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

[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.

[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

[spookypt]

Stef old Robnell

[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

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

[CobraAddict]

Definitely looking forward to getting into the club scene here and seeing just what is around. AS mentioned I think to get what I want I have to find it and make an offer

[CobraAddict]

I have a pretty good idea what a Kirkham and PACE sell for however can anyone give me a ballpark on what the Contemporary and Robnell cited above sold for.
Just a ballpark figure to give me an idea of what I would need to be paying for a car of this calibre as compared to what it would cost me to have a Superformance chassis built to my requirements.
Were they both fully registered or on CP? Robnell is a glass car but what about the Contemporary, also glass?

[alffie]

Originally Posted by CobraAddict

I have a pretty good idea what a Kirkham and PACE sell for however can anyone give me a ballpark on what the Contemporary and Robnell cited above sold for.
Just a ballpark figure to give me an idea of what I would need to be paying for a car of this calibre as compared to what it would cost me to have a Superformance chassis built to my requirements.
Were they both fully registered or on CP? Robnell is a glass car but what about the Contemporary, also glass?

buying a superformance roller and fitting your fe 427 toploader is by far the cheapest option for you. Because you only want CP you wont have the extra cost of full rego. Just go and order a superformance and build it exactly the way you want. stop wasting your time looking you wont get what you want for the price of building EXACTLY want you want with a superformance or Kirkam kit. So go order one and get it built how you want and you will be happy.
to be honest for what you are looking for you wont get under 150k, 427FE cant be registed after 1990s so you are restricted to pre 1990s cobras, and theres not many around with the 427 fe. So your best bet is build new and put on CP with your 427 FE Or buy an old pre registed cobra and rebuild it the way you want it with the 427FE

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by alffie

buying a superformance roller and fitting your fe 427 toploader is by far the cheapest option for you. Because you only want CP you wont have the extra cost of full rego. Just go and order a superformance and build it exactly the way you want. stop wasting your time looking you wont get what you want for the price of building EXACTLY want you want with a superformance or Kirkam kit. So go order one and get it built how you want and you will be happy.
to be honest for what you are looking for you wont get under 150k, 427FE cant be registed after 1990s so you are restricted to pre 1990s cobras, and theres not many around with the 427 fe. So your best bet is build new and put on CP with your 427 FE Or buy an old pre registed cobra and rebuild it the way you want it with the 427FE

Thanks for the feedback. As I learn more about it this seems to be the direction I'll be taking.

[spookypt]

Not for disclosure

[kyleb]

Just to clarify.. Robnell’s are a mixture of fibreglass and Kevlar!

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by spookypt

Not for disclosure

Oooo thats a bit cloak and dagger

Only looking at a ball park however appreciate your position. I have a pretty good idea now of where the various standards are pricewise and what I will need to pay to get what I want

[spookypt]

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-5825603/?Cr=4

[CobraAddict]

Well I have gotten to the point of knowing now what I am likely to do and what components I will likely aim for.

The other thing I am now thinking is given my manic quest try to have an authentic copy and the subsequent total confusion on just 'what is authentic' I decided the easiest thing to do is simply copy an existng genuine car.

I know hardy an epiphany now is it and yes I am probably the millionth dumbarse to come into the world of Cobra and go down this well worn path

In anycase I'm decising between CSX3045 and CSX3025 (yeah I know another blue one !) however for me blue for a Cobra is like red for a Ferrari its just a given

I have plenty of pics of csx3045 howevr only 2 for csx3025. Would anyone be able to PM me some pics of this car or give me a link to some. There is precious little on this car on the net