exempt if 30+ years old, WHAT IF?

[vettestr]

I have been watching in horror the saga of 750HP and wondering if I have a way to make the ADR and engineering boys happy. I spent a good deal of time with Bernie K. trying to understand all the issues of getting and keeping your Cobras on the road. I was shocked at the idea of roadblocks and so on.
As Bernie explained the boys with their ADR rule book exempt a car if 30 + years old and the tax's, duties etc.. are very low as well. I admit part of my interest is self serving BUT this may be an answer and it is a quality kit that's easy to build at a low price. I manufacture a Cobra inspired kit that is basically a re-body for the C3 or 1968 to 82 Vette. My kit or the Cobray-C3 uses the complete vette chassis and came with big or small block engines, they were carb'd or injected engines depending on year of production. Engineering issues should be minimal if any and you could still update to the LS1 if desired. I can sell the chassis only to go with kit or will assist you in finding your own. The low HP and smogger year vettes are dirt cheap here in the states and very easy to find.The selection of garage projects, queens, and body damaged cars making them in the $1500/2000 range are plentiful. The collector years are still spendy but even they had common parts that are low dollar if not trying to get correct date code etc. so if it is a NON # matching, flared fender, heavily customized bumper car it's still an option.

[750hp]

Thanks for taking the time to post, Jeff. I have been thinking along those lines, and I'm going to make some enquiries about the whole "rebody" issue. The fact that one glass body is replacing another glass body should make it an easier prospect, but I'll check to be sure.

I'll be in touch.

[vettestr]

Craig,
I have been checking your rules and it seems like the path of least resistance for many. The 76 Vette is the cheapest but all the mid to late 70's cars or plentiful. GM manufactured over 542,000 gen 3 corvettes. So any 68 to very soon the 1976 models meet your exemption. The collector or bumper cars were made until 72 with the 73 and 74 even if big block equiped command $$ if not pure stock.
Another part of the magic path is a US supplied Vette comes with a lower US value or purchase price. I understand the vettes in country already command a much higher price than the total after import. If 30 yrs old the duties, taxes and other fees on a US vette are reasonably low as a total cost.
The 98 inch wheelbase and 60 or 61 inch track width with all the stock goodies make it a hell of a ride and still about 2400 pounds. They even came with side exhaust and aftermarket chrome set looks even better.
PM me at jeffc@cobrasnvettes.com for further info if you would like to hear what I found out. I would love to provide you a kit and MSO but will be happy to help you build your own version were I can.

[David Hodgson]

Hi Guys
I have built my Cobra to nearly the exact method you are talking about. Accepting that I could not build an exact replica, I set out to capture the essence of the '60's Cobra, warts and all. In '89 I almost signed up for a Robnell (wish I had have) but on further investigation in my state revealed that the rules applied to the changing of a body was relevant to the year of manufacture of the new body, chassis or engine. In ACT, my body being "new" was subject to ADR's applicable at the time of build or aproval in principle to build, and the engine and running gear subject to ADR's and local rego rules in force at year of manufacture of the chassis being used or engine being used, which ever the newer, as long as the chassis was not SUBSTANTIALLY modified.
I believe this was also for W.A and N.T, but not available in other states, why? I don't know. It may be that the route I took was not as simple as pulling of a Corvette body and dropping on a Cobra leaving the wheelbase and engine standard.
In the early '80's there were some pretty nasty efforts based on a Toyota Crown chassis as this was readily available in Aus. and close to the dimension required. G-Force, a reputable make in Aus offered 3 chassis variants, one being a Crown chassis. I worked with Rob at G-Force to achieve a chassis design we were both happy with and also the local rego authority, which consisted of a 1971 Crown chassis shortened 14" fitted with extra chassis rails similar to most of the flat ladder chassis for Cobra's in Aus, and a Jag independant rearend. Not as ideal as some of the chassis' on offer today but reasonably balanced and acheiving the requirement to run a Leaded no emission controlled '68 302 and legal side pipes at 96 or 98 dba (can't recall, need to check my eng report) so i am free to do just about whatever engine mods I like and no hiding from EPA.
Now keep in mind this was in '89 and using components readily available then but 15 years on there have been great advancements in chassis, and variety of rear ends etc.
Oh did I mention this probably limits the sale of this car to ACT as well.
But as Jeff implies a straight body swap on a Corvette could open up many doors, if it's engine mods your looking to achieve.