2004 AC Cobra 427 6.3L Petrol · E146 AUJ

A modest DVSA record with only one outright failure but several recurring advisories paints the mechanical story of this AC Cobra replica. Across seven tests since 2017, two were clean passes, one was a pass with a noisy exhaust advisory, and one failed outright in 2023 over a non-compliant front registration plate and an inoperative offside side repeater, before passing two days later with no defects recorded. The 2017 failure was similarly cosmetic and lighting-related, with non-standard plates and an absent rear fog lamp flagged as prs items, alongside the first appearance of the offside upper front suspension ball joint dust cover advisory. That single suspension advisory has not recurred in subsequent tests, but the noisy exhaust advisory appeared at consecutive attempts in 2023, suggesting an unresolved exhaust system issue that has not been definitively cured. The most recent test on 17 October 2025 was a clean pass with no advisories, which represents the best result in the recorded history, though the absence of defects in a single MOT does not constitute confirmation of underlying mechanical health. Mileage accumulation on this 22-year-old vehicle is extraordinarily low, with 8,711 recorded miles translating to roughly 396 miles annually since first registration. Testing intervals are also widely spaced, with gaps of two to three years between some attempts, strongly indicating extended periods of storage or very occasional use rather than regular driving. While low mileage preserves components such as the drivetrain and interior trim, long stationary periods present their own mechanical concerns, including hardening and cracking of rubber suspension bushes, brake caliper seizure from corrosion, brake disc surface corrosion, and degradation of seals and flexible brake hoses through lack of movement. The fact that six tests have been conducted over a nine-year window without recorded odometer changes between some entries also warrants verification of the true current mileage against the V5C and any in-vehicle odometer reading, as odometer discrepancies are a known concern with low-use specialist and replica vehicles. Given the advisory and failure history, a prospective buyer should direct particular attention to the front suspension geometry and the exhaust system. The 2017 advisory concerning the offside upper front suspension ball joint dust cover merits a physical inspection for torn or perished boots, grease contamination around the joint, and any vertical or horizontal play when the wheel is rocked by hand. With such low mileage, pay close attention to the condition of the anti-roll bar bushes, wishbone bushes, and coil springs, as these can deteriorate through age and standing time rather than wear. Listen for clonks or knocks over uneven road surfaces and during direction changes, and feel for any vagueness or wandering from the steering, which could indicate worn linkage or seized components that an MOT test station may not have detected during a slow-speed check. The recurring noisy exhaust advisory from 2023 deserves specific scrutiny, as it persisted across both attempts that year and was not re-recorded in 2025. On inspection, check the full length of the exhaust system, including manifold gaskets, pipe joints, silencer mounting rubbers, and any heat shields, as small leaks or worn mountings can create advisory-level noise without producing a failure. The lighting and registration plate failures from 2017 and 2023, while cosmetic, suggest that basic compliance items have been intermittently neglected, so confirm that the front and rear plates conform to current sizing and character specifications, that all side repeaters function, and that the rear fog lamp illuminates correctly when switched on. Finally, inspect the brake calipers for any binding or seized operation, particularly after extended standing, and verify that the brake fluid has been changed within the last two years, as fluid hygroscopic degradation is a genuine concern on a vehicle of this age regardless of mileage.