry the bags.

Rob. Smith · #19 (**permalink**) 02-18-2016, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treeve

G'day Gents,

I have made the decision to do no further ICVs.

Please can you pm me the name of your engineer (or put it up here) so I can refer all further customer requests on to him?

I will also not be continuing with the ICV / LVM thing. I no longer have the energy to argue with the RMS and just want my life back before my kids have grown up.

Treeve

Yes its a sad thing. My Engineer also left the game because of the ridiculous insurance and constant petty changes made by uninformed and uninterested authorities. Sorry to see you leave the fight but glad to see you have your priorities correct. good luck in the future.

Donunder · #20 (**permalink**) 02-18-2016, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernica

Me thinks that this car will be a big hit at retirement communities, especially if street legal. They can leave the community and drive to the market or whatever. Also would be big on the golf course if it could be converted to carry the bags.

I think the bar is being set far higher than this.

There are already any number of battery-powered conveyances available to residents of retirement villages and to golfers.

Mick might well be tilting at windmills, knowing the bloody-mindedness of our registration and compliance authorities, but time will tell, and in the meantime I'm sure he has the support and best wishes of us all to see his dream come to fruition.