Ac cobra 427

[tezcarp]

Hi, I looking for some advise I am thinking of buying a cobra427 kit car that is French registered and has a French mot it has been fully restored by demo concept and ive been informed it is a1 condition . my concern is weather it will pass a iva inspection . any advice would be very helpful I ama novice where kit cars are concerned and not very mechanically inclined. I've been looking for a automatic cobra replica for some time now and this would suit me fine if
I can get it registered thanks . PS can see the car on eBay item n.o 272886249136

[Oldandslow]

Um. I'm certainly no expert but a one off 4 seater sounds like a chancy investment even if it was a UK car with some known history. I'm guessing it'll be a bought chassis fitted with Ford running gear (Cortina perhaps from 1981) and if you knew who made the chassis, when and the history of the donor vehicles etc, etc it'd be doable but have hoops to jump through. This looks like an unknown chassis that's been modified to add 2 extra seats by persons of unknown competence. I think you'd really need to know what you're doing or have a really close mate who does.

[Tony427]

I do know of one Pilgrim Sumo that was converted some time ago into a 4 seater, maybe that was exported and has been reimported.

I would suggest that you take a trip to www.cobraclub.com and ask your questions there.

There are quite a few AC Cobra replicas running autoboxes, I have built three myself, and a mate is actually looking to sell his so personally I would not be jumping at this one as a 4 seater would be hard to eventually sell on and a lhd conversion on a Rover engined Sumo ( the 230 bhp line is not really credible without lots of expensive engine work) makes the price a bit high.

hth,

Cheers,

Tony

[Fastpedeller]

Looks dodgy to me - They say it's an AC continuation? I'd treat it with caution.

[cjb44]

tezcarp said:

Hi, I looking for some advise I am thinking of buying a cobra427 kit car that is French registered and has a French mot it has been fully restored by demo concept and ive been informed it is a1 condition . my concern is weather it will pass a iva inspection . any advice would be very helpful I ama novice where kit cars are concerned and not very mechanically inclined. I've been looking for a automatic cobra replica for some time now and this would suit me fine if
I can get it registered thanks . PS can see the car on eBay item n.o 272886249136

Well you have had really good advice so far, the message is do not touch it with a bargepole, if you must have a replica there are plenty about in the UK and standard specification is always king on resale; but also remember it will not be an AC Cobra but a poor substitute.

[tezcarp]

Thanks for all your advice, I think I,all leave it well alone, if any one knows of a automatic cobra for sale if they could give them my email [e-mail] it would be much apriecated thanks again

[tezcarp]

If any one knows of a cobra automatic for sale could they please send me details and photos thanks tez

[anonymous-user]

cjb44 said:

tezcarp said:

Hi, I looking for some advise I am thinking of buying a cobra427 kit car that is French registered and has a French mot it has been fully restored by demo concept and ive been informed it is a1 condition . my concern is weather it will pass a iva inspection . any advice would be very helpful I ama novice where kit cars are concerned and not very mechanically inclined. I've been looking for a automatic cobra replica for some time now and this would suit me fine if
I can get it registered thanks . PS can see the car on eBay item n.o 272886249136

Well you have had really good advice so far, the message is do not touch it with a bargepole, if you must have a replica there are plenty about in the UK and standard specification is always king on resale; but also remember it will not be an AC Cobra but a poor substitute.

by poor substitute I think you mean better mechanicals, more reliable, go faster and more longevity than the original.

Replicas for drivers, originals for investors is how it works these days

[anonymous-user]

Oldandslow said:

Um. I'm certainly no expert but a one off 4 seater sounds like a chancy investment even if it was a UK car with some known history. I'm guessing it'll be a bought chassis fitted with Ford running gear (Cortina perhaps from 1981) and if you knew who made the chassis, when and the history of the donor vehicles etc, etc it'd be doable but have hoops to jump through. This looks like an unknown chassis that's been modified to add 2 extra seats by persons of unknown competence. I think you'd really need to know what you're doing or have a really close mate who does.

I agree in this particular case not to touch it, but you're a bit out of date with how replicas are built, try professionally built chassis, frequently with brand new parts, or jag running gear. Chassis with independent suspension, LSD, crumple zones etc

U/nless you buy one built in 1980 of course

[Tony427]

When I first started building Kit Cars, my first was a Marlin built from a Morris Marina TC , the quality of the kits and the testing process was somewhat sketchy. The Marina just needed an MOT and was re-registered on the Marina's classic tax exempt plate.

Then the SVA ( Single Vehicle Approval) came in which raised standards hugely and that was replaced with the now IVA ( individual Vehicle Approval) which is even stricter still.

All parts are either new or reconditioned to be as good as new as the IVA test is expensive, extremely thorough, and nervewracking for the individual owner/ builder so its just not possible or sensible to cut corners to get an unsafe or poor quality build through the registration process. To all intents and purposes the car is as new and as safe as legislation deems it should be. You wont get airbags and probably antilock brakes but collapsable columns, properly mounted seat belts, head restraints etc are all compulsory.

The Cobras I play about with now are way ahead of my Marlin, not just in speed, and a lot safer. The first drive of the season still terrifies me however as my brain, used to Volvo waftiness, gets acclimatised to the speeds available from a 300bhp V8 running up to 7000rpm in a car weighing 1200kg.

I still want Turbo's though.

Cheers,

Tony

[cjb44]

keirik said:

by poor substitute I think you mean better mechanicals, more reliable, go faster and more longevity than the original.

Replicas for drivers, originals for investors is how it works these days

I think you are displaying your ignorance regarding an original Ac Cobra.

[Oldandslow]

keirik said:

I agree in this particular case not to touch it, but you're a bit out of date with how replicas are built, try professionally built chassis, frequently with brand new parts, or jag running gear. Chassis with independent suspension, LSD, crumple zones etc

U/nless you buy one built in 1980 of course

I'm very aware of how modern replicas are built. This one is from 1985 and the ad states that it contains 1981 Ford parts. So do you think it has "brand new parts, or jag running gear. Chassis with independent suspension, LSD, crumple zones"?

[tezcarp]

Hi me again I've beenlooking at buying a auto cobra and have found a couple, one is a new build with a mustang v8 4.7 engine from a company called turbo performance centre for 20 to 25 thou. Does any one know this company and is this a good deal thanks or any advice you can give

[Tony427]

tezcarp said:

Hi me again I've beenlooking at buying a auto cobra and have found a couple, one is a new build with a mustang v8 4.7 engine from a company called turbo performance centre for 20 to 25 thou. Does any one know this company and is this a good deal thanks or any advice you can give

I think I've seen these advertised on ebay. Given that they are at least half the cost of other professional Cobra builders, I very much doubt it could be a new build with new parts. The parts alone would add up to more than the price they are charging, so where's the profit in it for them. I don't think they would operate the same as Ed China ie labour is free.

Theres also the small matter that a Mustang V8, the modern Coyote engine, is too wide at the heads to fit into an established chassis. If their chassis is a home made / self developed one it is very much devalueing the car. It could be a Factory Five kit from the States but again its still too cheap and would need adapting for the IVA. Is the car properly registered, and as what?

Have to do your homework buying these things.

HTH
Cheers,

Tony

[V8covin]

That's only a 4 seater if the rear passengers have no legs

[anonymous-user]

Oldandslow said:

keirik said:

I agree in this particular case not to touch it, but you're a bit out of date with how replicas are built, try professionally built chassis, frequently with brand new parts, or jag running gear. Chassis with independent suspension, LSD, crumple zones etc

U/nless you buy one built in 1980 of course

I'm very aware of how modern replicas are built. This one is from 1985 and the ad states that it contains 1981 Ford parts. So do you think it has "brand new parts, or jag running gear. Chassis with independent suspension, LSD, crumple zones"?

did you miss the bit where I said, I agree "in this particular case" ?

[anonymous-user]

cjb44 said:

keirik said:

by poor substitute I think you mean better mechanicals, more reliable, go faster and more longevity than the original.

Replicas for drivers, originals for investors is how it works these days

I think you are displaying your ignorance regarding an original Ac Cobra.

Having driven and carefully inspected a "very good" one, I think maybe I'm not

[cjb44]

keirik said:

Having driven and carefully inspected a "very good" one, I think maybe I'm not

You are being very coy about the "very good one" that you have inspected. Are we talking about a MK 1, 289, 427, MK IV, CRS?
It must be remembered that the MK 1 was transverse leaf and the others coil spring, the driving experience is not about how well it has been restored or how bright and shiny it is, it is about how the suspension and steering has been refurbished and more importantly has it been set up correctly; modern tyre technology now also plays a major role with these older suspension designs. As an incidental there is an opinion in some circles that a properly set up transverse leaf car has superior handling to a coil sprung car.

[TIGA84]

tezcarp said:

Hi me again I've beenlooking at buying a auto cobra and have found a couple, one is a new build with a mustang v8 4.7 engine from a company called turbo performance centre for 20 to 25 thou. Does any one know this company and is this a good deal thanks or any advice you can give

My father built a Unique Autocraft Python Auto in the early 90's - a 5.7 Chevy mated to a B&M quickshifter. (reg BSG676S - it was for sale recently at LE Autos)

Unique made/supplied kits for at least 3 of these (probably many more but I was quite young at the time so can't recall), indeed their demonstrator (Q606MEV) was an auto. My fathers' friend also had an auto so they are available, albeit fairly rare.

You may also want to look at early Dax kits, they used to put the V12 from an XJS and keep the auto box with it, I've seen these for sale previously.

Indeed Bill Cosby's "SuperSnake" original CSX chassis car was an auto.

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Detai...


ETA - this was my Dad's car when it was up for sale recently.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-cars/ac-cobra-auto...