Hi All !

My first post - need some advice. Couldn't find the answer in the forums.

Am thinking about importing a Cobra sports car, very much like in the 2 pictures attached.

If it's a modern replica (ie: brand new car) is it a non-starter to import one into Switzerland? (by way of information, V8 fuel-injected engine, 550 HP, 'quite' noisy, etc. )

Would such a car ever pass the import tests on exhausts and whatever else they test?

Is the situation any different if the car is a 1960s classic? If so, what does 'classic' mean - just the chasis? just the engine? Has anyone imported this kind of car before?

I guess I'm less worried about the import tax, more as to whether it is possible.

Best regards
A

Welcome to the forum.

Just my $0.02:

Please don't import it. There's already too many noisy gas guzzling cars in Switzerland as it is. I used to have a neighbor with some horrible tweaked up monster that would vibrate the whole house every time he pulled in and out of the driveway... very inconsiderate.

Now I guess I'll have to bear the wrath of the forum's car freaks...

Dear ElJeFe
Thanks for taking the time to post a reply.
I sympathise with your point of view. Pls note, it's not 'that' loud... and I'll be in the sticks (and in the French part of CH) ...
There are those who would say that a re-built 1960s engine is a work of art, somewhat like a Swiss watch, only heavier and cheaper...
A

For what it's worth, NICE CAR. I'd love to swing its ass round an Alp.

Don't mind EljeFe - Hollanders probably even disapprove of pimped bicycles.

Ain't no substitute for cubes. Accept no substitutes. Get a Shelby. Ignore the treehuggers. Bring it on.

dave

yeah bring it over! there'll be a lot of folks here who would like a spin. might liven up the place a bit.

I'll be interested to see how you go with this. If I end up staying long term in Switzerland my need for some classic American iron will grow. Though I'd be looking more at a late 60's 'stang.

It may be worth checking out a Californian spec car. I don't know if they have managed to maintain this after a succession of Detriot and oil friendly presidents. But California used to have the tightest emission restriction in the world.

Might be worth sending an email to zentrale.ozd-fahrzeuge@ezv.admin.ch and see how much information they can provide for you.

Bring it in, but it'll probably be parked.
I checked in '99, my sterioded 365 cuin. dual carbed '87 mustang with 580HP, full length headers and dual 3" pipes without cat's from Canada.
They told me to leave it there, too much money to repair or replace the items, cats, mufflers, carbs, lights, tire sizes not matching, roll cage, fuel cell, battery relocated, suspension, oh the list got very lengthy and the cash to change it all got out of hand. Had to sell it and am looking into another option soon. (Willy's coupe!)

Too many corners in Europe.
"Gas" too expensive.
US cars are, er, rubbish?

That is the good thing about replicas, who REALLY makes them? (fiberglass kits and drive trains). US bodies for cars in general don't last long, but the sound of a north american big block certainly cannot be found in Europe.

I've seen a few on the roads here, kits and a real one (aren't they worth like $500k+). I'd love one, 289, 302, 351, or 427..... But the idea of getting one imported and licenced in Switzerland gives me the shivers. Maybe find one that is already here or get a kit built here by someone who knows the regulations backwards.

Those old original muscle cars are certainly appreciating in value, look at this stolen in Perth last week. A$600k = CHF625k

PS I'm a semi tree hugger, meaning I'd cycle and catch the bus all week saving karma points to take that beast out on a Sunday blast

Yeah, I was in that club back in Oz aswell. I reckoned if I rarely drove the car and kept it in top running condition, then I was probably doing less harm than somebody who uses their car for commuting and running up to the local shop where the car is always running cold.

But over half a mill for a GTHO these days? Geez, I never did get the obsession with spending that much money on the original. At the end of the day it is just a souped up taxi. For 20 grand I bought the taxi and then turned it into something faster, better handling and more fuel efficient than the GTHO ever was...

Hi Yokine

"or get a kit built here by someone who knows the regulations backwards"

that's an angle I'll investigate.
The replica cars are all "kits" - some are just better than others.
The company I am dealing with has the bodies made in polished aluminium by an ex-MiG building military factory in Poland, then part- or full-assembly in the US.
And the engines and gearboxes always come from a separate supplier.
So, perhaps the key third leg - as you advise - is to get a really savvy Swiss garage/car builder into the equation.
"PC Designs" point above is well taken - the list is LONG!
Thanks!
A

Though looking at that list, it would seem that PC Designs didn't have much of the original car left other than the shell.

Well here's a start for Swiss sourced

http://www.autoscout24.ch/AS24Web/De...3&page=1&row=6


http://www.kitcars.ch/PRODUKTE.html

Custom kit car! It did have the original seats... (not too comfy)
wanted a light weight shell and the rest, well, faster, louder...
I don't like buying anything "off the shelf", hence, custom computers...
When you like to stick out from the crowd, you put your own touches on your lifestyle.

Nice car, shame it is a right hander...

Hah hah. Being bi-driversidal, I dont pick up things like that. I just see a wheel and sit behind it

Though, I was suprised to find out that many older Italian sports cars were right hand drive so that the driver could see the edge of the road better when racing in the alps.

"Until the mid-60s, all Lancias, even in left-hand-drive Italy, were manufactured as right-hand-drive. Lancia intended the cars to be suitable for use on the Alpine passes, so when driving on the right, the driver was also on the right, and could see the edge of the road. Falling off the edge of the road was considered a greater danger than head-on collisions. Modern Italian trucks in the Alps are still often right-hand-drive for the same reason."

Yo! Never knew that! This is the forum where you learn something every day!

Is that like being bi-sexual, bi-lingual, bi-national?