Purchase or run away?

[studebaker53]

Would you purchase from someone a incomplete cobra kit (body and frame only) of unknown origin who does NOT have a MCO but the owner does have title to a out of state donor car? My opinion is run away.

[LMH]

I wouldn't touch it!
Larry

[Bernica]

Run as fast as you can!

[Paul F]

There is not enough information to answer the question.

[eschaider]

CFR § 181.11 Certificate of Origin states that.

"(a) General. A Certificate of Origin shall be employed to certify that a good being exported either from the United States into Canada or Mexico or from Canada or Mexico into the United States qualifies as an originating good for purposes of preferential tariff treatment under the NAFTA. ..."

An MCO will also specifically identify the vehicle as a glider kit or a kit vehicle. If the registration applicant does not have an MCO, the vehicle most likely must be titled and registered as a reconstructed vehicle.

This is just the beginning of potentially 40 miles of bad road you don't have to go down. Why make life and the acquisition of your Cobra Replica difficult for yourself when it doesn't have to be?

Your seller seems to be missing all sorts of information a buyer might reasonably want to have available for the transaction to proceed. Even if you ignore the registration questions where do you find kit specific components to finish your build without making them yourself.

John Wayne had a great quote, "Life is tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid!"

No need to get stupid on this deal ...


Ed

[Bernica]

Yup, that's a start. Unless your seller can get you the proper info and docs, you are buying the equivalent of a used dune buggy.

[Stanley M]

What State are you in?

[Charles1929]

Bravo!! My answer exactly. If in Illinois, the most corrupt state in the USA, no problem!

[twobjshelbys]

Follow your first instinct.

[Ron61]

I agree with the run away policy. In the Republic Of California you would never be able to license it.

Ron

[Paul F]

Well, if it had a 427SO and it was an aluminum body, original Halibrands, a Jag IRS, was selling for $3000, I'd buy it.

[RodKnock]

Has there ever been a thread with the title "purchase or run away" where the buyer shouldn't have run away?

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Has there ever been a thread with the title "purchase or run away" where the buyer shouldn't have run away?

I think the answer in this case is embedded in the question. There doesn't seem to be any upside potential. The "donor car VIN" is a "run don't walk" red flag.

[1795]

Run Forrest Run!!! There are plenty of cars out there that do not have title issues. Unless you think that you can sell the parts and make a profit, do not go there. You cannot use the VIN from the donor car, it will be obvious that it is not the donor. If you are only planning on using the car as a race car or on a track, then go for it. Otherwise, if you think that you will want to drive the car down the road, you probably do not want to go there.

The fact that you are asking the question suggests that you are thinning that this is a bad decision, trust your instinct.

[Three Peaks]

I think a lot depends on what you are prepared to take on and what your expectations and skills are to complete the project.
If you are willing to ignore the donor car and look at the Cobra parts as the project you could sort out what the parts are worth and what it would take to finish it up. If it is a kit that is still available and you can get parts for, it might be worth taking on if the price is right.
At the least, you could treat it as a scratch build if your state will accept a "home built" or "assembled vehicle" for registration like is done here. I started with a partially completed chassis and a body and built a very nice Cobra, but it took time and substantial effort to get it to that stage. However, it started with the original type chassis I was looking for and an original shaped body so it had the two prerequisites I needed for a start.

Advice to run from this one may still be good advice, but sometimes a gem can be found in an incomplete kit if you know what to look for, IMHO.

Bob

[indianamoon]

"You cannot use the VIN from the donor car, it will be obvious that it is not the donor."

Depends upon the state and how they run their bmv. My car originated in Ca, then Ariz, and was titled as a 1997 ASVE . When the police officer did the initial inspection, he wrote down 1997 Ford Cobra, and when I got the title, it is titled as a 1997 Ford Mustang. Called the BMV and they didn't seem to have any problem with that, nor did my insurance company, as the car is insured for a stated value. So Indiana would be no problem.

[Tommy]

We are the wrong people to ask. Talk with the people in your state government who decide such things. Get their answers in writing. .... When I started exploring the idea of building a Cheetah replica, I contacted the Alabama Dept of Revenue. I have a considerable file of emails explaining what I can and cannot do. I too started with a frame and body AND MSO. I have to have receipts to document the origin of every major component. For example, I cannot use a used or rebuilt engine unless I can provide the VIN of the donor it came from.

[TheExtreme]

I am one of those that believes in the old saying, "If you have to ask, pass"