Prospective Replica Buyer Needs Input - Page 2

Ed Gollob · #21 (**permalink**) 07-22-2004, 07:14 PM

I have a Backdraft Racing built cobra. These are manufactured in South Africa just like Superformance and are extremely well built with BMW suspension, rear end, and brakes. There is a complete report on the company in the August issue of Kit Car Builder. The price is reasonable and they will do a turnkey cobra complete with ther engine of your choice.

Ed Gollob

Gasman · #22 (**permalink**) 07-22-2004, 07:50 PM

Has anyone ever voted for something other than what they owned? I cast my ballot for Unique. Service after the sale is important. Not saying that you won't get good service from other dealers but I am saying the Weaver's are Great!

PS: Toycollector is right! This is a buyers market for completed cars. There are several awesome Uniques for sale under 35K.

Turk · #23 (**permalink**) 07-22-2004, 08:07 PM

Steve,
I'll take your lead and vote for E.R.A.
Something I USED to own but don't any more.

TURK

jdog · #24 (**permalink**) 07-22-2004, 08:51 PM

Have any of you "turnkey or complete" car guys read any of the DMV posts? Unless you are wanting an off-road only race car, the words "turnkey or complete" would never leave my mouth. You can't reg. one of these in many states! Frankly, I can't afford a race car I need one that I can drive on the road.

jdog

Doug I · #25 (**permalink**) 07-22-2004, 09:06 PM

It depends on how the dealer handles the paperwork behind the scenes. The roller will come from this company 'here' and the engine and tranny comes from this company 'over there' and here are all the invoices etc from all these different companies showing how the kit came to be a 'turnkey' car. The dealer, or a company used by them, merely assembled all the parts from all those places into a car. As long as the dealer keeps good records and has everything in order there should be no problems with a 'turnkey' car.

jdog · #26 (**permalink**) 07-22-2004, 09:26 PM

I know for sure that Ca is currently applying a very strick interpretation of: turnkey! I would have to be very, very sure that DMV wouldn't call it a "turnkey" anyway, & there is NO APPEAL!

At these prices I can't take the risk! Anybody have a good book on installing an engine? lol! After I get through showing DMV pictures of my engine being installed, they would never call it a:"turnkey"!

jdog

P.S. I can have someone work on it after it's registered, right?

Gasman · #27 (**permalink**) 07-23-2004, 06:20 AM

Jdog, Unfortunately, there is only one state where you may have a problem.....you just so happen to live in it.

Bruce Edwards · #28 (**permalink**) 07-23-2004, 06:44 AM

We have been buidling cars since 87 and never had a problem. Since we do not make any of the kits we build DMV sees it as a pro built car and not a home built. This also makes it easier to get insured with a lot of companies that may not be willing to insure a home built.

jdog · #29 (**permalink**) 07-23-2004, 09:10 AM

Gasman,
The truth is that as Cali goes, others will soon follow!

"I didn't say anything when they came for Jews, because I'm not Jewish". Then........................

jdog
P.S. United we stand, divided ............

Randy Rosenberg · #30 (**permalink**) 07-23-2004, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Edwards

We have been buidling cars since 87 and never had a problem. Since we do not make any of the kits we build DMV sees it as a pro built car and not a home built. This also makes it easier to get insured with a lot of companies that may not be willing to insure a home built.

Actually, this is the exact same scenario that caused the CA DMV to deny my title.

I contracted with an independent Professional builder, who purchased the kit per my spefications and completed the assembly per my specifications, even with components that I provided.

YMMV,
Randy R...

rdorman · #31 (**permalink**) 07-23-2004, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gasman

Has anyone ever voted for something other than what they owned? I cast my ballot for Unique.

Sure Foosh. I reguarlly praise folks like ERA, SPF and Kirkham. But like you brought up you can count on many voting through experience. Of course, I have soft spot in my heart for the Weavers and Unique.

Jdog: "The truth is that as Cali goes, others will soon follow!"

May god help us all!

Rick

Bruce Edwards · #32 (**permalink**) 07-23-2004, 10:50 AM

Randy,

Did your builder not follow a DMV rule for the car and is that what caused the problem you are having? We do our best to be sure that any info or paper work that is neded by a state dmv is meet and followed up on as the car is being built.
I do not have any idea what caused your problem but it would seem to me that the builder is the one that should be helping you with your problem. After all you paid him for his service with the understanding that you would get a car you could drive in the state it was built in right?

Randy Rosenberg · #33 (**permalink**) 07-23-2004, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Edwards

Randy,

Did your builder not follow a DMV rule for the car and is that what caused the problem you are having?...

Honestly, I don't believe that there was a way, other than to use a titling service (which I did), to title a newly built replica in CA with a new crate engine. For this reason, I didn't research further the issue of "how my SPF was to be built" - turnkey or otherwise. So, given this (new replica with new engine), I don't think at the time there was a "DMV Rule" to follow - I may be wrong, but that's what I know...

Subsequently, SB100 allows one to title a new replica with a new engine, but before SB100 was available, I don't believe (I could be wrong here) that there was a way to title a new replica with a new engine. (And by "new engine", I mean "non-smogable" crate engine).

Hindsight is 20/20 - had I know that all I had to do was buy the roller from Dynamic directly, instead of having my builder buy it for me (which, BTW, cost me no more $$$), then I would have done so. That would have been a no-brainer action.

Ironically, I have a friend in the BACC, who has an SPF this is almost identical to mine (our SPF id's are within <100 numbers, we have the same drivetrain, and they were assembled by the same builder) - his SPF is titleable/registerable, and mine's not. WHY? The only difference is that he bought his roller from Dynamic directly, and I didn't. In the eyes of the CA DMV, these are cars are different solely due to the paper trail that documents their build, eventho these cars are d*mn near identical. Typically one would believe that paper trails are followed for monetary reasons, yet when asked, the DMV has told me that no amount of money will allow me to title my SPF in CA.

Sure, Jamo will remind me yet again that I should have researched this further, but that was then (2001) and this is now, and I can't undo the past (or resubmit new build documents to the DMV). I need to move forward.

(Sorry to take this thread selfishly off track. I only hope that others don't fall into this same mess, at the same time, maybe someone will be interested in buying my SPF - or trading!).

Thanks,
Randy R...

marcocsx3121 · #34 (**permalink**) 07-26-2004, 09:37 AM

I did get to see Chill's Unique 289 FIA on Sunday, and it is an extraordinary piece of work. For the moment, that a looks like the direction in which I'm headed. One remaining hurdle: getting a seat/pedal/steering wheel combination that fits my 5'3" wife. She was able to drive our old 427, but only with a pillow on the rear seat cushion and shifting virtually behind her back. Neither of us are as limber as we were in 1973, so the car will have to adjust accordingly.

Bruce Edwards · #35 (**permalink**) 07-26-2004, 09:51 AM

Power seats and adjustable pedals can be done.
We are waiting for a ERA 289 car that is due in Aug. If you wish to stop by and see what one looks like before all the work goes in to it.

tommyc · #36 (**permalink**) 07-30-2004, 02:54 PM

Marco,

I'm thinking about selling my ERA FIA. Factory built by ERA as a "street" car- knock-off wire wheeels, fully optioned, under car exhaust, no roll bar, etc. Not too far away if you want to take a look.

Tom Calhoun

marcocsx3121 · #37 (**permalink**) 07-30-2004, 03:58 PM

Thanks for the offer, but the FIA of my dreams will be the full comp package. I may even put period sponsorship decals on the thing.

Bruce Edwards · #38 (**permalink**) 07-30-2004, 04:58 PM

Hey Randy, I did some looking around and can see the problem you are having. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY.
It would seem that your car does not meet the CAL EPA rules that have been in place for years.
If you install a NEW engine in your kit you have to make it meet EPA regs for CAL to get it titled it must pass smog test.
So if you install a NEW engine that was built on a new block you can only race it as it would not be street legal in CAL.
Trying to get around this rule by titleing it as something it is not will get you in big trouble and give you no way out.
The best bet for folks in CAL that wish to build a kit for the street need to use a engine that meets EPA regs and thus smog testing for the year of the engine.
One reason we went to the 4.6 in our demo was to show that you can build such a car and still have it pass smog in other states.
Sorry for yours and others problems.

Marcocx3131,

We will be, if it shows up on time, be building a ERA 289 FIA for a customer starting the end of Aug. If you would like to drive down my way and take a look at it we would be more than happy to have you. This car is getting one of my 351W rated at an honest 430hp+ and a toploader 4 speed. A picture of the engine less water pump is posted in our gallery. The customer has opted for the JAG rear upgrade with outboard brakes. We will be putting the car together so it can be driven out the shop as the customer is wanting to do his own body prep work and will be driving it home to work on.