Any info on workers or owners of Aurora Limited in Canada

[orskov]

I own an Aurora GRX #51 from 1981.

My owner trace stops with Garton Motor Co. in California, they sold the car in 1984.

I hope somebody can help me.

[SunDude]

Unfortunately for you, Aurora Cars Ltd. has been out of business for decades now.

Aurora Cars produced approx. 170 GRX roadsters from 1980 to 1983. The GRX was built in Canada, but sold in the U.S. as one of the few "Cobra" replicas ever to comply with U.S. safety and emissions regulations. It sounds like yours (car #51) sat on a dealer's lot until 1984 before it was first sold.

They were located at the following address, back in the day:

Aurora Cars Limited
(div. of Grove Ridge Industries Ltd.)
36 Shelley Road
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Canada L4C 5G3
Phone +1 (416) 884-9777

You might want to try contacting the person who runs the Aurora Cobra enthusiast website. Maybe he has some documentation which could help you.

(Footnote: The body molds for the Aurora GRX were taken from an original 260 Cobra, CSX2013. The fiberglass bodies were produced under contract by renowned Canadian boat builders: C&C Yachts Manufacturing Ltd., Custom Division, 526 Regent Street, Box 970, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0, phone 416-468-2101.)

[orskov]

Yes, I am a member of the Aurora club website.

They are also trying to help me.

[SunDude]

Sorry, I'm afraid I don't know how you could prove the car's build date without paperwork from the factory, dealer or previous owner. Hopefully the Aurora website guys can help with that.

Here are a couple long-shot ideas.

1. Have you tried contacting Ford Motor Co. for information about the car, based on its VIN? I can't remember exactly (I was just a teen when the Auroras were built), but I thought the Aurora was sold through Ford dealers (like the original Cobras) as they also used Ford-supplied engines.

2. Have you tried contacting Global Automakers? Its predecessor, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers (AIAM), used to publish an annual VIN handbook. Maybe they can provide some independent validation of your VIN number and consequently the car's age.

3. Have you tried reaching out to the Shelby American Automobile Club (SAAC)? In addition to original Cobras and Shelby Mustangs, the club and its members are quite familiar with the many replicas that have been produced. Try posting your question over at the SAAC forum.

[racco]

The car should have a 17 digit vin. that should be enough proof.

[orskov]

Thanks Sundude,

I have contacted all 3, and waiting on info.

Hopefully.

[Haywood]

Hi Orskov #51 owner

I worked at Aurora Cars from about car # high 30's to about car #80 between 1981-1983 before they closed the doors the FIRST time.

I'm not sure where the confusion lies as the paperwork from the CA dealer should show "first titled" in 1984 and the Manufacturer Origin certificate would have been included also.

There is a 17 digit v.i.n on the vehicle correct?
The 10th digit indicates the year
IE:
A=1980
B=1981
C=1982
D=1983

In 1982 Playboy magazine did an article on the Aurora Car
I don't recall if the photoshoot was in California or Toronto?
But I can almost guarantee that car was at least #50 and that was in 1982.

I have tons of pictures somewhere of the shop and cars in process.

I've sold a boat and a truck before to Denmark so I know how bad the "Doody Taxes" are there.

If the 10th digit of the v.i.n is a "C" then it is clearly a 1982.
What is the 10th digit of your v.i.n please? (no need to list the full v.i.n# here)

If I can be of any further help please contact me.

PS there were NEVER 170 of these built the numbers took a jump.

[orskov]

My 10th digit is a B.

Do you know if my car could have been a showroom / demo / promotion car for the US dealers ?

Did Aurora do that for the dealers ?

Yes, the taxes in Denmark are bad.

The VIN code:

It reads like this
2 -> Canada
A -> Aurora
9 -> Less than 500 vehicles per year
1A8D1 -> Véhicle Type
7 -> This is a check digit. It is normal we have a different one due to the serial number difference.
B -> Model year 1981
R -> Plant code (Markham ?)
004 -> Manufacturer identifier
050 -> sequential number

Is this true ?

Do you know if Aurora had a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard(FMVSS) label. Because the MVC Inspector in Hawaii said that it never had passed. I don't believe him.

[Haywood]

Well to the best of my knowledge there is NO set standards for emission testing in Hawaii for motor vehicles.
So there is the possibility that it never passed an emission test because it is not a requirement just like in Florida where I am.

And if the person at DMV says that it is a requirement?
He is "Lolo" (crazy) and I would be asking him if the car maybe passed the "Volcanic Smog" test there?

I don't ever recall an EPA sticker on these cars stating that they met all emission standards in all 50 States or even one for all 57 States as per President Obama either. But then again he was born in Hawaii also wasn't he?

Regardless of whether your car was a dealer demo for even 10yrs doesn't matter in the least little bit.

The FACT of the matter is that you have a 17 digit v.i.n and the 10th digit is a "B" and that means that it IS a 1981 vehicle plain and simple period no if's and's or but's.

There should be NO issue in regards to that.

Is this car still in Hawaii or is it in Denmark now?
Only reason I ask is that I'm not sure if there is ANY emission testing in Denmark?
As I told you I have sold a truck to someone in DK.
It was a full size pickup truck from Florida with dual straight exhaust without CatCons on it and there were no issues at all.

So I am not all too sure why you are having problems with this car unless you "Fudged" the purchase price and DK wants their 40% "Doody"?

[Haywood]

I had a thought that by maybe running an "Autocheck" as it usually shows more than "Carfax" does would give info about the year, maybe when it went to the Dealer in CA when it was first titled and even any emissions tests etc.

But by running your v.i.n through Both of them it comes up as "invalid v.i.n"
That makes no sense to me as at least lic renewals should show up???
Maybe they don't track veh's that far back?

Might wish to check that out for yourself with the copy of the Certificate of Title" you got from Hawaii.
Maybe the title doesn't match the v.i.n on the car?
Maybe someone at the DMV typed it out wrong? It happens..........often

Oh well it was an idea anyways.

[orskov]

No Fudged here, I have paid all the "Doody".

It is in Holland.

I have tried Carfax, it gave some info. But nothing that I didn't knew from the beginning.

The Title match the VIN on the car, of course.

Do you know what government office in Canada approve the VIN numbers from Aurora Cars ?

[SunDude]

Originally Posted by orskov

...Do you know what government office in Canada approve the VIN numbers from Aurora Cars ?

VIN numbers are an SAE standard.

Transport Canada is the federal department that sets and enforces motor vehicle safety standards.

Haywood would know better than me, but I don't think Aurora ever certified the GRX for sale in Canada. I seem to recall it was sold in the U.S. only (kinda like the Bricklin) in which case they would've been certified by NHTSA or its 1981 equivalent.

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by SunDude

VIN numbers are an SAE standard.

Transport Canada is the federal department that sets and enforces motor vehicle safety standards.

Haywood would know better than me, but I don't think Aurora ever certified the GRX for sale in Canada. I seem to recall it was sold in the U.S. only (kinda like the Bricklin) in which case they would've been certified by NHTSA or its 1981 equivalent.

If the NHSTA ever had their hands on one of these cars for crash testing?
I have no knowledge of it and it was before my time there.

Probably only had to meet the bumper 5mph standards.
Thats why the bumpers stick out as they had shocks in them.

I know that one of the office staff was a member of SAE so I'm sure everything was above board as this was a Manufactured Car and NOT a Kit Car.

As far as "Certified" goes this car WAS certified for sale in Canada and the US.
I have some 11"x17" dealer promo posters with the picture of the car that was used in the 1982 Playboy magazine article.

And on the back is all the dimensions and details etc.
WARRANTY:12 Months or 12,000 miles Factory warranty.
Certification: Conforms to all United States and Canadian safety and emissions regulations under U.S./Canadian Auto Pact.

I should maybe put those posters in the Classifieds here?
They have always been kept flat and never been rolled up.

[delrossa]

I own #117, the last 3 digits of the vin. My car was built in 1983. I would expect from your #51 that it was built in 1982. The Aurora's were sold in many types of dealerships. In Rochester NY, for example, a GM dealership sold them. Good luck getting your money back from your government. When any government gets your money they don't like to give it back.

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by delrossa

I own #117, the last 3 digits of the vin. My car was built in 1983. I would expect from your #51 that it was built in 1982. The Aurora's were sold in many types of dealerships. In Rochester NY, for example, a GM dealership sold them. Good luck getting your money back from your government. When any government gets your money they don't like to give it back.

See now that this is a perfect example of what I was talking about before that the v.i.n #'s bounce around a lil.

"Delrossa" has car #117 with the last v.i.n digits reading 117.
And "Orskov" has car #51 "as per" and yet the last 3 v.i.n digits read 050?
So where is car #50?

Is car #51 the last made "Tucker"?
Sumthing funky going on here and I can't put my finger on it.

What does your "Certificate of Title" show in the State of NY "Delrossa"?
Are the last 3 v.i.n #'s on it 116 or 117?

Just curious thats all.

[Haywood]

Just FYI there "Orskov"
Hope that you are doing OK on this scenario?

Just remembered that I had met a "Dealer" which I think is in Copenhagen last year that Imports a lot of veh's into DK from the US.

I never did any biz with the guy but he seems to know his chit?
If I can dig up his contact info?
I'll pass it on to you and maybe he can tell you what you may be doing wrong? One way or another.

The "other" might be him telling you that "something smells rotten in Denmark"?
And you just might hafta suck it up Buttercup depending on the scenario?

[delrossa]

The last 3 of the vin is 117. We have had quite a few cars in an association of Aurora owners. These cars have shown up all over the world. When I first got my car about 11 years ago I met with a gentleman who was the production manager at the Aurora factory. It is a shame the car company failed as it is a great car but other great car companies have failed also.

[orskov]

I didn't write the correct VIN, sorry, mine is of course 051.

[orskov]

My Aurora doesn't have a emergency handbrake anymore, the previous owner has disassemble it, because it didn't work.

Haywood, do you know what spare parts would fit and I need to buy a complete kit, lever, cables, caliper etc. ??

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by orskov

My Aurora doesn't have a emergency handbrake anymore, the previous owner has disassemble it, because it didn't work.

Haywood, do you know what spare parts would fit and I need to buy a complete kit, lever, cables, caliper etc. ??

Well my only answer for that is how good is your imagination?
ASSuming you have a Jag IRS first generation rear end assy?
The handle and cable will be the EZ parts to fabricate.
Its the caliper and mounting that will take a lil work I suppose.
Prolly best to pose that question on the Aurora Cars forum and wait for a response from someone that has already replaced or rebuilt their handbrake assy.

Gotta be someone there thats been there, done that and got the tshirt?
Maybe even someone that has gotten a lil creative and installed a "Drifting" hand brake?

I'm having my own fun with creative engineering on my current project.
Stuffing a Cummins diesel 3.9 4BT twin turbo into a 2008 Jeep 4dr Wrangler with an Eaton Roadranger Fuller transmission.

Haven't even thought about a parking brake as yet as not sure if I'm gonna be a 2wd or a 4wd as yet?
Parking brake on a 4wd would be a disc off of a transfer case.
On a 2wd it may be on the driveshaft?

Best to post that inquiry on the Aurora Cars forum and hope for the best if you can't get creative on your own?

And yeah if you were wondering about the Eaton Roadranger Fuller trans scenario.......I will be a shifting fool on that one until I hit highway speed.