Please sharpen your Calif Smog pencils!

[rodneym]

I have another question for you CA smog experts:

I'm looking at a Cobra that was originally titled as a 65 in another state.
The current CA title says its a 2006, SPCN (which it is, made in '06).
Owner (actually a broker who knows nothing of these issues) says it doesn't have to be smogged until 2010. Don't know if that's true or not BUT:

If it is true, does that mean I have (2) 'January 2nds' to try and SB-100 the car?

Could it be that a car can be 'clear' for a couple years? And if so, can you apply for an SB-100 in the mean time?

Does this scenario sound familiar or is it fishy?

Thanks

[Randy Rosenberg]

It could be that it needs to meet the smog requirements of the year of the block. In 2006, one had 3 ways to pass the BAR:

1. Smog to year of the build (2006).
2. Smog to year of the block.
3. SB100

Why don't you get the VIN and contact the DMV directly? They ought to be able to tell you about it.

[RodKnock]

For Option #2 in Randy's response, the year of the block would have to be 1966 or later, since if the block was a 1965, then it would be smog exempt.

1965 or earlier blocks, way back in the old days (2006), were a "smog exempt" possibility, though not anymore.

[Randy Rosenberg]

Hey Rodney,

Not exactly... There are smog requirements for 1965 blocks - tho these blocks have very loose visual inspection requirements, they do have sniffer test requirements.

A fellow member of the BACC has an 1965 FE in his replica, and he complains up a storm every 2 years when he has had to make it pass smog. Eventually, he got in line on Jan 2 to get an SB100 number.

Regards,
Randy...

[rodneym]

Thanks for the responses.
Randy, number 1 is an impossibility and the registration didn't say SB-100 and I forgot to check the sticker on the car. I'm doubting SB-100.
It must be 2 BUT, he showed me the title which I swear said something about being ok until 2010.
I'm dealing with a broker who'll say anything to get the sale.
I'll do more homework.

[Randy Rosenberg]

The broker ought to be able to give you the VIN. Make up an excuse that you want to run it thru CarFax - whatever... Just get the VIN and then check it with the DMV. This can't be hard...

BTW, the registration document will not say SB100 or not - you cannot tell by looking at the little 4"x4" piece of paper.

[SkipB]

Randy and others,

I am a little confused here. If the car has a current CA title that says 2006 SPCN isn't it likely to have an SB100 sticker somewhere? I realize it could be legally titled by one of the two other methods. (#1 unlikely, #2 possible) But.........

I would definitely look all over for an (SB100) sticker. Most likely under the hood on the firewall, but some have ended up in other places.

If it has one, problem solved. But there would be no need for a smog test in 2010. So this is a little bit confusing.

Randy, I still owe you a beer from 2004! Someday I'll be in the San Francisco area and look you up!

Skip B

[rokndad]

The only answer is to go into the DMV with the VIN and tell them you are considering buying the car, and request that they confirm whether or not is has an SB 100 exemption. If it does, you're home free and need to confirm whether or not there is a SB 100 exemption sticker somewhere on the car.

If not, you have until whenever you can get in line for Jan 2 to get your SB 100 exemption. If it is licensed in CA as a 2006 SPCN and the registration is current, then it either passed a smog test or had a SB 100 exemption.

[jhv48]

If it has a current sb100 exemption sticker (and, yes, do check with DMV just to make sure) the smog exemption will stay with the car and you will never need to smog it. It will be registered and charged as the year it was completed. You will owe sales tax and registration fees on the purchase. They will be based on the year of completion so get ready for $$$$$$$.

If it does not have an sb100 exemption, then you must either pass the smog test for the year the car was BUILT, or wait till Jan 2 and get an sb100 exemption for it.

[Don]

CT implemented new emissions requirements as of 8-1-08 using the following standards based upon the year of the engine block:

All Light Duty Vehicles with Gasoline Engines were equipped with the controls indicated below (Lt. Duty = below 6001 lbs GVWR till 1978 & below 8501 lbs GVWR after):

Year of Engine Emissions Controls Required of All Vehicles That Year

Pre - 1966 None

1966 - 1970 PCV, Variable Advance Distributor

1971 – 1978 PCV, Variable Advance Distributor, Evap. Canister, and Thermostatic Air Cleaner or Air Injection System

1979 – 1988 PCV, Variable Advance Distributor, Evap. Canister, Thermostatic Air Cleaner or Air Injection System, and CAT

1989 – 1995 PCV, Variable Advance Distributor, Evap. Canister, CAT, Computerized Engine Management, O2 sensor

1996 – current PCV, Electronic Spark Control, Evap. Canister, CAT, Closed Loop Computerized Engine Management, O2 sensors, Fuel Injection

[decooney]

I had a former SPCNS Cobra with the older block and it HAD to be smogged and had to pass in order to be transferred/registered to the new buyer. A good friend had to do the same thing with his car. Neither of us had SB100s, and this was before SB100 was truly out and available.

For the ENTIRE time I owned it, it did not have to be smogged again, and was never flagged for smog with 0000 as model yr on the title/reg, but when it was sold, it did have to be smogged since it did not have an SB100 assigned to it.

Now, 5 or more years later, my friend just received a smog notice for his car, and he never followed through with completing his SB100 status. Now that this happened, he'll be finishing up on his SB100. So, you are not safe with just SPCNS any longer, as it seems. You need the SB100 "E" exemption with the SPNCS title/reg status and anything less is questionable, unless it can actually pass visual and tailpipe inspection at a legitimate smog test station. Be careful, and good luck!

[WarrenG]

CA cars "only" need to be smog checked every two years, so if it passed smog sometime in 2008, it should not require another check until 2010 (unless the sale triggers one).

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by WarrenG

CA cars "only" need to be smog checked every two years, so if it passed smog sometime in 2008, it should not require another check until 2010 (unless the sale triggers one).

The sale WILL require a new smog certificate unless the vehicle has the sb100 exemption!

[Steve Bandirola]

hypothetically, If a person has a Cobra that was registered as a 1965 before sb100 what would he have to do to get it re-registered as a sb100?

Steve

[Ron61]

Steve,

Get your paper work together showing what the car is worth and SB-1578 which uses the same 500 numbers as SB-100 was written to allow that as there was no way before to register cars that were bought out of state even though the registration was legal in that state. Some DMVs may require you to have an estimate of the cars value. Some doesn't. But it is just about the same as going through the SB-100 process if you have just built it. They want to know what it is worth and you can normally get a TOP if you miss out on a number the first year.

Ron

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Steve Bandirola

hypothetically, If a person has a Cobra that was registered as a 1965 before sb100 what would he have to do to get it re-registered as a sb100?

Steve

Only if you want the car to be smog exempt, otherwise it will be subject to smog testing every two years.

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by Steve Bandirola

hypothetically, If a person has a Cobra that was registered as a 1965 before sb100 what would he have to do to get it re-registered as a sb100?

Steve

Assuming the car was registered LEGALLY in California as a 1965 Cobra, it would need only to meet the smog regs that were in place in 1965. No need for the sb100 exemption.

LEGALLY is the key word here.

[Steve Bandirola]

If the car was registered as a 1965 in California by the first owner and then at a latter time sold to the 2nd owner a few years ago, still registered as a 1965 could it be assumed to be LEGALLY registered?

[RodKnock]

The car was not built in 1965, so it is not legal to register it in CA as a 1965, even if it was registered previously in CA as a 1965. Read up on the threads of Morgester. I'm not an expert, but I believe the post made jhv48 is incorrect. If you want to drive the car on the public roads of CA AND you want the to be exempt from smog requirements, you must get one of the 500 "SB100" exemptions. It's not that hard to do. Just takes some time and a little aggravation.

[Randy Rosenberg]

Steve, well, you know what happens when you "assume"...

You say it's has a title year of 1965, but what is listed for Make and Model?

I suggest you read up on thread about "Amnesty".

Good luck,
Randy...