Conformity of an AC Cobra to Swiss/EU laws

[Lebrock]

Hello All,

I have always loved Cobras but unfortunately I am not mechanically minded enough to build my own and of course an original would be way out of my league. I now have the opportunity to have a replica AC Cobra built for me in South Africa which I would then like to import to Switzerland.

I am aware that there are strict rules, regulations and issues of conformity that have to be met upon importing any vehicle to Switzerland or EU country. I also understand that a car registered as an older model, for example 1967, would have to meet the more lenient requirements of similar cars of that era. My intention is to have the car built in accordance with the requirements for conformity for Switzerland rather than to have the car completed and then later modified upon arrival in Switzerland. It is also my hope that by registering the car as an older model this would help to ease the registration here in Switzerland.

I have researched several forums online however there is very little information that is relevant to vehicles as specific as Cobras meeting Swiss 'DMV' standards. Some forums did make reference to the Euro 4 Norm however upon reviewing this document I found it complicated and directed towards newer vehicles.

I kindly request any advice on preparing an AC Cobra to conform to the necessary Swiss legal requirements in the canton of Geneva. Information, such as acceptable technical specifications or design features that I could transfer to the builder would greatly improve the effectiveness of this exercise and help to build a vehicle that respects Swiss laws from the outset.

One of the first things that struck me when visiting forums of the Cobra community is how generous the members are with regard to sharing tips, advice and General Info and I would greatly appreciate any advice offered regarding my query.
Regards,
Simon

[Miket]

Originally Posted by Lebrock

Hello All,
I have always loved Cobras but unfortunately I am not mechanically minded enough to build my own and of course an original would be way out of my league. I now have the opportunity to have a replica AC Cobra built for me in South Africa which I would then like to import to Switzerland.

I am aware that there are strict rules, regulations and issues of conformity that have to be met upon importing any vehicle to Switzerland or EU country. I also understand that a car registered as an older model, for example 1967, would have to meet the more lenient requirements of similar cars of that era. My intention is to have the car built in accordance with the requirements for conformity for Switzerland rather than to have the car completed and then later modified upon arrival in Switzerland. It is also my hope that by registering the car as an older model this would help to ease the registration here in Switzerland.

I have researched several forums online however there is very little information that is relevant to vehicles as specific as Cobras meeting Swiss 'DMV' standards. Some forums did make reference to the Euro 4 Norm however upon reviewing this document I found it complicated and directed towards newer vehicles. I kindly request any advice on preparing an AC Cobra to conform to the necessary Swiss legal requirements in the canton of Geneva. Information, such as acceptable technical specifications or design features that I could transfer to the builder would greatly improve the effectiveness of this exercise and help to build a vehicle that respects Swiss laws from the outset.

One of the first things that struck me when visiting forums of the Cobra community is how generous the members are with regard to sharing tips, advice and general info and I would greatly appreciate any advice offered regarding my query.

Regards,

Simon

Thats better

[purge98]

Originally Posted by Lebrock

Hello All,

I have always loved Cobras but unfortunately I am not mechanically minded enough to build my own and of course an original would be way out of my league. I now have the opportunity to have a replica AC Cobra built for me in South Africa which I would then like to import to Switzerland.

I am aware that there are strict rules, regulations and issues of conformity that have to be met upon importing any vehicle to Switzerland or EU country. I also understand that a car registered as an older model, for example 1967, would have to meet the more lenient requirements of similar cars of that era. My intention is to have the car built in accordance with the requirements for conformity for Switzerland rather than to have the car completed and then later modified upon arrival in Switzerland. It is also my hope that by registering the car as an older model this would help to ease the registration here in Switzerland.

I have researched several forums online however there is very little information that is relevant to vehicles as specific as Cobras meeting Swiss 'DMV' standards. Some forums did make reference to the Euro 4 Norm however upon reviewing this document I found it complicated and directed towards newer vehicles.

I kindly request any advice on preparing an AC Cobra to conform to the necessary Swiss legal requirements in the canton of Geneva. Information, such as acceptable technical specifications or design features that I could transfer to the builder would greatly improve the effectiveness of this exercise and help to build a vehicle that respects Swiss laws from the outset.

One of the first things that struck me when visiting forums of the Cobra community is how generous the members are with regard to sharing tips, advice and general info and I would greatly appreciate any advice offered regarding my query.
Regards,
Simon

Do you need an SVA in Switzerland?

[Clive]

Hi Simon, As far as I'm aware you can't build/register kit cars in Europe, you have to import one that has been registered in the UK.
If you want authenticity then you probaly can't beat the Hawk/kirkham range. Gerry Hawkridge has an agent in Belgium, Germany and France who will probably be able to help.

Hawk Cars - dealers and agents

http://www.hawkcars.co.uk/company/hawkweblinks.html

[Marc]

Hello Simon,

I advise you to buy a Cobra thats allready registered in Switzerland. The Swiss MFK is very aware about the Cobras and several letters have been passed on between them. Unfortunately there were some Cobra fans who tried to fidle the MFK. Result is now, that some owners will loose the registration due to false first registration dates and the MFK is taking registering very serios.
If you still intend to import one, be aware that you might have to go EMPA and have it crashed before you get a approval or you will be asked to go to the Swiss Vehicle University in Biel.

Sorry, MFK is Motorfahrzeugkontrolle similar to SVA.

Below are a few links of Swiss Cobra builders and sellers:

ClassicCars - Ruckstuhlgaragen
AMC Classics - axel meier automobiles & motorcycles
AC Cobra
HS Replica Cars - Homepage
Auto Occasion suchen Autos kaufen im Automarkt von AutoScout24.ch

Best of luck

[wilf]

I seem to recall a Swiss Cobra owner who used the American forum www.clubcobra.com. You could try posting there to see if he responds.

Luck.

[Lebrock]

Thank you All for your replies,

Jason, I am not 100% what SVA and VOSA are but Marc seems to have answered this for both of us.

Marc, you make a good point - it would probably be simpler to by a car that has already been registered here in Switzerland. At this point I would still like to explore my options with regards to importing a car. You mention that the MFK is aware of Cobras which sounds like they are wary of them - why might this be the case? As I understand it replicas are allowed to be registered as the year of the original model - if this is indeed the case why is there an issue of falsifying the dates of first registration? I would like to be very open with the MFK and ideally know what it is that they require before even delivering the car to them. This way I would hope to prepare the car in advance to meet their requirements. Clive has concurred with other advice that I have read on forums that it is possible to import a Cobrar registered elsewhere such as the USA or UK however you suggest that it is not as straightforward as this. I have really appreciated your knowlegable input and any further advice or clarification would be great. Where in Switzerland are you?

Clive, thank you for this suggestion. I may find myself having to go this route.

Thanks Wilf, I have made efforts to contact two Swiss owners who I have come across in the forums (Stefan and Ron). I hope to hear back from them.

All the best,
Simon

[wilf]

Only in some US states do Cobra replicas get registered as the year of the car which they replicate. And even then, the manufacturers statement of origin (MSO) clearly states the actual year of manufacture. So importing one and trying to get your registration authority to accept it as a 1967 or whatever car is difficult.

In the UK things are slightly different. Here,the cars take on the identity of the donor vehicle (if amateur built) and whilst we may be able to retain a registration number linked to the year of regsitration of the donor, our registration documents still clearly state the year the replica was first put on the road, or at least most do!
We also have the SVA, a complex inspection to prove the amateur built vehicle is fit for the road. In theory if you pass SVA in the UK it should be recognised throught the EU, in practice this is not so. Switzerland is not part of the EU anyway (wise people).

Your registration authority is probably sick of people trying to bend the rules (as they are here). That is why they "know" cobra replicas.

Make sure that any replica you buy in Switzerland is 100% correctly registered, or be prepared to lose a lot of money.

[JamesP]

Simon

I'm in Geneva (near Bernex) and currently building a Dax de Dion, SBC 383 MSEFI already built and I've just collected the Suspension components from Dax so I'm in process towards a rolling chassis.

Current plan is to SVA in UK (I'm an expat here so will prob be going back to UK before this beast hits the road)

Drop me a PM if you'd like to catch up & chew the fat over a beer and spanners.

James