Registering a Kirkham Cobra/Exporting to Europe

[paul-hb]

As some of you know, I'm helping Scott Pierce's family sell his FIA cobra. There has been a lot of interest from Europe, but unfortunately, the California title says it is a 2005. Any suggestions on how to get this car into France or other parts of Europe?

Thanks.

Paul
714-335-4911

[Hexnut72]

It is going to be very difficult. If the car has a 1965 title it is pretty straight forward. You may want to talk to Fritz at Kirkham Motorsports Europe. He will have a solid answer for you. He will also want a broker fee to help.

info@kirkhammotorsports.eu

[bnewell]

My Kirkham went to a buyer in France last December and although my title stated 1965 it also said it was a replica. I know from the conversations that I had with the buyer it was going to make it tougher to get it into to France but it wasn't going to be a problem.

Brian

[paul-hb]

Thanks. Unfortunately, in California, they put the year the car is registered as the year car it is. This makes it super tough to get into other countries as they want it to meet 2005 European standards...yikes.

[RodKnock]

If the Pierce family has family outside the State of California, then they could try to register it there as a 1965, and then theoretically, it could be sold to a European buyer as a 1965. Of course, I don't know the legality of what I just said.

[paul-hb]

hmmm. His best friend lives in Virginia...that's a thought.

[RodKnock]

BTW, I see that the price was lowered to $79,990. Outstanding deal for someone. If I didn't already have one, this one would fit the bill nicely.

Good luck with the sale.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by paul-hb

hmmm. His best friend lives in Virginia...that's a thought.

The only problem with that strategy is that the CA SB100 status would be lost, once registered in another State. So, the value to a CA buyer would decrease somewhat.

[paul-hb]

Yes, I do think this is a very good deal for this car. I've had email exchanges with David Kirkham as well as phone conversations with the guys at Gessford (engine builders) and they couldn't say enough good things about this car. It is a shame that so many people who inquire about this car devalue the amount of time and energy Scott put into setting this car up and making it truly a nice example. Whoever ends up with the car will eventually realize the quality that went into this car.

Also, yes, I agree about the SB100. I was hoping it would go to someone in California, but so far, most of the inquiries are out of state or country.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Paul

[RodKnock]

Well, if it gets much lower, I might have to break open my piggy bank. No, really, I'm not kidding.

For anyone reading this thread and thinking about buying this Kirkham, I've never met or talked with Paul before in my life. However, to the best of my knowledge, he has an unblemished reputation in the Porsche community, as well as the "uber" Porsche-phile group, aptly named "R Gruppe", although he sells all different types of high-end cars.

[Eljaro]

I had my Contemporary Cobra registered in Alabama as a 1965 car. Seems that since there was an original 1965 engine in it this was possible. I do not know if that is true or if they are particularly lenient there of is the "fee" I paid helped make it possible.
The car was imported into Europe with no problem as a 1965 car and it is now running on spanish historic plates.

[soulman]

Hi Guys,

I bought a 65 registered bare aluminium car into Australia. Although it was registered as a 1965 and looks the part ,i still had a hell of a time getting it registered.Had to get it Engineered etc....
Not as easy as i thought.

soul.

[David Biele]

I live in the Huntington Beach area and if anybody needs to have someone take some additional pic's or give a second opinion ( I have owned 3 cobras )
I would be very happy to.

David

[henryr]

since the car has already been "birthed" and titled as a 2005, sounds like trying to pull some switch to another year borders on some type of fraud if not actual fraud.

wasn't boyd coddington involved in some settlement with the state of CA for registering his builds as earlier years ? i also recall reading some of the title servicers were caught up in something like that.

in this day and age, they'll nail you to the wall. especially you rich kirkham owning ****ers...

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by henryr

since the car has already been "birthed" and titled as a 2005, sounds like trying to pull some switch to another year borders on some type of fraud if not actual fraud.

wasn't boyd coddington involved in some settlement with the state of CA for registering his builds as earlier years ? i also recall reading some of the title servicers were caught up in something like that.

in this day and age, they'll nail you to the wall. especially you rich kirkham owning ****ers...

It would only be a fraud, if it were illegal to register it outside the State of California as a 1965 AND the facts were intentionally misrepresented to the authorities.

[paul-hb]

Actually, I wouldn't do anything. It would be up to the buyer to do whatever they wanted. I was just curious so that I could pass the information on to out of country buyers to do what they wanted.

Also, Thanks David for the offer. That would be great to have some independent eyes look at the car. I've had so many inquiries, but no on in person.

Paul

[henryr]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

It would only be a fraud, if it were illegal to register it outside the State of California as a 1965 AND the facts were intentionally misrepresented to the authorities.

agreed. but, there is a paperwork trail and a title stating this car is a 2005 already on record with the state of california. it should have been handled correctly from the start.

changing for whatever reason opens oneself up to charges of misrepresenting the vehicle, avoiding smog, registration and sales tax fees depending on the particular state you then try to backdate the car in. in fact, in CA, it is a felony to misrepresent the year of a vehicle.

sounds like a interesting future piece for SCM legal files.

life is too short. lawyers fees add up to quickly and people love to sue. just my opinion.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by henryr

agreed. but, there is a paperwork trail and a title stating this car is a 2005 already on record with the state of california. it should have been handled correctly from the start.

changing for whatever reason opens oneself up to charges of misrepresenting the vehicle, avoiding smog, registration and sales tax fees depending on the particular state you then try to backdate the car in. in fact, in CA, it is a felony to misrepresent the year of a vehicle.

sounds like a interesting future piece for SCM legal files.

life is too short. lawyers fees add up to quickly and people love to sue. just my opinion.

Some clarity here for both you and Paul.

The paperwork does NOT state, using my car as an example, that my car is a 2007 vehicle. What it does state is that it was registered "in the year 2007" and also the "Year First Sold" is 2007. The "Year Model" is "0000" and the make is "SPCNS" aka Specially Constructed Vehicle.

The other 49 States will probably say..."what the heck is a "SPCNS?" We have no stinkin' SPCNS in our books of cars.

So, the other 49 States may or may not, according to their laws, register the vehicle that Paul is selling as a 2005. I dunno the laws in the other 49 States, but here in CA, the year of the model is "0000", NOT 2005. No backdating (unless it is B.C.), no lying, no cheating, no fraud, no jail, no penalties, no lawyers.

[RodKnock]

I should also add that at least at the BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair), the smog referee, for the purposes of smogging the car, will ask you what year the car replicates. And, of course, the year that it replicates is a 1965.

[Hexnut72]

$79k???? Great Googly Moogly, that is a great buy. Someone please buy this car. It was truly built with the best of the best and was thoroughly sorted. Shame to see it go for that kind of money.

Any interest in a kidney?