Replica 904 Carrera GTS

[OBRUT]

"Okay, might be getting a bit silly here, but what about a Porsche engined Lotus 23B "

now you're talking!

[Jeff Eelkema]

John

Your comments on ICV and "hot rodding" are interesting. What is stopping you applying to register a reproduction using the same regs that apply to hot rods rather than calling it an ICV?

Cheers
Jeff

[Fishcop]

Hi Jeff, I was hoping you'd have a read

According to QT policy in relation ICV (which ties in with the national standard), any car I build as an ICV can only be treated as a 'new vehicle' which means it has to comply with all the emmission stuff, which essentially means a current ADR and emmission compliance engine must be used. I think that's why the clubman cars do well with the Toyota and Ztec engines.

The Australian Hot Rod Association was obviously big enough to lobby for exemptions when the policy was drafted. They are able to 'reproduce' a chassis from a pre 1950 automobile and have it certified by engineers appointed to the Association. They obviously have to comply with safety issues, but they are able to use 'original' and modified engines that are not required to be emmission tested.

This rules out a Beck 904 replica because it is a 1964 chassis build, so it can't be re-produced as a hot rod. And I therefore need to power it with an engine that complies with current (2008) emmission rules. I'll put a knacker on not being able to get a 2.0 air-cooled flat 6 under todays values...

Under the ICV rules, I cannot re-produce a Porsche chassis. A chassis developer or company could - but they'd be subject to crash testing et al. There is simply no room in the rules to accurately or faithfully reproduce a vintage car built after 1950 and register it Without doing something dodgy... but where would that leave you for insurance and resale in the future? Not worth the trouble.

[Jeff Eelkema]

Hi John

I thought there would be some technicality with hot rods. A couple of workmates are heavily involved in rods but are on leave at present but it seems that you have looked at the options. I'll have a chat when they return to see if they know a way through the system.

If it's an ICV, does it have to comply with all current regs ie: impact etc or is it just emissions? I recall reading in old US car mags years ago that the high performance guys used to run 100% alcohol to get around Cal drive by tests, you just need really big jets etc. Not sure if it would work with current regs but might be worth looking into. There must be a way to buy straight ethanol these days.

Cheers
Jeff

[Jeff Eelkema]

John

Another thought...

As there is no recheck for emissions after rego, you could even re-tune it to run ULP later.

Jeff

[Fishcop]

I have to read further, but there may be an exemption for vehicles running on LPG... But once again, what a lot of effort and expense to undo. I guess I could look at a CIS injection system converted to gas and then change for carbies later.

Clearly our legislation is designed to discourage a plethora of "home made" cars; but really there should be more options for genuine enthusiasts to build what would be a legally registerable car if it was "real".

Jeff, I'd love to hear from anyone you may know who is in the 'know' on these things...

Thinking I might focus on my garage extensions and workshop

[Ashton H]

John,

How about one of these! Track only, but hey.....

http://race-car-replicas.com/rcr917.html

Ash

[Fishcop]

Very nice!

But for the money I'm prepared to spend, at the least - I want to be able to legally drive it on a weekend to pick up milk and bread

[CamBiscuit]

I'm sure I've seen a photo where someone had registered one for road use....

I know at least one 962 was!

[reedminor]

Yes there was... Count Rossi (who owned Martini and Rossi) had one....

Not sure where it was registered... Italy or South America somewhere.

[Fishcop]

This guy is my hero...

http://members.shaw.ca/P904/

And yes, he is selling the parts he's manufacturing for himself...

Still doesn't help me with a registerable reproduction...

[John S]

Fishcop,I think it might be worth checking out what the Jag guys do to register C type replicas. From what I can see, it looks like they 'sacrifice' an old Jag and use its VIN for the new C type for instance. That way correct of the era drivetrains can be used.
So I am thinking why not in the same manner use a 'sacrificial' 914/6 numbers on a 904/6 and transfer all the mechanicals across...

There might be something really glearingly obvious I am missing here, please point it out to me, but I don't see how else the Jaguar replicas are getting on the road.

[Fishcop]

Hi John

Yes I've looked into this also. It is a possibility, although to do it legally still requires engineering certificates to 'rebody' a vehicle. There are several Beck 550 Spiders and McRae 550 Spyders registered over here, from what I can work out, they are so accurately built that people have clearly brought them over from the USA and simply told all the authorities that they are real; and let's face it, the majority of Customs/Dotars/State inspectors really wouldn't know the difference. They have been registered as 1950's Porsches. I did read a Customs bulletin found on the net raising this issue and alerting authorities to the practice...

But this all leads me on to my decision to to go with a 914 for the time being and re-create a 914 GT (flared guards et al). I have a spare 1969 2.0 engine and I think I could build a reasonable replica that will be raod registerable and CAMS raceable... I will keep my 911 intact and 'road only'.

My only decision now is to a) import something that is complete and ready to run form the USA, or b) find something local already in RHD and free of the importing hassles. I've located a mostly complete 914 in Tassie that's certainly cheap enough - but I hear it's a hassle transporting non-running cars (especially as it has to come over from Bass Strait).

Jeff - have you picked up your 911 yet? What did you end up doing?

[hmd]

John,

Did you get anything out of my contacts re McRea 550 replica?

[Fishcop]

Hi Hung

Yes Will emailed me - really nice guy. Basically he did the job before the latest ADRs ticked over, so that meant he was able to use an older engine... though he still had to use Motec and careful programming! It's basically too late for the rest of us as and any ICV project now must use an engine ADR certified within 5 years of approval. I'd therefore have to use something like a WRX or Boxster engine/gearbox package and the all the water plumbing...

I will look further into "re-bodying" a 914 But financial risk of importing 50k++ worth of Beck 904 only to be rejected for rego is too great a risk for me.

I am aware of a couple of 904 replicas registered in Australia, though I don't know who has them to talk to... If any come up for sale, I'd like to talk