Aussie looking to import

[Aussiecob]

Hi all I'm new to this Cobra game and require some information about Dax Cobras in the UK.I am looking at purchasing a Dax from a fella in Bristol and importing it to Australia ,but I am having trouble getting information from him regarding build date and registration status. He tells me it's a 1971 427 Dax but the Vehicle Registration Document Copy (dated 1999)he has sent me shows it as a 1971 Jaguar 240 Saloon.I understand the Jag is used as a donar car for the Dax Cobra but is it usual to use this registration including Jag chassis and engine number for a completed kit?The only thing I can think is the car was built after 1999 and has never been registered as a Cobra?I don't really know how your registration system works over there but I thought here is the best place to ask. Can anybody tell me some history of the Dax Cobra?Their web site states they have been building cars for between 20 and 30 years but I am having trouble finding out what changes they have made to there kits along the way.Should they have a ID Plate or chassis number that would give me some idea of a build date? The only reason I ask is it is easier to import a car constructed before 1989 to Australia and the prices for partially completed cars in the UK make it more cost effective than building from scratch here. If anyone needs any help with anything in Australia please don't hesitate to ask.I live in Bathurst which is 200 KM West of Sydney

[Purple AK]

Originally Posted by Aussiecob

Hi all I'm new to this Cobra game and require some information about Dax Cobras in the UK.I am looking at purchasing a Dax from a fella in Bristol and importing it to Australia ,but I am having trouble getting information from him regarding build date and registration status. He tells me it's a 1971 427 Dax but the Vehicle Registration Document Copy (dated 1999)he has sent me shows it as a 1971 Jaguar 240 Saloon.I understand the Jag is used as a donar car for the Dax Cobra but is it usual to use this registration including Jag chassis and engine number for a completed kit?The only thing I can think is the car was built after 1999 and has never been registered as a Cobra?I don't really know how your registration system works over there but I thought here is the best place to ask. Can anybody tell me some history of the Dax Cobra?Their web site states they have been building cars for between 20 and 30 years but I am having trouble finding out what changes they have made to there kits along the way.Should they have a ID Plate or chassis number that would give me some idea of a build date? The only reason I ask is it is easier to import a car constructed before 1989 to Australia and the prices for partially completed cars in the UK make it more cost effective than building from scratch here. If anyone needs any help with anything in Australia please don't hesitate to ask.I live in Bathurst which is 200 KM West of Sydney

Hi ??? Welcome
Where were you 5 years ago when I was trying to date my OZ Cleveland? Luckily the guys on the Falcon Forum sorted me out

Things don't look good with your Dax though. If it still has Jag on the log book it is either incorrectly registered, or not registered at all. Kit Cars built up until 1998 could and frequently did, use the donor ID. However when SVA came in in 1998 all these cars were given a years amnesty to get the details altered to the Log Book. After that they were deemed incorrectly registered. So I'm guessing you might have problems exporting/importing it.
As far as I know there should be a Dax chassis number that will date it for you, I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be along soon to advise on that. (DAVE)
Sorry I couldn't be more positive
Good Luck with your search

[legend]

Hi Aussiecob, I would always tell buyers in the UK to avoid cars still registered as the donor vehicle as they will have difficulty getting MOT & possibly insurance.

I could see you having difficulty exporting & importing said vehicle, I think you should look at correctly registered cars & clarify Australian regulations as UK Cobra registration documents will show a date of manufacture from the original donor as say 1974 & date of registration as say 2003, which will they accept ?

Good luck Tony.

PS my sister lives in Surfers Paradise & having seen the Aussie Cobs I am not surprised you are looking for a car in the UK, but have a look at other Marques & also investigate South Afrika.

[dave]

Hi Aussiecob.
Early Dax chassis had problems with their steering geometry. This was corrected on the MK4 chassis which they started to produce in late 1993 I believe.
To identify if a car has the MK4 chassis you need to have the chassis number.
The Dax MK4 chassis numbers are:_
SA9 DAX M4 R?A 038 ???

The first 7 digits of the Dax chasis number are standard.
The 8th digit denoted the MK number (In the above case this is MK4)
The 9th digit "R" is std.
The 10th digit will denote the year it was made. This could either be a letter or a number and is based on UK vehicle registration numbers.(See below)

The 11th digit, "A" is for variant and this is the same on all chassis i have seen.
As are the 12th 13th and 14th digits.
The the final 3 digits are unique to each chassis.

L= 1993
M=1994
N=1995
P=1996
R=1997
S=1998
T=1999 Or something like that.(The Uk registration system got a little messy around this point)

Later chassis changed to numbers:-
1=2001
2=2002
3=2003 etc.

Dax now offer 2 types of chassis. The other chassis (Known as the De Dion) was launched in 2003 and has a slightly different chassis number in that the the 7th 8th and 9th digits are changed to "TD1" giving a number like this:-
SA9 DAX TD1 ?A 038 ???

If the car offered does not have a chassis number that starts "SA9DAX" then the car is not correctly registered. And in the UK would require a type aproval test (Known as an SVA test). I would suspect that you might have similar problems on Oz.
It is possible to find cars in the UK that are "correctly registered" with the V5 (Registration certificate) showing that the car is of a suitable vintage. It is all a very grey area, so just because one car is registered in a particular way doesn't automatically mean the next "Correctly registered" car will be the same.

It all sounds like a bit of a mine field but once you have your head around it you will be fine in your search.

Good luck.

[Aussiecob]

Thanks Fella's, Brilliant information.Can somebody explain your Log Book system.The owner has just written to me with (the chassis number has been changed to the number on the log book, its stamped into a replica cobra plate , the engime number has never been up dated) I have asked for the number but hasn't been supplied yet.The MOT certificate he has sent me dated July 01 still has the Jag Chassis number.
It all sounds a bit dodgy to me.Probably why its so cheap.
Is there anyone out there who lives at Bristol that could go and have a look at it for me.I don't mind paying for your time and expert eye.Nothing like someone who already owns one to see if it's any good.
Thanks again for your help, much appreciated.

[legend]

Originally Posted by Aussiecob;

It all sounds a bit dodgy to me.Probably why its so cheap.

I think you have probably worked it for yourself.

[Shakey]

HI Aussie,

I am based in NZ and have an AK427 for sale fully certified and ready to go!!!

Cheers

Shakey