AK Cobra Import

[turna123]

Hi guys, just wanting some advice on a car I'm looking at importing from Guernsey.

The car is a 2009 AK Cobra Replica in blue, it's beautiful!

Things I'm struggling with, I'm looking at bringing the car over here and getting it SVA/IVA'd and registered in the UK. It needs an IVA as in Guernsey they don't have them, nor MOT's I believe. What is the likelihood of it not passing an IVA, and what could be the problems I may face?

I also have to pay 20% VAT of the purchase price so iv allowed for this when doing it.

The car is registered as a 2009 on the Guernsey logbook, but obviously had a donor car when new. Will it be on an 09 registration when imported here, or a 'Q' plate? As I'm very aware that a lot of these cars are registered on the donor cars old registration, but this has no record of the car on the guernsey logbook, and so no evidence available for the DVLA when registering it id have thought?

Can anyone help further? It'd be much appreciated.

Thanks again, Tom

[rdodger]

Will it be treated as an import or will it need a full IVA?

[turna123]

Both. After speaking to the DVLA and NOVA (Hmrc) because it has no 'certificate or conformity' it needs an IVA and to be treated as if it has never been registered. I'm concerned it may not pass it because of this. There wasn't neccessrily any need for the chap who built it, to build it to IVA standards. Or am I just being over the top? I don't know, hence the questions Id appreciate as much help as I can on this, as it could bury me financially if I buy it and it needs too much work to get it passed and financially viable from its worth point of view once done and tested. Thanks again for all the help

[rdodger]

Apart from light heights, positions etc, you may have issues with radius on edges for the screen surround and E marking on the screen. Mirror position and size. Engine emissions. Brake and fuel pipe attachment (fixing spacing). Seats need head rests. The list could be long and expensive to fix.

A lot will depend on how it was built and how accurate a replica it is. I would say the more accurate to the original it is the harder it will be to get it through IVA. A lot of Cobra clones are built IVA'd then rebuilt and painted with all the period bits like seats, lights, dash instruments, switches warning lights, exterior lights, mirrors etc etc.

Unless it's very cheap and you are prepared to rebuild it then I would look elsewhere.

The other thing to consider is the requirement of it to be a home build. Without a pictorial record of the build that might be difficult.

Would it be cheaper to import it as parts?

[turna123]

Ok, thanks for that...food for thought. I've been advised that the emissions will be tested on what the engine should be at year of design rather than 'current limits'. Brakes, immobiliser was my primary concern. Parts doesn't seem an option, and I don't think I'd be able to spend the time effort and or money to rebuild one, not to mention it not working out financially viable.

Not knowing anything anything about requirements for an IVA, other than what I can read which is confusing, I have to entrust that the car is fit there or there abouts for it, and I don't know if I can? I was kind of wishing someone would tell me an 'AK' build would mean that it would mean it'd be ok with minor changes. How naive of me lol!

The more I think about it, the less viable it seems!

[RochdaleGT]

ok...nothing is imposible...an AK is able to pass IVA, so YOUR Ak should be able, too.

but in your case you need to start calculating:

price for a similar AK with UK reg?? How much?

price for YOUR guernesy AK? How much it was?

How much time, work, money you need to invest to get it legally registered in UK?

result: was it a profit or only hazzle?

[Wanchaiwarrior]

This one??


http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ac/427/ak-cobra/3063672

Looks nice though.
Nothing useful to add but good luck.

[turna123]

I appreciate all your help and advice on this one, but it does seem it could turn out to be not much cheaper than a UK registered one by the time all is said and done. I'm looking at other cars instead. Are Gardner Douglas as sort after as AK cars?

[CrutyRammers]

Saw this just after your other thread.
I really wouldn't take on something that old which needed an IVA, unless you specifically want a project. It might need loads of work, might need very little, but unless you want to do some tinkering, it will just be a massive PITA.