1982 Dax 427 Tojeiro 5.7 V8 'Cobra'

First registered in 2000 and wearing the appropriate registration number of ‘ACC 917A’, this Dax Cobra is finished in a beautiful smoky blue metallic that is set off by twin silver ‘Le Mans’ stripes. 

Powered by a 5.7-litre Chevrolet 350 V8 that feeds its prodigious power to the rear axle via a five-speed Tremec gearbox and a limited-slip differential, it also boasts Edelbrock headers and high-lift camshafts plus a four-barrel Holley carburettor. Halibrand alloy wheels too, plus fully functioning side pipes. 

It really does have it all.

Including a good service history. Benefiting from a recent light refurbishment that set the owner back well over £3,000, Sussex Sports Cars refreshed the underside with paint and Waxoyl, fettled the gearchange, ignition and carburettors, and fitted new sparkplugs last month. 

Being sold only reluctantly, if you’re looking for a well-maintained, hard-charging, fire-breathing example of the best replica Cobra out there, your search might be over.

The blue coachwork looks stunning, doesn’t it? Of course, those new chrome over-riders and the ‘La Mans’ stripes help but the underlying paintwork is very good.

It’s also got great panel alignment with tight and consistent shutlines. There ae some very nice chrome additions to the coachwork too, including the vents in the front wing, the mirrors, boot hinges and roll-over hoops. 

They, like the badges and the glazing and the alloy wing protectors, are all in an excellent condition.

The windscreen might be small but it is perfectly formed and supported by two adjustable side screens that do an admirable job of minimizing wind intrusion into the cockpit at speed.

The 17-inch Halibrand alloy wheels, which are in great shape, suit the Cobra perfectly. They are also fitted with matching Nitro NT555 tyres that were made in the USA and whose fat sidewalls add so much to the car’s stance. Only a couple of years old, they’ve covered just a few hundred miles since being put on so have plenty of life left in them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

As for wet weather gear, the owner has a full set but doesn’t know how well it fits because he’s never used it. It’s stored safely in his attic and is included in the sale.

The tonneau cover has been fitted and used though, and it fits and works well.

As for flaws, there is a crease/crack underneath the driver’s door that would benefit from some attention. Other than that, it all looks very good to us. 

A design like the Cobra blurs the line between exterior and interior, not least because it’s such a determinedly open sportscar that few owners ever bother with the roof, so everything is open to display.

Which is fine in this case because the dark blue leather interior is as purposeful as it is minimal – and what else do you need other than a pair of bucket seats with matching Willans harnesses, a suitably sporting wood-rimmed steering wheel, and one of the most beautiful and comprehensive dashboards of the last century?

Quite.

The driver’s seat is adjustable – not all are, so beware.

The floor is covered in luxurious Axminster carpet, and the white-faced SW and Smiths instruments give you all the information you need and nothing you don’t. 

The gear lever is heavily-cranked because the gearbox sits so far back. It’s an iconic look and one that demonstrates the Cobra is almost mid-engined.

Other things we love include the Perspex sunvisors, which are as charmingly utilitarian as they are elegant in design.

Ford supplied the minor controls, which is fine because they’re well-proven and reliable but would be cheap to replace if they ever did fail.

As you’d expect given its miniscule mileage – it is still a long way of reaching five-digits – it’s in an excellent condition bar some slight colour loss to the outer edge of the driver’s seat. 

We think most people would be happy to chalk that up to a developing patina and leave it as it is but if it bothers you it wouldn’t be difficult or expensive to touch-up.

The Cobra’s history since 2015, when the vendor bought it, has been neatly summarised on a spreadsheet for you and is backed up by invoices.

As you can see, it idles beautiful with just a hint of menace from the (fully functional) side pipes. 

The 5.7-litre Chevrolet 350 SBC V8 engine is fitted with Edelbrock air filter housing, high-lift camshafts and headers plus a four-barrel Holley carburettor. Fuel comes via a Kevlar-lined fuel tank while a Jaguar XJS donated the suspension and braking systems.

The seller is keen to point out that the ride is biased more towards handling than comfort. He raves about the way it drives – and the noise it makes - but warns “it’s not for the faint-hearted!”

The engine bay is nicely presented and in need of nothing. It’s much the same underneath; given the recent expenditure in tidying it up and rust-proofing it you could be forgiven for assuming it’s in good shape and that is indeed the case. 

Though it was first registered in 2000, the V5 shows the relevant date as being 1982 as that was the date the donor car was registered. This means the Dax qualifies as an historic vehicle for tax, which means it won’t cost you a penny for the annual VED.

The Cobra’s MoT certificate is valid until August 2024 and it, like so many before, was issued with no advisories.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

While most of us have dreamed of owning a Cobra at some point, few of us are blessed with the bank account needed to make it a reality – and because this is such a widespread problem, a Cobra kit car doesn’t carry the same sort of stigma as most others do.

And if you’re going to buy a Cobra replica, then the Dax is a good place to start; they go for sensible money, offer a massive support network, and are based on tried-and-trusted mechanicals.

So, how much are you going to have to splash out to make this one yours? 

Well, we estimate the virtual hammer will fall somewhere between £25,000 and £30,000, which means someone might just be able to bag a Cobra-shaped bargain.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Horam, East Sussex. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.