Hi there from french Alps, Cobra lover approaching his goal !!
 

Hi everyone

37yo, mechanical engineer, petrol head, for now having 2 miatas (92 stock appart sunburst yellow, 96 Montego blue not stock at all) and a cherry bomb xb12s, I'm in love of Cobras from my youngest ages....the car itself but also the story and it's creator/genius !

I made a road trip last summer, 6000+miles (in a RV but with a 444ci Ford V8!) from Denver to Denver through CO/WY/ID/NV/CA/UT/CO, long story short, an amazing life experience where it made me sink deeper in my Cobra love...1st day at pikes peak, then Boulder Shelby American collection (ouch!), later in Bonneville then Laguna seca where I met two amazing people and car :

- CSX2323, original 289fia from Dan Gurney himself. The mech in charge of the cars, along with Denny Hulme's McLaren, a Lauda's F1 and a GT40!) allowed me to have a close look and sit in... shocked and shaking, many thanks dude !

- CSX7034, 289fia continuation which belong to a lovely guy, Jeff is working for Jeffery Motorsports, preparing cars for his boss, bought this beauty from a customer and we had an amazing time sharing about it...

I'm several feet deep in, I need one.

For many years, I refused to myself to look too much about different manufacturers, specs etc because I didn't have any money to spend/invest in, but now I saved a bit and know where I'll go with home fees and other major expenses, let's rumble, yolo !!

I'd love to import one, but has to take care : French registration has became a mess for rep import, firstly because they only allowed historical reg for cars above 30yo and have been abused by 1965/66 regs with modern builds, now they look to be blocking every rep even with a build evidence older than 30yo, that's so sad.

In Europe we don't have as many units but I have to clear myself which manufacturers would suit my quest...so I'm here !!

Some last few words, what am I looking ? A dream would be a 289fia, but I'll certainly look for a 427 with correct body shape and interior configuration, period matching engine (open on modern updates on auxiliary/intake but not so a modern engine itself like a coyote), open to 5 or even 6 sp but only manual, classic buckets and solo roll bar, side pipes, open to more modern chassis with irl for example, guardsman blue as a plus, but can consider a respray...

Wish me luck please, can't wait to learn more with you, and I'll attach pictures from last summer road trip (esp. Cobras!) if you want ;)

I sold ERA 755 to a couple in France several years ago. It was black with white stripes and red rookie stripes on the Left fender.

Good luck on your search.

John

Good luck. Finding an importable car can take a while. Be sure to watch cobracountry for candidates

Salut tout le monde et grand merci pour l'acceptation, tout comme toi j'ai trouvé mon rêve au Canada et je fois l'importer sous peu, problème j'ai peur de me retrouver avc une réplique sans pouvoir faire les papiers en France.. As tu trouvé une solution ?

You need to be very careful when importing to France, or Canada, as I believe in Canada you need to be certain the car is 20 or more years old, with proof of original manufacturer date, and not just how the car is titled. France is a bit different, and I believe there are ways to import a "vintage titled" car, but it's easier if the car is at least 18-20 years old, again with proof of date of manufacturer.




Bill S.

ERA 755 was sold and imported to France long before it was 20 years old. It was titled in Indiana as a 1965.

This was about 6 years ago.

John

Hi, welcome to the forum, I hope you find what you are looking for!

Point of correction: Canada requires the cars to be a minimum of 15 years old. That's by year, not specific date, so for 2024 that would be any car manufactured and first licensed for road use no later than the end of 2009.

When I bought my car in Connecticut in 2014 I had some hassles getting it into Canada. The car was registered / titled in Michigan in 1991, then re-titled in Alabama, re-titled in Connecticut, then titled again in Connecticut due to some legislative changes. So, no continuity of title documents to prove age. Complicating the matter was that Michigan purges their records after 10 years, so they had no record of the 1991 title / registration.

Ultimately I was able to get a lettter from the Michigan Secretary of State that described how the state-issued VIN included the date in its numbering. That was provided to Canadian authorities and they accepted it as proof of age.