[Paul F]

California is particularly sensitive to out-of-state vehicles. Last year, someone bought a car from another state (newly built) and could not register it because it did not meet the definition of a SPCNS. It was quite a difficult situation. The person had to sell the car. Each case is a bit different so you need to get very specific about the car you are discussing.

A better alternative is to buy a car already registered and having SB100 in California.

You went to the North Bay Cobra 'breakfast' at Denbeste's on the day you wrote this and you met all the experts at Denbeste as well as a bunch of folks from North Bay Cobras. You talked about the registration process at that BBQ.

The rules of the State are quite clear and easy to read. You seem to know what those rules are and now you are asking if you can register the car without the proper paperwork. [edit - correction, you've dropped that point and have decided to buy in Ca.. Still, call Sacramento before you buy any Cobra to be sure there are no issues with it] So at this point, you should talk to the DMV in Sacramento to get your questions answered. Give them the details about the exact car your are interested in and they will give you the answers you need. They will be very helpful in getting you a legally registered, smog exempt car that you will enjoy for years to come.

Seeking further help on the forum for this kind of detail is pointless. You need to talk to the people that will be registering the car for you. There are people on this forum that have a lot of expertise in this area, but in the end, you are going to go to the DMV to get the car registered. It is they that will make the final decision, so talk to them and then there will be no questions in your mind about your purchase.