WOW, lots of misguided information on this dated thread.......
The following web page guides you to the safe (and only legal way in California's eyes) way to register and title your car.
Registration Requirements for Home Made Specially Constructed or Kit Vehicles
Older titled kit cars are a gray area, it depends on whether or not the VIN used is accepted in their system. If the VIN is manufacturer oriented (ERA, SPF, Contemporary) then they should already be in the system as a valid item. If they are state issued, you have a 50/50 chance of California accepting them (mention VIN tampering to the BAR if they want to change it and watch their reaction
). If they are a homemade or "borrowed" VIN for another vehicle, expect the car and paperwork to be impounded (CA BAR are not stupid) and every part on the car scrutinized.
Where things get interesting is
SB811, not sure if this was ever approved or not, but I do know that Sacramento has referenced it in the past.
Bill S.