Mustang Tech

I was doing some research the other day looking for info on build years and this came up

I have been offered a nice (Actually 2) AC cobras both with build dates as 65 and 66 on the titles.

The 66 428SCJ was built in 78 and have a lot of history on th car and the 65 I have not much

So I called FORS and she was quite not helpful in answering my one simple question

I wanted to know that if a kit was built (or completed) in 1978 but the car was titled as a 1966 and has been since 78...how do I apply for the import approval

Is it what is written on the government state title....a 1966 ac cobra (odviously a clone)

The 65 is a 302 auto but a very sexy unit....is also titled as a 65

whats your thoughts?

How would they know otherwise if the title shows 65 or 66?
I don't know the ins and outs

Matt in the application it asks "year of manufacture" from memory so that being the case it would be either the year of the kit or the year it was put together if they're different. In your case if they're the same then it's a 1978 car I would think.

As you know it would also have to comply with the ADRs for licensing, can't be too hard as there are others around, never seen a 428 though . Good luck, it'd be a fun machine to bring in.

ponyride wrote:Matt in the application it asks "year of manufacture" from memory so that being the case it would be either the year of the kit or the year it was put together if they're different. In your case if they're the same then it's a 1978 car I would think.

According to the 'Post 86' rules, year of manufacture is interpreted as the date the Drivetrain and Chassis come together.. irrespective of when either were manufactured separately.

Yeah Matty make sure you do your homework.

I know of a Cobra here in Sydney that was being sold as a '1965 ORIGINAL WITH ALL PAPERS TEXAS INC LHD CSX4048 SILVER WITH BLACK STRIPES NSW REGISTRATION!'

Guy was asking over $500,000 but it wasn't worth $50-55K. Turned out to be built in 1997 and sold through HRE in New York.

Here's a link to the story.

http://www.clubcobra.com/classifieds/sh ... oduct=3360

I guess if you know what it is and pay accordingly then it shouldn't be an issue.

Matt,

This link is to a PPT from the department that helps to answer some of the areas that are not so clear.

I would think the challenge is proving the "Date of Manufacture" being the build date is pre 89.

Dale

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct= ... jDNrD6udvA

Keegan wrote:Yeah Matty make sure you do your homework.

I know of a Cobra here in Sydney that was being sold as a '1965 ORIGINAL WITH ALL PAPERS TEXAS INC LHD CSX4048 SILVER WITH BLACK STRIPES NSW REGISTRATION!'

Guy was asking over $500,000 but it wasn't worth $50-55K. Turned out to be built in 1997 and sold through HRE in New York.

Here's a link to the story.

http://www.clubcobra.com/classifieds/sh ... oduct=3360

I guess if you know what it is and pay accordingly then it shouldn't be an issue.

Fark..............

Wow.......that is messed up

That was an amazing series of posts

Interesting reading allright. Gotta feel sorry for the guy. Ol' Shel' copped a lot of flack for the 'completion series' Cobras in the 90s as well, a few people did their dough on that lot.

poor bugger!

Wasnt trying to purchase it to mislead people more the fact to see if was able to get an import approval as a 66 or build year of 78. At the price both cars are asking, there not trying to mislead anyone either.

The titled 66 (but with a build date of 78) seems like it would get an approval seeing as the seller has documentation dating back to 78 and magazine snippets advertising the kits in 85 sorta helps support its true build date and would assume that the IA would be that of a 78 which still would phase me or anyone else

At this stage, Im trying to determine the engine as its a FE 427 but everything is pushing me to a 390 or 428 untill I can see it in person and even then its still a pain

Mind you, its been good catching up on a bit of trivia on cobra's

Matt,
I can't give you this guys surname......i can't even pronounce it, let alone spell it.

If you contact these guy's http://www.melbournecobraowners.org.au/ and try to look up Laurie, he might be able to help you. Am not sure how net savvy he is, but he knows his shit on cobra's.

Many of the cars on that website were built by him, even the featured car is his personal drive.....s/c 302. wild machine!!.....insert chubby!

In australia, this guy is probably THE authority on Cobra's.

In the meantime i'll try to get a hold of his son in law for you and see what info they have to help you here.

Some of their cobra builds would astound you.

I got to sit through the engineering stress tests on lauries latest chassis....very educational!