Registering a Kirkham Cobra/Exporting to Europe

[paul-hb]

As some of you know, I'm helping Scott Pierce's family sell his FIA cobra. There has been a lot of interest from Europe, but unfortunately, the California title says it is a 2005. Any suggestions on how to get this car into France or other parts of Europe?

Thanks.

Paul
714-335-4911

[Hexnut72]

It is going to be very difficult. If the car has a 1965 title it is pretty straight forward. You may want to talk to Fritz at Kirkham Motorsports Europe. He will have a solid answer for you. He will also want a broker fee to help.

info@kirkhammotorsports.eu

[bnewell]

My Kirkham went to a buyer in France last December and although my title stated 1965 it also said it was a replica. I know from the conversations that I had with the buyer it was going to make it tougher to get it into to France but it wasn't going to be a problem.

Brian

[paul-hb]

Thanks. Unfortunately, in California, they put the year the car is registered as the year car it is. This makes it super tough to get into other countries as they want it to meet 2005 European standards...yikes.

[RodKnock]

If the Pierce family has family outside the State of California, then they could try to register it there as a 1965, and then theoretically, it could be sold to a European buyer as a 1965. Of course, I don't know the legality of what I just said.

[paul-hb]

hmmm. His best friend lives in Virginia...that's a thought.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by paul-hb

hmmm. His best friend lives in Virginia...that's a thought.

The only problem with that strategy is that the CA SB100 status would be lost, once registered in another State. So, the value to a CA buyer would decrease somewhat.

[RodKnock]

BTW, I see that the price was lowered to $79,990. Outstanding deal for someone. If I didn't already have one, this one would fit the bill nicely.

Good luck with the sale.

[paul-hb]

Yes, I do think this is a very good deal for this car. I've had email exchanges with David Kirkham as well as phone conversations with the guys at Gessford (engine builders) and they couldn't say enough good things about this car. It is a shame that so many people who inquire about this car devalue the amount of time and energy Scott put into setting this car up and making it truly a nice example. Whoever ends up with the car will eventually realize the quality that went into this car.

Also, yes, I agree about the SB100. I was hoping it would go to someone in California, but so far, most of the inquiries are out of state or country.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Paul

[RodKnock]

Well, if it gets much lower, I might have to break open my piggy bank. No, really, I'm not kidding.

For anyone reading this thread and thinking about buying this Kirkham, I've never met or talked with Paul before in my life. However, to the best of my knowledge, he has an unblemished reputation in the Porsche community, as well as the "uber" Porsche-phile group, aptly named "R Gruppe", although he sells all different types of high-end cars.

[Eljaro]

I had my Contemporary Cobra registered in Alabama as a 1965 car. Seems that since there was an original 1965 engine in it this was possible. I do not know if that is true or if they are particularly lenient there of is the "fee" I paid helped make it possible.
The car was imported into Europe with no problem as a 1965 car and it is now running on spanish historic plates.

[soulman]

Hi Guys,

I bought a 65 registered bare aluminium car into Australia. Although it was registered as a 1965 and looks the part ,i still had a hell of a time getting it registered.Had to get it Engineered etc....
Not as easy as i thought.

soul.

[David Biele]

I live in the Huntington Beach area and if anybody needs to have someone take some additional pic's or give a second opinion ( I have owned 3 cobras )
I would be very happy to.

David

[RodKnock]

I should also add that at least at the BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair), the smog referee, for the purposes of smogging the car, will ask you what year the car replicates. And, of course, the year that it replicates is a 1965.

[Hexnut72]

$79k???? Great Googly Moogly, that is a great buy. Someone please buy this car. It was truly built with the best of the best and was thoroughly sorted. Shame to see it go for that kind of money.

Any interest in a kidney?

[henryr]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I should also add that at least at the BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair), the smog referee, for the purposes of smogging the car, will ask you what year the car replicates. And, of course, the year that it replicates is a 1965.

interesting posts.

paul's thread starter stated that it was titled as a 2005.

my general point was, given the new "era" we have entered into, cutting corners for something seemingly trivial can get you seriously hammered.

[henryr]

given all the controversy, the car should be drastically reduced further..........

[paul-hb]

funny. The car is a good car. We just weren't sure about the year on the title. It does say Yr Model as 0000 but then it says just Yr as 2005. I just wasn't sure how California did it. We do have all the SB100 documentation from the state showing it as legitimate and street legal in California as well as smog exempt. I know this car won't be lowered any further. The family is currently looking for storage options instead of selling it.

[RodKnock]

I clearly remember, when standing in line January 2, 2008 for my SB100 #, that my paperwork initially had the model year as being 2007, BUT, the DMV manager came outside and reviewed everyone's paperwork, before the DMV actually opened up for business, and she snatched paperwork from several people waiting in line, including me, and took it inside to correct it. The model year was changed to "0000".

[RodKnock]

While I'm sure it won't be easy, a European buyer should be able to register it over there without INTERPOL putting them on their ten most wanted list.