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

[deano59]

Originally Posted by xb-60

Deano, you been on the turps again? (Show me the documentation )

Cheers!
Glen

non drinker just coffee but have a read ......https://www.nbc-2.com/story/11723174...e-shelby-cobra

hows ya car coming along ? the other dean in qld his car passed engineering today ..
cheerss deano

[xb-60]

Dean, you've got to come up with a better source than NBC....who got it from "Driving Today"

Mine? Coming along slowly, but at least there's more to see now.

Cheers!
Glen

[Tengu]

Hey CobraAdict, great choice in what you're looking for. I Also went for the purist view and imported a Guardsman Blue Contemporary Cobra in 2012. Its on full NSW rego and runs a Kieth Craft built 428Fe, top loader, magnesium wheels.. You can check photos in my profile. Or more recent photos/ videos on my facebook page under Mike Tattoli. Happy to chat. Good luck.

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by Tengu

Hey CobraAdict, great choice in what you're looking for. I Also went for the purist view and imported a Guardsman Blue Contemporary Cobra in 2012. Its on full NSW rego and runs a Kieth Craft built 428Fe, top loader, magnesium wheels.. You can check photos in my profile. Or more recent photos/ videos on my facebook page under Mike Tattoli. Happy to chat. Good luck.

G'Day Mike

Wow what a lovley car. A Contemorary as well which is a great brand for repoduction Cobra's. How on earth did you get a 427 Fe and Magnesium wheels no less on full rego. Are the side pipes connected? Looks like what I want is out there.
Just a matter of putting out the feelers once I am at a point of throwing the $$ at it.

There are so many options and there more people I see like yourself the more confident I feel now that I will get what I am looking for at the end of the day and for a reasonable outlay.

Lovely Car. And that is a true 'Guardsman Blue' right ??

[deano59]

ah your just pulling my leg glen you know it's true there is usually a paragraph or so in almost any book on the story of the cobra..glad to hear that yours is progressing well done

cheers dean

[LoBelly]

Hello Andrew and welcome to the fold

I am enjoying reading about your re/search.

Cars that closely mimic the originals are high on my list of favorites too.

Because Cobras are so small/simple one or two deviations from that original layout becomes quite magnified.

Understanding of Club Permits and the freeing up of usage is now much greater than it was only a few years ago.
This and the perception (which may be reality) that 'CPS only' cars are worth less has lead most builders to pursue the ICV route.

This means that the look of many Cobras has necessarily evolved when complying with ICV rules (I'm sure you get this).

I think for a lot of builders once they've made it through the crucible of compliance re-fitting the car with another round of expensive bits (which are technically non-compliant) can wait.

Also general knowledge of the availability of things like retrofitting knock off wheels - and the willingness to swallow the expense of importing them to lift the look is relatively recent.

Anyway, I am seeing this done with a number of locally created cars and the results look great. So, if I were in your shoes I would not discount to local product too readily. I have seen a number of the Kirkhams and feel that the look of some locally produced examples is quite comparable when care is taken.

That said - if you want a complete car quickly the Superformance is an excellent choice and LJ's mods to chassis are clearly effective.

Onto your engine.

You say you want a 427 big block. The 427 'side oiler' of legend is an increasingly rare item. In the last 5 years during club runs to various places of interest I've seen 2 Merlin engines sitting unused and only one 427 FE (a cammer)

Unless you're very lucky you'll face the conundrum of compromise. Do some research on FE's. Stroker kits are available and I think the most direct path to a period correct (looking) engine will be getting a 390 and rebuilding that.

There are good choices and many builders in the states have customers in Oz.

Check out the FE Talk section of this forum.

Two other things to consider:
The nationals will be on later this year, a great opportunity to see a lot of cars and make comparisons / see what appeals to you.

Frequently there are a number of cars there for sale.

The Vic club has a great depth of knowledge and many folks will be willing to help you achieve your goals.


Some things to look at

Compare car profiles

similar with AU kits: https://www.cobracarclubnsw.org.au/e...2012%20old.doc

Good Luck

LoBelly

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by LoBelly

Hello Andrew and welcome to the fold

I am enjoying reading about your re/search.

Cars that closely mimic the originals are high on my list of favorites too.

Because Cobras are so small/simple one or two deviations from that original layout becomes quite magnified.

Understanding of Club Permits and the freeing up of usage is now much greater than it was only a few years ago.
This and the perception (which may be reality) that 'CPS only' cars are worth less has lead most builders to pursue the ICV route.

This means that the look of many Cobras has necessarily evolved when complying with ICV rules (I'm sure you get this).

I think for a lot of builders once they've made it through the crucible of compliance re-fitting the car with another round of expensive bits (which are technically non-compliant) can wait.

Also general knowledge of the availability of things like retrofitting knock off wheels - and the willingness to swallow the expense of importing them to lift the look is relatively recent.

Anyway, I am seeing this done with a number of locally created cars and the results look great. So, if I were in your shoes I would not discount to local product too readily. I have seen a number of the Kirkhams and feel that the look of some locally produced examples is quite comparable when care is taken.

That said - if you want a complete car quickly the Superformance is an excellent choice and LJ's mods to chassis are clearly effective.

Onto your engine.

You say you want a 427 big block. The 427 'side oiler' of legend is an increasingly rare item. In the last 5 years during club runs to various places of interest I've seen 2 Merlin engines sitting unused and only one 427 FE (a cammer)

Unless you're very lucky you'll face the conundrum of compromise. Do some research on FE's. Stroker kits are available and I think the most direct path to a period correct (looking) engine will be getting a 390 and rebuilding that.

There are good choices and many builders in the states have customers in Oz.

Check out the FE Talk section of this forum.

Two other things to consider:
The nationals will be on later this year, a great opportunity to see a lot of cars and make comparisons / see what appeals to you.

Frequently there are a number of cars there for sale.

The Vic club has a great depth of knowledge and many folks will be willing to help you achieve your goals.


Some things to look at

Compare car profiles

similar with AU kits: https://www.cobracarclubnsw.org.au/e...2012%20old.doc

Good Luck

LoBelly

G'Day LoBelly

Thanks so much for some great advise. I look forward to these Nationals you mention and a chance to see a wide variety of Cobra's all in the one place. Lets hope this COVID drama PLAYS ITSELF OUT BY THEN.

[Tengu]

Thanks CobraAddict. Yes the side pipes are genuine working pipes and yes, the colour is guardsman blue with wimbleton white stripes. I purchased late 2011, landed in oz at the start of 2012. At the time the Aussie dollar was higher than USD, so I scored a real bargain.
I took it to the local engineer for a blue slip and he passed it first go. It had been registered as a 1966 cobra in Massachusetts, but I wasn't able to translate that to NSW rego.

[CobraAddict]

Originally Posted by Tengu

Thanks CobraAddict. Yes the side pipes are genuine working pipes and yes, the colour is guardsman blue with wimbleton white stripes. I purchased late 2011, landed in oz at the start of 2012. At the time the Aussie dollar was higher than USD, so I scored a real bargain.
I took it to the local engineer for a blue slip and he passed it first go. It had been registered as a 1966 cobra in Massachusetts, but I wasn't able to translate that to NSW rego.

Very lucky indeed. I dont think you could do that now as they have tightened up the rego laws considerably for full rego cars!

[Treeve]

Sounds like it was imported as a 1966 car. Be careful what you put in public if that’s the case. Government employees do read these forums.

[Tengu]

Its all good Treeve, I was up front with authorities from the start, thats why it had to be registered according to its construction date.

[CobraAddict]

Yes I have seen that US tyre compnay advertise these along with the original Billborads. Great looking tyres although not steel belted so not legal here in Oz. My personal choice is the Billborads weith those massive lettering. They just pop out at you !