Registration of Cobra replica in Luxembourg (Europe)

[wheely30km]

Hi there,

I'm trying to register a FFR cobra in Luxembourg :
Mine comes from USA, was registered in Missouri with a 1st registration date = 1965.
It was then imported in Belgium, and they kept the same 1st registration date =1965.
Did anyone succeed registering a car in Lux
I bought it 2nd hand from someone in Belgium.
But local inspection disagree on the fact that it's from 1965, and wants the real 1st registration date (=year 2000).
Problem : date will be after 1992, thus will lead to applying 1993 rules, in particular a catalytic pot, which is economically, technically, and esthetically not conceivable.
Did anyone succed register a cobra replica in Luxembourg, with a 1st registration date prior 1970 ?
I heard that someone else from Luxembourg tries to register a FFR car right now : maybe he will read this message, so we could do some combined legal action...

[Trevor Legate]

I can only say good luck! A number of replcas in Germany have had their paperwork withdrawn and other European countries are looking into this issue, not just regarding Cobras. Might be best to be honest from the start. Not that this will help you much! Sorry...

[Cashburn]

You can install cats on the car. Probably your best option.

[Bitten Bob]

Try to get in touch with Hammink Performance... - Factory Five Racing Europe

They set in Netherlands, but are official dealers of FFR for whole Europe, and as far as I know, they are trying to get some kind of European Registration Certificate for FFR Cobras, that could allow any buyer of a kit to register their car legally in any EU country.

Probably it wouldn't work for you (as you bought a used car, and not a brand new kit by them), and I think their fight with public European Authorities isn't over by now, but maybe they could help in something...

Good luck...

[wheely30km]

I'll try to contact Hammink Performance, thanks for the link, Bitten Bob !

Yeah, I heard the now you cannot get an oldtimer registration in Germany any more, thus have to respect modern construction rules (catalytic pot, airbag (?), and now ESP (!)... )

Funny thing is that SHELBY AMERICAN is now/again imported in Europe (in Belgium), and they manage to register their cars here with a 1st registration date = 1965, thanks to some old unused certificates !?
But starting at $150.000, if I had that money I would prefer to spend a bit more, and buy a real one for investment, + a replica as a daily driver (rather WE driver)
So it seems that the key is chassis number, which is the same as a 1965 chassis number for SHELBY AMERICAN.
But the result is the same : it's a 2012 built car, registered as a 1965 car.
So with all the respect due to Caroll Shelby, it's nothing else than a trick to avoid respecting 2012 technical requirements, so why blame replicas to do the same... !?

I have a question :
When a car quits a state, to be registred in another state : will it keep the same VIN, or will a new/different VIN be allocated ?

Many thanks for your help !

[wheely30km]

Up :
Anyone knows if when moving from a state to another, the car keeps the same VIN, or will a new/different VIN allocated ?

After discussion with the 1st owner, it apperas that the car was crashed, and sold as wreck. The car was then repaired, and re-registered in another state. Might this lead to putting a new VIN ?

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by wheely30km

Up :
Anyone knows if when moving from a state to another, the car keeps the same VIN, or will a new/different VIN allocated ?

After discussion with the 1st owner, it apperas that the car was crashed, and sold as wreck. The car was then repaired, and re-registered in another state. Might this lead to putting a new VIN ?

Yes, it was likely rebuilt and titled as a salvage vehicle.

[wheely30km]

You saved my day, Cashburn, many thanks for the info !

Otherwise, does the VIN (called here "chassis number") remain the same when moving from a state to the other ?

[86Sebring]

hello
the VIN usually (at least with my cars that I have purchased in another state) stays the same when transporting a vehicle from another state.
good luck

you really did a 30km wheely?

[wheely30km]

Hi 86Sebring, thanks for the feedback.
Yes, I did once a 30Km (±19 miles) wheelie (non-stop, during ±2 hours) with a mountain bike, it was about 15 years ago and I kept the nickname.
I did trials, a few downhill, and some other "extreme" sports like BMX, skateboard, snowboard, bungee jumping, motorbike (supermoto), parachute, and now ... Cobra driving