Import UK cobra into Australia any info?

zeb_1970 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 07:31 AM

Hi,

Any information on importing a UK Cobra (Crendon / Dax etc) registered on old plates in UK into New South Wales Australia? Costs and Rules. Apologies for being a bit broad in the question but I have no idea.
Was advised by UK Cobra Club to ask here.

Thanks

Zeb

boxhead · #2 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 04:45 PM

I dont know but first port of call is probably the NSW Motor Vehicle Registry.

I suspect alot will have to do with date of first rego etc.

soulman · #3 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeb_1970

Hi,

Any information on importing a UK Cobra (Crendon / Dax etc) registered on old plates in UK into New South Wales Australia? Costs and Rules. Apologies for being a bit broad in the question but I have no idea.
Was advised by UK Cobra Club to ask here.

Thanks

Zeb

Zeb,
Do your homework, if NSW is anything like Victoria there pretty swithed on with replicas. If its registered in the UK and is 25+ years old ,youll have no problems. I imported a Kirkham a couple of years ago 100% with all the go gear, pipes, billboards 427 etc.and LHD.but it was registered in the states as a 65 Shelby with CSX numbers and i still had heartache.
Good luck.
Soul.

Bryan Wilson · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 10:43 AM

I'll have a look through the paper work that came with my car for you. It's a Southern Roadcraft built in England suing a 74 Daimler Sovereign donor car so under pommy rego laws it takes on the title of the donor car. Therefore being a 1974 model there was an advantage with age and reduced import duties.
Cheers,
Bryan
PS It will have to be engineered to Australian adr's to get it registered also

steeler · #5 (**permalink**) 05-09-2009, 04:54 PM

I think 1988 is the year when things change, if its before, its relatively easy, after 88 you are into the RAWS era, that appears to be a mine field! so registered pre 88 seems the way to go.

purge98 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 12:55 AM

Hello. I am a newbie to this forum and an imigrant from the UK as of 2nd July.

I have a 2002 UK registered Dax Tojeiro on its way from the UK to Fremantle arriving on 10th August as a personal import...all being well.

I have the Vehicle Import Authority from DOTARS.

It has no head rests and has live side pipes both sides as the car is too low for underslungs. It has concave mirrors next to the screen both sides. The baffles are 3 inch diameter and are NOISY >100 dB

and the speedo has MPH and KPH on the dial. It has a red fog light to the rear but no white reversing light. The engine is a 1984 SBC with carb, standard ignition and no cats.

Can anyone tell me what problems, if any, and what mods I will have to get done in order to get it legally registered for use on WA roads?

I have done a bit of homework but it seems that in this country different states have differnet rules for the above.

Do the authorities issue dispensations for certain existing contraventions for Personal Imports?

Your advice most welcome. Any loopholes would be appreciated as well

Jason

Merv and Sharon · #7 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 01:18 AM

Good luck Jason! Love the Tommy Cooper pic.

Merv

Zedn · #8 (**permalink**) 07-11-2009, 10:53 PM

Zeb,

I have spent a lot of time over the last month reading all the material i can find including ADR's, RTA docs and whatever else i can find.

Let me start by saying (and no offence to anyone on here), the only person you should take advise from for making a decision is the RTA accredited engineer. They will be the only one that you can hold accountable for advise.

It appears that the same rules as ICV apply for imports, this may be of interest http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...e_nov_2007.pdf page 3 clause 5 says establish the date of manufacture to see which standards apply. I think that clause will be your friend. I dont know if this is still current or if you car will apply here, but thought i would post it any how.

Liam.

purge98 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009, 02:48 AM

Thanks for the replies guys.

I was really looking for a list of what the authrorities will allow/disallow inWA.

Oh wel,l I'll find out for myself in August when it arrives.

Legless · #10 (**permalink**) 07-19-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulman

Zeb,
Do your homework, if NSW is anything like Victoria there pretty swithed on with replicas. If its registered in the UK and is 25+ years old ,youll have no problems. I imported a Kirkham a couple of years ago 100% with all the go gear, pipes, billboards 427 etc.and LHD.but it was registered in the states as a 65 Shelby with CSX numbers and i still had heartache.
Good luck.
Soul.

Hi Soul
Just wondering whether you could clarify your experience importing the Kirkham. Did you have lots of heartache or should it have read 'still had no heartache'?

thanks in advance

Legless

purge98 · #11 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 05:07 PM

Does anyone know of a vehicle valuer in Perth, WA who is familair with cobra replicas?

From what I understand I will need to take the car to a Vehicle Examination Centre after it clears customs. Anyone know of a fair one to approach or are they all they same?

jcraigau · #12 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 08:50 PM

Welshpool seems to be familiar with Cobra's, and has a "relaxed" atmosphere...

http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/1453.asp

purge98 · #13 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcraigau

Welshpool seems to be familiar with Cobra's, and has a "relaxed" atmosphere...

http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/1453.asp

Cheers Craig. Always good to get a recommendation,.

Jason

Trev · #14 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 10:21 PM

I took mine to welshpool and got a good response also

go very early in the morning and they might be in a better mood

no one has ruined the day yet

Best of Luck Trev

purge98 · #15 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 04:52 AM

Just thought I'd follow up my effort to get my UK Dax Tojeiro into and registered in WA.

It arrived on schedule at Fremantle and the customs agent sorted out the paperwork. Interestingly enough AQIS did not demand a clean even though it had minor dirt under the wheel arches. I purposely didn't clean it before it left the UK as I had been reliably informed that AQIS would always demand a clean regardless. Anyway I saved $541 incl GST which would have included getting it to and from the cleaing location and the clean itself.

After paying for a temporary movement permit I picked it up in O'Connor, Perth but even though I had asked the agent if it had a flat battery and was told "I don't Know", it had. Flat as a pancake. No tools no transport (arrived by bus) no nothing. Found a Bunnings up the road and bought an adjustable spanner and allen key set to disconnect the battery. Then another mle or so up the road found a Batteryworld. Success. Got a lift back with the BW boss and fitted the battery. Started first go.

Now the bit I was dreading....drove straight round to the testing station on stockdale road, O'Connor. Waited about 1.5 hours and then it was my turn. I was asked several questions by a rather nice gentleman about its origin and what engine it had. After a 20 mins check it failed on:

Exhaust too noisy
Exhaust requires "Anti-Leg Burn" surround fitting
Too low. Should be 100mm minimum.
No reversing light. Will have to convert fog light.
Grill/mesh required in mouth/rad opening at front.
Tyres must be same aspect all round. Had 235/45 on front and 255/40 on back.

So not too bad. Nothing a few dollars can't fix.

I'll let you know how I get on at the retest in a couple of weeks.

Anyone think I was hard done by?

boxhead · #16 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 04:32 PM

All sounds like it went well to me, I think the grille and tyre sizings are a bit rough, but with such a short list I would not ruffle any feathers and just do it

Congrates on the purchase and where are the pics

Merv and Sharon · #17 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 04:36 PM

Yeah!! Pics!

Merv

purge98 · #18 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 04:54 PM

I'll get the pics up in about 2 weeks. I'm away until then at a remote airfileld in the middle of nowhere.

I built the Dax myself in the UK and registered it in 2002. It took me about 1.5 years to complete in my spare time. I have had major problems with the engine (SBC) throughout its life and hence the low mileage. The weather in Scotland also doesn't cater for open top cars much! The weather in Perth should allow me to clock up a few 1000 kms every year though

The reason why the tyres were different apsect is that Goodyear don't make a 255/45ZR17, only a 255/40ZR17 and I wanted Eagle F1s. Anyway I suppose having a couple of spare back tyres knocking around won't harm as they'll probably not last too long

The grill on the front is a pain but I'll have to get it done. In the UK they allow two horizontal metal bars across the mouth spaced about 6 inches apart. My concern is that the grill will reduce the throughput of air to the radiator and will make the engine run hot. We'll see when it gets to +40c

Aussie Mike · #19 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 06:32 PM

The tyre aspect wasn't a problem for me, or the grill opening. That's just bizarre. Did you ask him to point out where in the rules it says the tyres must have the same aspect ratio all round?

I got mine registered with 35 profile on the rear and 45 profile on the front with no issues.

There's very few Cobras in Australia that have any kind of grille mesh. Most that have installed it have done it for cosmetic reasons rather than rego requirements.

Congrats on getting the car landed anyway.

Cheers

purge98 · #20 (**permalink**) 09-02-2009, 06:52 PM

It looks like different testing stations have different rules. Merv has had the same problem with regards the grill.

I was a bit surprised at the tyre aspect issue especially when my brother in law has an HSV with different aspect tyres front and back as standard straight out of the factory. The testiing station seems to think that tyres of very slighlty different aspect is less preferable than tyres of differnt tread/manufacture front and back.

Anyway I will need a new set of rears in the future and the grill will have to be removeable

in order to clean out the flies etc.. as will the exhaust covers.