Another California registration adventure

[patrickt]

Maybe just buy a little rental property right over the state line and keep your car there "six and a half months" out of the year. The more you mull it all over the more likely you are to box out before getting the darn thing.

[nkb]

Originally Posted by Randy Rosenberg

IMHO, as long as you choose a "kit" that is not provided to you as a "roller" or "turn-key minus", then I think you will be fine. Building a vehicle from "scratch" is exactly what SPCNS was intended for. From what I had read here (and on other places), the BAR is only questioning replicas that are purchased as "rollers".

So according to California regulations a smog exempt car classified a Specially Constructed Vehicle is:

"A Specially Constructed Vehicle is legally defined as “a vehicle which is built for private use, not for resale, and is not constructed by a licensed manufacturer or remanufacturer.”
Specially Constructed Vehicles include:

Kit cars
Vehicles built from a combination of new and used parts
Dismantled vehicles that look completely different from the original"

So, what does Superformance say on their website:

"We offer a complete TKM (Turn Key Minus) component rolling chassis we are Not a Kit, this affords the customer amazing resale value, continuity of build and consistency in Build."

"Imagine a complete car – take out the engine and transmission (transaxle) and that is our replica. They are completely assembled and painted at our factory by experts that have produced over 3000 MKIII’s plus our other product lines."

SPF specifically declaring that they are not offering a kit is probably not helpful to the argument.

Of course, SPF's have been registered in California for a very long time. Twenty years after the passage of SB100 to now have objections being raised seems capricious and arbitrary. Moreover, the impact of a few 100 cars a year being exempted really seems to be a wrong priority.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by nkb

Moreover, the impact of a few 100 cars a year being exempted really seems to be a wrong priority.

But you don't understand. Bureaucrats are paid to first go for the low hanging fruit. Then once all the fruit has been picked, in order to preserve their jobs, invent ladders to reach the higher fruit.

[SBSerpent]

"A Specially Constructed Vehicle is legally defined as “a vehicle which is built for private use, not for resale,

If I had a dollar for everytime I've seen a Cobra come up for sale on BaT, Cobra Country, this forum, etc. with an SB100 sticker....

[nkb]

The word is that CARB (BAR referees), the agency that has been holding up SPCNS (kit cars) registrations here in California, have backed off and the 20 year old legally sanctioned process is back on track. Some 50 SPCNS cars (including Cobras, Caterhams) had been stuck in limbo.

Hopefully we will start hearing from those that have finally received their registrations after a protracted wait. Also good news for prospective buyers of Cobra kits that they will again be able to get their cars registered in California according to the established rules.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by SBSerpent

"A Specially Constructed Vehicle is legally defined as “a vehicle which is built for private use, not for resale,

IE: The meaning (per Morgansterner) is that it is for personal use, and not a commercial enterprise (IE: dealer/business) looking to build and resell.


Bill S.

[sdktm22]

I got the heads up yesterday that my BAR appointment would be coming up. It only took 14 months of waiting 😡. It’s going to be a slow process since most stations are at the junior colleges, and they are not allowing Bar appointments because of COVID. There are other stations now open, but very few, so it will take some time to get the backlog of cars through. I’m very happy to know I’ll have a plated car!

[ERA 626]

It takes over 6 months to get a personal lic plate from CA DMV, You think they actually have a clue on how to classify a replica cobra? What about guys that claim their chassis is original from the 60's with a newer body/drive train? They are completely confused, you can pack up your paper work and go to the next idiot and get a completly different answer and result, its all about a money grab... The EDD and the DMV are the most mismanaged government/state ran entities in the country...

[NROTOXIN]

Originally Posted by ERA 626

It takes over 6 months to get a personal lic plate from CA DMV, You think they actually have a clue on how to classify a replica cobra? What about guys that claim their chassis is original from the 60's with a newer body/drive train? They are completely confused, you can pack up your paper work and go to the next idiot and get a completly different answer and result, its all about a money grab... The EDD and the DMV are the most mismanaged government/state ran entities in the country...

Mike,
Original chassis from the 60s with no VIN or have a VIN but never tittled?

[SBSerpent]

Originally Posted by nkb

The word is that CARB (BAR referees), the agency that has been holding up SPCNS (kit cars) registrations here in California, have backed off and the 20 year old legally sanctioned process is back on track. Some 50 SPCNS cars (including Cobras, Caterhams) had been stuck in limbo.

Hopefully we will start hearing from those that have finally received their registrations after a protracted wait. Also good news for prospective buyers of Cobra kits that they will again be able to get their cars registered in California according to the established rules.

This is GREAT news. I started the SB100 process in June 2020. I just received by Certificate of Sequence in August of 2021 (thanks very much to a contact that I have established in Sacramento at the DMV who new what was involved in the entire SB100 process). I have a virtual appointment with a BAR referee in a couple of weeks. Feeling that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

[SBSerpent]

Originally Posted by nkb

The word is that CARB (BAR referees), the agency that has been holding up SPCNS (kit cars) registrations here in California, have backed off and the 20 year old legally sanctioned process is back on track. Some 50 SPCNS cars (including Cobras, Caterhams) had been stuck in limbo.

Hopefully we will start hearing from those that have finally received their registrations after a protracted wait. Also good news for prospective buyers of Cobra kits that they will again be able to get their cars registered in California according to the established rules.

Mind if I ask what is the source of this recent news? This is BIG!

[SBSerpent]

Paperwork has been approved. Just scheduled my in person appointment with the BAR referee. Light at the end of the tunnel (after 19 months of waiting)

[SBSerpent]

20 months later and finally yesterday, I was granted an SB100 certification from the BAR referee. Let me say that I have not seen a prettier sticker than that SB100 decal that now resides on the firewall of my BDR Cobra.

Have faith future CA Cobra buyers....it can be done!

[sdktm22]

Took 19 months for me. Was getting worried it might not ever happen. Awesome feeling when the process was completed!

[twobjshelbys]

Getting SB100 in CA is similar to getting a building permit in unincorporated Boulder County (where the county issues the permit). It's almost like they put you through years of red tape and if you put up with it they give you the tag or the permit as a consolation prize.

[SBSerpent]

Patience is truly a virtue in this process. But have to say it was well worth it.

Covid and the fact that CARB had gotten involved in the process for almost a year also didn't help any as far speeding up the process. In fact, for a while there, BDR and SPF Cobras were in limbo and not getting issued SB100s because CARB was claiming they were 'turn key' cars (which is actually not too far from the truth at all).

[Cobalt289]

I thought it was slow and painful when I went through it - but mine was nothing compared to 19 and 20 months! When it takes longer to register the car than it does to build the car, there's a problem... Congrats on getting to the finish line!

[B&B]

We used Sticker Quicker in the bay area. Took 3 days and picked up the plates in the office. I thought we'd have to jump through a bunch of hoops.
Would highly recommend them.

[NROTOXIN]

Originally Posted by B&B

We used Sticker Quicker in the bay area. Took 3 days and picked up the plates in the office. I thought we'd have to jump through a bunch of hoops.
Would highly recommend them.

They got your car registered through the SB100 process?

[B&B]

The car sold on MSO, I was the 1st registered owner.
I talked to the gentleman at the office in Fremont ( Mohammed ).
They register just about everything. Give them a call.