Moving to Aus.

[David Jefferies]

Hi Club Cobra members . I currently reside in Sout Africa but are moving to Brisbane in a few months. I am currently building a Cobra from scratch , its not an BDR or any of the other well known makes , it's completely self build. Other than the shell. I have been reading some of your posts and have come to realize that the car I am building would not pass roadworthy in Aus.we don't need to fit cats, head restraints side mounted indicators etc. Could someone please point me in the right direction on the criteria for roadworthy in AUS for Cobras.I would like to get most of the changes done before I ship it out. Thanks.

[Gav]

Have a look at this thread.
uk cob import

[Dimis]

Welcome David, both to the forum and to our sunshine state.

If you have gotten that far scratch building it on your own, then I don't see you having any problems that you wont be able to overcome.

The "road worthy" will be the easy part.
The ADR compliance the not so easy (read frustrating) part.

The first thing you'll need to do is hit up a local engineer here who will help guide you through the process. I'm thinking the QLD club guys would be best placed to offer recommendations.

Wishing you the best of luck with the cobra and your move to the other side of the globe.

Thx

[boxhead]

This is the Australian Vehicle Standards Bulletin.
https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/.../vsb_ncop.aspx

This is the "Bible" that our vehicles must comply by.
This lists all vehicles so an engineer will be the one who advises you which parts are applicable to a passenger car build.

Depending where you are moving to (which state) the rules vary and bend a little.
Also it might be an option to look at "club rego"

Sadly tough, the fact may be that you are looking at a track only car, and may be better to finish it and sell in South Africa, or put it away and wait.

[spookypt]

Look forward to meeting you when you arrive David.

Your car looks suspension looks Backdrft iish with the E36 BMW suspension in the rear and front?

Spookypt

[750hp]

Welcome David, and congratulations on a sensible choice for the best city in Australia to live in!

Your background isn't in pathology by any chance?

Thinking out aloud - are there still significant challenges with engineer drawings and testing for hand built chassis and all mounting attachments. I remember seeing requirements not only for beaming and torsional testing, but dissected examples of welds, some dramas with door latch mounting points etc, etc.
At the time, destructive testing was required on sample fibreglass that replicated the body composition...!

I'm sure it's a labour of love for you, so it would be hard to sell it at this stage...but it would probably be the easiest option. There are always Cobras here on the second hand market at all sorts of pricing and quality levels, not to mention the option of building yourself a world standard Cobra from new when you get here.

[Zedn]

As posted by box head above vsb14 has most the requirements, but some of its Australian design rules (adr's) references are out of date. The ADRs provide the rest of the information.
https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/...dr_online.aspx

You will need to check up on the importing rules. Treeve on here has knowledge in this area as he's done it from the uk, but I think it needs import approval.

[deano59]

be a shame to have to lose the carby as well :-( it looks the part with it on there

[Dimis]

It's a scratch build. So I'm assuming there are no numbers on this car, nor chassis, no rego history or similar. So it should be pretty easy to ship here as parts and continue the build.

The problem of qualifying the sum of the parts once here, as a verifiable car, would be a process of simply applying to build an ICV. Then jumping the terrible maze of hurdles for that. That's the part that I believe will be most challenging, but not impossible.
I mean every ICV has to go through this process, some just have a bigger head start than others.

Or is it NOT as simple as that?
I for one can't imagine too many issues importing this.
Technically he won't be importing a car. But hey I'm NO authority on this topic.

[David Jefferies]

Thanks to all for your replies. I had a look at the gov. sites but I think it would be easier to try and make the changes to the car when I get there. It would be a sad day though if I couldn't drive it down the road and only take it to the track as I think these cars are better suited to cruising than outright track day cars. To awnser Sookypt question the chassis is based on the Backdraft with a few changes and suspension is from a M3 E36 with ISC Coilovers ( actually from Australia) should get some brownie point for that . The bodyshell , door pins etc is from Backdraft so hopefully that would help with the criteria around the door latches and hinges and fibreglass quality. At this stage there is no chassis numbers or registration documents. I was contiplating sending it over as spares and continuing the build on that side , but not to sure if customs would see it as spares , as it would be a drivable car.

[Tenrocca]

Surely at worst you could say its a race car then go through the icv process once you get here. Reckon that engine as is may be a problem with emissions though.

[muzzza]

Welcome David,
If you have a well designed chassis that either has, or could be tested to satisfy beaming / torsional testing ...........then I would be tempted to give it a go.
I can not see a lot of detail from your pics, but provided the chassis is well designed, structurally sound and "well crafted"......With a little patience and a GOOD engineer / certifier, I am sure you could work thru' all the other compliance issues.
Front and rear suspension appears to be largely OEM components.......which has to be a good start....a lot better than some of the stuff that I have seen, that has made it onto the road over here.
If you really "Luv" that car and she's a keeper..........then give it a go - You may just get it on the road......Worst possible scenario is a nice track car.
Would be interested to see any data you may have re chassis design / structure. Muz

[Wazza]

Originally Posted by David Jefferies

Thanks to all for your replies. I had a look at the gov. sites but I think it would be easier to try and make the changes to the car when I get there. It would be a sad day though if I couldn't drive it down the road and only take it to the track as I think these cars are better suited to cruising than outright track day cars. To awnser Sookypt question the chassis is based on the Backdraft with a few changes and suspension is from a M3 E36 with ISC Coilovers ( actually from Australia) should get some brownie point for that . The bodyshell , door pins etc is from Backdraft so hopefully that would help with the criteria around the door latches and hinges and fibreglass quality. At this stage there is no chassis numbers or registration documents. I was contiplating sending it over as spares and continuing the build on that side , but not to sure if customs would see it as spares , as it would be a drivable car.

Ya gotta love that Spooky....classic typo !!!! Lol

[soulman]

Isn't there some law that says Cobras are not allowed to have autos ?

Soul.

[David Jefferies]

Sorry Spooky it was late when that happened Lol. What do you guys do with emissions on that side with carburetor engines ?

[damage]

Looks like a ladder chassis from what I could zoom in on so shouldn't need to do do beaming and torsion test.

[spookypt]

He knows me too well already!

Sooky pt

[spookypt]

Soul your right. Chev and auto combo won't make it through quarantine or customs.! In fact if you disclose that combo on entry they might send you back to SA.

[Gav]

At least my chev and auto combo makes it through a race meeting Spook ��

[spookypt]

Ouch! But true.