A quick hello and servus from austria!
 

Hi everybody,

my name is gerald, i'm 29 and from carinthia, south-austria. (Not Australia ;) )

I have been looking into getting a cobra or at least a good replica for a while now.
i was looking for a forum/community in austria or germany but couldn't really find one. at least not an aktiv one.

But i keep coming back here, so i decided to join.

i have some questions regarding a kit-car or replica.
in austria we have very strict laws when it comes to licensing and insuring a car.

Does anybody have any idea if it is even possible at all to get say a kirkham streetlegal?

if i get one, i would want it to be an aluminium body, as close to the original as possible.
Of course with a V8. the 427 is the one i like the most.

I'm very interested in cars, but i'm not an mechanic by any means. (i'm a programmer)
the most i've done on cars, was changing tyers, lightbulbs and fueses so far.
but i'm a quick study and have basic mechanic knowledge because of my education as an automations engineer.
Also i work with industrial machines on a big scale (automotive industry e.g. currently Volkswagen gearbox assembly).
so i shouldn't be totally lost.

I've looked at the different manufacturers and so far Kirkham would be my choice, or shelby (if i win the lottery)
i'm not yet sure if or how much i want to do myself. i'll probably start with a roller.
but i don't want to invest to much (emotionally or financially) in this, and then find out that it's not even possible for me!


Sorry for the long post. Hope some of you can tell me if my dream may come true.

greetings

Gerald

PS: please excuse any mistakes in grammar or spelling :JEKYLHYDE

Gerald - welcome to the group, here you will find many hours of reading and brain food.

As for what to do in Austria, I would search out a local car club that is focused on American cars and make friends with those people. They can be quite helpful in possible areas of importation and licensing of a completed vehicle. As for a roller , and making a new vehicle in Austria , I can only imagine the paperwork required.

For your choices , Kirkhams are top notch, you can't go wrong there.

Cheers ,

Steve

Gerald,
A quick search of this forum with the words "Austria Cobra" yielded 15 posts including yours. One of them was a few years old, but mentioned a car club that might be helpful. Try the search function. And good luck with your effort.

Hi Gerald!

Welcome to the Forum and much fun here. Registry in Austria is not impossible...it can be done...you need lot of time, good contacts, money is never wrong and you should not
care about possible risks :-)

...so in short words.. if you are crazy enough it can work :-)

Best Regards from Austria (not Australia)

Peter
:-)

Hi Again!

By the way...do yourself a big favor: Forget it to buy a roller - think about a registry, think about that most parts are from the states, think about taxes and shipping costs from parts from the states - think about waiting time for parts...and again and again: think about the registry!!!!!
It is not the worst time to buy a used cobra...believe me you will have enough work with it too :-)
Take your time to inform about Kirkham, Superformance, ERA, Backdraft - take your time and inform about avaibilty of spare parts and so on. You can buy a Kirkham as a roller and a complete Kirkham in Germany at a official dealer...it depends on your budget. And do not forget a registry in German is great but it means more or less nothing for a registry in Austria.

Peter

Welcome from Australia (not Austria)! :)

hi peter,

so i guess that means that's what you did?
the one thing with a used car is, that i have to spend all at ones! with a build i could spread the costs a bit over time!

what did you do?

I love hearing about the interest from Austria. What a beautiful country to cruise around in a cobra. Good Luck Peter and welcome. You are the perfect age for a long love affair with the Cobra. Keep us posted on your decision.

Clois Harlan

Hi Gerald!

I was buying a perfect used Superformance in the states with a 1965 registry. I bought it at a very good dealer in the states (Olthoff Racing in NC) and was flying to the states to look personally at the car. Everytime i have questions about the car the dealer is very helpful and have lots of experience and have lots of parts on stock. Bevore buying i did a lot of research and was driving with different cars and engines.

Sometimes it is better to pay more (and you are cheaper at the end) - if you buy a finished car you know what you pay and you know what you have (and some things whiche are not expected will come anyway)

If you think about spreading costs maybe Kirkham will not the right for you.
Compare prices...a good Superformance, ERA or Backdraft will be in the 45.000.- to 60.000.- range, a Kirkham will start at 100.000.-
Drive with these cars...compare the manufacturers...find out which is the right one for you!
These are the $ prices - do you have an idea how much money you need till you have the car registered here in Austria?

Peter

PS: even if you have the space, tools, experience, time and money you should not buy a roller...or only if you take the car in the living room as a furniture:-)

Hi Clois!

Yeah it is a wonderful country to drive with a cobra here. Lots of small montain roads with a great panorama, lots of curves and not much traffic. The bad thing here is that
the summer is to short. The weather in OK is much better - was in Tulsa a few years ago...it was lot of fun!!!!

Greetings from rainy and cold Austria
Peter

no i don't! that's the main reason i started this thread! to maybe get some info and stories from people that do!

but thanks a lot for your tips! are you in a club in austria?

Hi Clois,

thanks! yes austria is beautiful! and for the weather: there is no bad weather, just insufficient clothing! :D

Hi Gerald!

No, i am not in a Club... i am from the Westside...not much Cobras around :-)
Take your time and be sure what you want - if you have the budget for it drop
me a line and i will help.

Wish you a great weekend
Peter

PS: For more infos PM me or call

thanks!
last thing i want is to rush stuff! i'm gonna take my time!
when i get to that point, i will definitely take you up on your offer!
and then we start our own club! :LOL: