Illinois emission laws for kit cars

[Rogue Stang]

What are the emissions laws concerning kit cars such as cobras? Do they test by year of the motor or by year the car is registered?
Thanks

[Bill Wells]

when i got involved with that question in illinois about 18 mos ago the emission controlled areas would exempt cobra replicas from emission testing under either of two scenarios: (1) car was registered as a 65/66 (or prior to 1974?) (2) engine block was PRE-1974 as determined by the embossed date codes on the block. ' if not previously registered it fell into the 'reconstructed' category and the engine block date code rule applied

if it did not pass either criteria then it was not exempt and most likely virtually impossible to get to pass emissions.

you need to call Springfield DMV to see if the pre 1974 date has changed or any other guidelines vs my inquiry i 2001 . at that time there was only ONE DMV guy in Springfield that handled these approvals, his name was DANNY at 217-782-2925. ( at least this was the name / number in 2001)

good luck. bill (i lived in chicago once and a son is there now , hence my interest in Illinois guidelines)

[snake oil]

In Illinois thre is an exemption for "Show & Race Car Affidavit"
You have to go to the emmissins place and ask them for one .
They don't like to publicize it, and not to many people know about it.
It took me a while to find all this out.
There is a catch however, you must have limited driving insurance and send them a copy of the declaration page.

In other words you are telling them that the car is a specialty car and you only drve it to and from shows, and events.
Well heck, in the summer I'd say that's everyday!!!!

Arcenio

[cdog]

I think all of the engine block/year of registration issues are now moot with the passage of that new law (that is discussed a few threads down) that allows for replicas to be registered and tested as the year they replicate, provided they meet the specified safety checklist.

Doesnt that go into law Jan 1st?

-C

[Len Hurlburt]

Currently I have a Show/Race emissions exemption. Does this new law mean I no longer have to obtain one after Jan 1? My car is registered as a 1990. Thanks - Len

[cdog]

I don't know... The new law is in this thread:

National Street Rod Association-?

[cdog]

I just recieved an email from a prospective owner telling me that the new SEMA law really doesnt apply to Cobras and they still must go through the regular IDOT process...

Anyone know anything about this? You guys building cars now, what are your registration plans?

[snake oil]

I just got a renewal for the emmissions "show car status"
Quite simple, just sent them a note with a copy of the insurance
and the affadavit, and I through in the letter for last year.
and.......Voila, another year exemption.
Although I like Cdog thought that with this new law we would now be exempt.
Do we need to have some type of diferrent plates or something?
I bet what ever it is it won't be free like the show car exemption!

[cdog]

I am having trouble making sense of all this. When I read the SEMA law I thought "Great, now Cobra's can be registered as the year they replicate, so long as they meet some safety standards as set by the law"

BUT
someone recently wrote to me the following:
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Cdog,

... I've spent a lot of time on the phone and the 'net; also talking with owners of "composite" or "special construction" automobiles. I talked with Steve McDonald, SEMA's
Director of Government Affairs, and also with another fellow here in Illinois: Gary Bohlen; referred to me by Steve. Their stories differ considerably, but, from reading the highlighted parts of the new law andtalking with both guys, it seems the purpose of the SEMA bill is, basically, to enable hot rodders to remove the bumpers and fenders from their roadsters.

This was corroborated by Gary, who agreed that the new law
really would be of little use to Cobra owners, and not usable by anybodyuntil the state has the requisite number of license plate requests.

I talked with two owners of other replicas who registered their cars. One registered his with the title from which most of the parts were taken and just isn't worrying about it. The other owner told me a horror story involving his brother and a non-matching car/title situation which had existed, unnoticed, since the car was new. The discrepancy was noticed by a police officer, the car was impounded until the mess was sorted out and the
brother was threatened with legal action. This owner went through the DMV inspection, etc., and said the inspectors are really only looking for a safe vehicle and documentation to prove the parts aren't stolen.

So...I've decided to take my chances with the DMV inspectors for now, submit the paperwork they want, pay the sales tax and accept the registration and title
as whatever they want to call the car.

Below is the info forwarded to me by Gary Bohlen. So, basically, the short version of all this is that the SEMA bill appears
to be a non-issue for Cobra owners:

THIS IS A PLAIN ENGLISH INTERPRETATION OF THE NEW STREET ROD/CUSTOM VEHICLE
LAWS IN ILLINOIS. Prepared by the Chairman of the Committee to Upgrade
Street Rod Laws in Illinois

H. B. 4344 is a number of a House Bill that was signed by the Governor of
the state of Illinois. H. B. 4344 will become law on January 1, 2003. The
new law provides unique license plates, recognizes street rods/custom
vehicles are rarely driven, meticulously maintained vehicles that should not
be held to the same equipment standards as a modern passenger vehicle. A
definition of a Street Rod and Custom vehicle is also provided. A street
rod is identified as a 1948 and older modified vehicle. A custom vehicle is
1949 and newer modified vehicle at least 25 years old.

To qualify for the street rod or custom vehicle registration you must first
send in a request for such plate. Keep in mind, this is not an official
document and is not a commitment to display such a plate. I've published
model forms for this purpose but you can simply write a note indicating you
want a street rod plate or a custom plate and indicate what you would like
the plate to read. Send it to: Illinois Secretary of State, 501 S 2nd
Street Room 312, Springfield, IL 62756, ATTN: Joyce Ballard or email her at:
jballard@ilsos.net with the same message. Joyce will send you an official
license application form when 850 requests have been received in each
category. You will then obtain and pass an NSRA safety inspection (16
required items) and send both the application and the NSRA safety inspection
back to Joyce.

The new law allows modification of these separate categories of vehicles to
the extent the vehicles can pass the National Street Rod Association (NSRA)
16 item safety check: Horn - electric only, Speed Indicator, Rear View
Mirror - one inside or outside on the driver's side, Safety Glass,
Lighting - high-beam - low-beam - tail - brake - license, Windshield Wiper -
electric or vacuum - yes-only one is required drivers side, Automatic
Transmission Lockout - neutral and/or park start only, Tires - minimum 3/32
tread, Steering - no excessive play, Throttle Linkage - must not ravel past
center, Fuel System - vented - securely mounted - no clear plastic lines -
no leaks, Exhaust System - no leaks - must pass rear edge of front door and
exit away from vehicle, Self-aligning Rod End Bearings, Shock Absorbers,
Brakes, Scrub Line - no steering suspension or chassis components should be
below this line. All are encouraged to install the items listed as
Recommended Equipment such as parking brake etc.

The NSRA Chief Inspector J. R. Heady has agreed to inspect both street rods
and custom vehicles. J. R. has over 60 inspectors throughout the state.
J. R. will publish where they will be for inspections. If you run into
trouble getting inspected, call J. R. at 217-243-2131 and he assures me,
you will get inspected. Regardless of the time of year. The new law states
you will have you vehicle inspected 3 month prior to submitting your
application for the street rod or custom license plate. Not the request for
the license plate. The request is a non official form where you indicate
your request for a street rod or custom plate. The application form is one
you will receive from Joyce Ballard after you've sent in your request form
and after 850 requests have been received by Joyce.

I get asked, "What about my present license plate expiration date?" You can
wait until the license you are using now expires or you can complete the
application form when it arrives. When you order a different plate before
the expiration of your present plate, you lose the time before the
expiration of the plate you were using.

Selecting a street rod or custom plate is not mandatory. If you chose some
other plate, be sure you're legal to use that selected plate. Or, risk
manage however you want to. If you want to take the chance on having your
vehicle towed away or risk a fine, that's your choice. No one is telling
you what to do. If you want to be legal, there is now a way to do it.

[got snake?]

chuck,

That is exactly how I read it. Pass the safety checklist by NSRA submit application and get it titled the year it resembles. Done. Only 850 allowed?

But it is not required? So then how do we register it as a regular car? This is stupid. I sent an email to Ms. Ballard requesting an application anyway. 849 to go! better get moving boys! If I don't end up using it; so be it! But it will be there if I do...

Sid

[tommyboy]

Today, 2/25/03, I called up the Illinois Secretary of state office, Vehicle Titles Division, Phone # 217-782-6306. I talked with a woman named Vet and a man named Danny in regards to titleing a replica AC Cobra in the state of Illinois post 1/01/03. Here is what they told me. Go to your local DMV. Bring a certificate of origin for the vehicle that you would like to have titled and/or the bill of sale. You go through the normal title proceedures but under the custom vehicle heading. The DMV will then issue you a title for your custom vehicle. This custom vehicle will be exempt from Illinois State Emissions Regulations. The year of the block does not matter! I told Vet and Danny that I did not believe them because it was too easy. They said "that's the way it is now with the new law". They also said if you have any trouble with your local DMV that you should have the DMV folks contact Vet or Danny at the phone number listed above.

[sparks]

TOMMYBOY

Did they say anything to you about inspections. I just went through the whole process a 6wks. ago. I got my title in 3 wks. I did however have a NSRA inspector inspect my car. It was titled as a 65..

SPARKS

[Len Hurlburt]

Tommyboy,

Vet and Danny told you the truth. However, this doesn't seem to be anything new. My first Cobra which I built, was titled using the same method as outlined in your post. A few years ago, and not knowing exactly what the procedure was, I went to the DMV on the north side of the city on Elston Ave. All I had with me was a Certificate of Orgin (CSO). I wrote a check for taxes, title, plates, and surrendered the CSO. I was told I would receive the title in the mail and they gave me the plates on the spot! By the way, on the title application, I specified the year/make of the car as a 1966 AC Cobra and that's what came on the title. No inspection was required or necessary. I got the impression no one was really interested in very much other than the check I wrote. Everything sort of got rubber stamped and the next thing I knew, I was walking out of there with plates in hand! Based on your post, it looks like it still works that way. Len

[got snake?]

WooHoo...now All i need is a cobra...
GS

[tommyboy]

On the subject of special Illinois hotrod/custom vehicle license plates, post 1/01/03 there will not be any offered any time soon only the standard issue line of Illinois plates as per Vet and Danny at the Secretary of States Vehicle Titles Division, phone #217-782-6306. As for NSRA safety inspections, the Illinois Secretary of States office said they have nothing to do with the NDRA safety inspections.

[tommyboy]

Should be NSRA - OOHPS !

[rpred]

What V.I.N. should be used?? Is there a certain minimum diget V.I.N. needed?? Anyone???

Thanks, Rick.

[GREENSNAKE]

Hey Guys! I had mine Registered for bout 4 years! Very Simple Easiest Proccess i ever done TITLED as a 1966 Cobra. No Emissions, Inspections, And Cops Wave at ya !Illinois real cool Place For Kit Cars! Lonny