Looking to buy my first Cobra 427 S/C in Oz

[spookypt]

Soz too late sold!

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by xb-60

I wanted to have my 289 in Viking Blue, but relying on information from the '60s as to the codes and formulations didn't sit well enough with me. I spoke with Trevor Legate about paint colours, and he told me which particular picture in one of his books was the closest to Viking Blue....and then I looked for a late-ish model car that matched the picture colour, and got the paint code from that. Took a while, but I'm happy with that colour on my car.

All part of the "journey"!

Cheers,
Glen

Ha ha the 'journey'...... more like a search for the Holy Grail, it never ends. The more I learn the more I realise I dont know

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by spookypt

Stef’s car

OOOhhhh yeah, perfect, thankyou very much what is his number. What a great looking car. Hard to tell for sure but looks like a great reproduction of CSX3034. Gee even LHD and already in Oz.

Could you PM me his contact details please

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by spookypt

soz too late sold!

Dooohhhhh !?!?!?!

[CobraAddict]

God dam it. It was never advertised that I know of over say the last 6 months !

[CobraAddict]

I assume its an import given its LHD. Do you have his conatct details anyway. PM if you can. I would like to talk to him more about how he got it ! Ahh its a lovely car, even has period metal blade cooling fans, tripod lucas PL head lights and period mirrors. Do you know what make the car is?

[Dimis]

Contemporary. Ccx

And i really really liked his old car! It was a redone robnell.
The dude has great taste in Conrad!

[spookypt]

OK for clarity. As Dimis said its a Contemporary of guess 87-88 Vintage. Was never advertised as generally most sort after cars aren't. Stef owned a car before this which was a Robnell which now resides in Qld which also was a lovely car. His contemporary has a very interesting history... but all legit. He didnt import it but Im not going into detail here. Though it did nearly get sent back to the good Ole USofA due to the car being purchased and on the water before pre-import approval had been approved. Was a right on the cusp of how things used to work and the crackdown but its still in its own right completely legit and legal.
I'll say it again, take your time, talk to clubs and cobra meets and do your research quietly and people will assist. The guy who bought Stefs latest car chased it for over a year.... it wont be sold again for quite a while.

[spookypt]

Stef old Robnell

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by CobraAddict

.....The more I learn the more I realise I dont know

That means you've learnt a lot, my friend, so well done! It's an important milestone and means that the mistakes you'll make along the way will be smaller and less expensive

Cheers!
Glen

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by CobraAddict

Has anyone ever tried to simply import a US Cobra into Australia?.....

Yes, I started to go down that path back in 2011 before I decided it was too hard, and went local (PACE).

What I found was, as has been stated previously, that the car had to be '89 build or older. As I looked into it further, I found that it would also need to be converted to RHD, which was going to cause me way too many problems. The car was an ERA 427 with a 427SO, but being an ERA, it was built so that the left side of the interior was wider than the right side, and from memory, the engine was slightly offset to the right as well. I spoke at length to Peter Portante about the mods needed, and it was just way too expensive to contemplate.

Bear in mind though ....I'm in Adelaide, and the requirements are different State to State, and as you're also finding out, they can change periodically as well.

We will all stay tuned!

Cheers,
Glen

[spookypt]

Have a read here https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/ve...ports/new.aspx

Ive never heard of the LHD/RHD conversion being required. Might be SA specific but dunno. Certainly not at the time in NSW QLD or Vico.

The real issue is proving the vehicles age with supporting docs to get pre-import approval while at the same time NOT handing money over for the car because if the GOV knocks you back you own a car you cant get into the country. Most have been done through 3rd parties who sight/know the car, know its providence and have the docs to prove it. Makes the wait a little less intense.

Its all even harder now as people bastardised the system (aka bringing in FFR made in mid 2000's but claiming its a 65) as well as the issues over proving it has no asbestos etc etc. Those who falsely imported cars as 65's are being sighted at car shows and the like and being told to come into the DOT PITS for inspection to prove their age. Babummmm.

And lastly, pre 89 cars are rare on the ground per capita of ownershop. Contemporary yes has a few, ERA maybe as well. Had there been more I can guarantee there'd have been someone specialising in bringing in those cars here but there's not enough to go around to make it viable.

All the loop holes have been tried. Stay on track and do it legit. There are a few expensive cobra sized paper weights sitting in garages around Oz atm.

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by spookypt

OK for clarity. As Dimis said its a Contemporary of guess 87-88 Vintage. Was never advertised as generally most sort after cars aren't. Stef owned a car before this which was a Robnell which now resides in Qld which also was a lovely car. His contemporary has a very interesting history... but all legit. He didnt import it but Im not going into detail here. Though it did nearly get sent back to the good Ole USofA due to the car being purchased and on the water before pre-import approval had been approved. Was a right on the cusp of how things used to work and the crackdown but its still in its own right completely legit and legal.
I'll say it again, take your time, talk to clubs and cobra meets and do your research quietly and people will assist. The guy who bought Stefs latest car chased it for over a year.... it wont be sold again for quite a while.

Yes I had spoken to Dimis about this fellow before. Didn't realise it was the same guy. Both cars are lovely. I didnt realise we even have such authentic cars in Oz. I haven't seen any this good in terms of authenticity yet in Victoria or at at least the car shows I rock up at where Cobra's are present. It gives me greater hope thnat I may yet be able to find a ready built one to my liking when I am ready with cash in hand to buy.
That blue one I would have bought in a heartbeat, even being a LHD I dont think would have stopped me

Also learned something new again today. All about 'The Contemporary Classic Motor Company' who I had never heard of until now. What great cars they had made. Esp[ecially for the purist nuts like me

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by xb-60

That means you've learnt a lot, my friend, so well done! It's an important milestone and means that the mistakes you'll make along the way will be smaller and less expensive

Cheers!
Glen

Do I get a gold star I know I still have a long way to go yet but am enjoying the journey very much so far. Just received a book I bought a month ago now off eBay from the UK. 'Shelby Cobra, The Snake that Conquered the World' by Colin Comer. Only had a chance to skip through it atm but it does look like a great read.

Also found a new benchmark car for me to consider copying, CSX3025.... lovely

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Yes, I started to go down that path back in 2011 before I decided it was too hard, and went local (PACE).

What I found was, as has been stated previously, that the car had to be '89 build or older. As I looked into it further, I found that it would also need to be converted to RHD, which was going to cause me way too many problems. The car was an ERA 427 with a 427SO, but being an ERA, it was built so that the left side of the interior was wider than the right side, and from memory, the engine was slightly offset to the right as well. I spoke at length to Peter Portante about the mods needed, and it was just way too expensive to contemplate.

Bear in mind though ....I'm in Adelaide, and the requirements are different State to State, and as you're also finding out, they can change periodically as well.

We will all stay tuned!

Cheers,
Glen

OOOhhh yeah. I've recently downloaded my quick start guide of 99 pages called 'Interim arrangements - Guidance relating to specialist and enthusiast vehicles' produced by 'Road Vehicle Standards' under the Dept of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications of the Australian Government.

It replaced the old 'Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989' What a headf.,k

Bottom line it is very doubtful that the car will be classed as pre-89 unless it is actually a pre 89 build. Also the fact that I am not importing a car that I actually owned for 12 months while OS makes it much harder again.

Realistically I doubt very much I will be importing a car from the USA.

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by spookypt

Have a read here https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/ve...ports/new.aspx

Ive never heard of the LHD/RHD conversion being required. Might be SA specific but dunno. Certainly not at the time in NSW QLD or Vico.

The real issue is proving the vehicles age with supporting docs to get pre-import approval while at the same time NOT handing money over for the car because if the GOV knocks you back you own a car you cant get into the country. Most have been done through 3rd parties who sight/know the car, know its providence and have the docs to prove it. Makes the wait a little less intense.

Its all even harder now as people bastardised the system (aka bringing in FFR made in mid 2000's but claiming its a 65) as well as the issues over proving it has no asbestos etc etc. Those who falsely imported cars as 65's are being sighted at car shows and the like and being told to come into the DOT PITS for inspection to prove their age. Babummmm.

And lastly, pre 89 cars are rare on the ground per capita of ownershop. Contemporary yes has a few, ERA maybe as well. Had there been more I can guarantee there'd have been someone specialising in bringing in those cars here but there's not enough to go around to make it viable.

All the loop holes have been tried. Stay on track and do it legit. There are a few expensive cobra sized paper weights sitting in garages around Oz atm.

I have been pouring through that webiste recently and yes as far as I can tell you can have LHD. Indeed you see allot more classic LHD yank tanks nowadays on our roads such as Mustangs, Chevy's, Buicks, Cadallacs etc and at club meets. The issue now appears to be, is the car a pre or post 89 build car ? Especially now with the new 'Interim arrangements - Guidance relating to specialist and enthusiast vehicles' which replaces the old 'Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989' The new arrangements commenced 10 December 2019. I plan to ask Superformance if this will effect their business at all when bringing in the rolling chassis!?

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by CobraAddict

.... I plan to ask Superformance if this will effect their business at all when bringing in the rolling chassis!?

Would be prudent to also seek advice regarding registration compliance from an independent person....

Cheers,
Glen

[alffie]

Originally Posted by CobraAddict

I have been pouring through that webiste recently and yes as far as I can tell you can have LHD. Indeed you see allot more classic LHD yank tanks nowadays on our roads such as Mustangs, Chevy's, Buicks, Cadallacs etc and at club meets. The issue now appears to be, is the car a pre or post 89 build car ? Especially now with the new 'Interim arrangements - Guidance relating to specialist and enthusiast vehicles' which replaces the old 'Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989' The new arrangements commenced 10 December 2019. I plan to ask Superformance if this will effect their business at all when bringing in the rolling chassis!?

Your only interested in club rego so none of this matters to you. Its only an issue when you want full rego. You can import a rolling chassis no problem. You can import a LHD cobra no problem as you are not getting it registered. Mind you, you wont be able to sell it for much as it wont be able to be registered by the new owner.
Superformance import kits for customers who want full rego so its not an issue, as they will go thru the engineering/approval process
You can buy a superformance kit and put want you want in it as you are ONLY interested in club rego so you dont need to worry about this compliance stuff.

[spookypt]

Bit like a race car without a cams/aasa log book tbh. Really limits your overall participation and difficult to sell for $'s going forward.

[CobraAddict]

Thats one of the things I do like about the superformance. You dont have to do allot to it to get full rego if I choose to do so. Assuming of course I add cats etc to the engine.

I've had and sold a couple of cars on CP and honestly still got the same money for them. Its very suprising how free you are to drive even on a CP at least in Vic. I just dont see the big need to have it on full rego. Its not as if these things are ever going to be a daily driver