Superformance dealers indicted

[mr bruce]

I see a coupla SPF dealers were catched along with HOC with the TU scam. Anything to sell a car ,eh?

[SPEEDEAMON]

Mr. Bruce,

I am not bright so please elabborate what HOC and TU stands for.

Thanks,

Shin

[Excaliber]

This topic is being discussed in DETAIL in this thread:

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...815#post467815

[xlr8or]

Mr. Bruce,
I believe they are targeted for selling completed cars. By this I mean the same company selling the cars and installing the drive train making it a 2004 car. So by the rules it must meet current safety and smog standards. Then throw the TU issue into the mix with it and you have illegally registered cars that will get the titles and reg revoked and the car will be marked as not saleable in Ca.

[BMK]

xlr8or

After visiting SPF at Cal. Dennis left me clearly understanding the position both they (SPF) and the customer are in.

You the customer buy the roller SPF, less engine and trans. from the SPF agent and then either out source the engine and trans. installation or do it yourself.

It was very clear to me. Even if the SPF agent had another factory where they installed the engine and trans. under another Co. name etc. they would appear to comply. If the SPF agent choose to do that.

The bigger issue I saw was the number of completed Cobras sitting at SPF waiting for registration.

If I am right, they wait until they come up to the top of a list to get registration. Some type of 500 cars per year and you join the line and wait. Now this I find hard to believe - but it happens.

I found the same story the next day at an Eastcoast Street Rod factory.



Cheers

Bernie

[Hal Copple]

"Completed" cars, ready to drive away, sitting on the dealership's floor do not indicate fraud. I know that the Olthoff's take their rollers to an independant company for the installation of the engine, then bring it back to their showroom. This is to comply with federal law defining who is the "manufacturer" of the car. The cost is passed to the customer.

I have no personal knowledge of the California issue.

[BMK]

Hi Hal

Sorry if what I wrote appeared as an observation of something outside the law.



The opposite was the case. The SPF dealer made it very clear to me that they only complied and did not operate outside the compliance and the law. They clearly stated that they did not do the engine/trans. installation and did not recommend another person/s to do so.

The point I think he was making to me at SPF, was that these cars are sitting here/stored after owners had purchased the Cobra and taken it away for engine/trans. etc installation and then brought them back.

I am sure the particular SPF agent does not recommend of have a engine/trans. shop. It's up to the purchaser to find their own or do it themselves.

The thing that surprised me was that these completed cars (read owner/individual completed ) were now sitting and waiting an opportunity or ballot number to come up for registration.

I recal one Cobra had been sold some time before and was completed by the owner and returned to SPF for storage/show at the SPF showroom and retail outlet.

If I heard right, they the Cal. authorities (DMV) only allow a small number of vehicles each year to be registered as owner built vehicles. Not sure if this was part of the Emission Regulations??

OK - my understanding is that if it is 500 per year allowed registration and you happen to be 501 or 502 bad luck you wait until next year for your registration.



So here we have it. Completed Cobras sitting on the floor waiting for registration. No doubt some frustrated owners.

Nothing illegal implied, just an observation made by me..



The same situation appeared be at the East Coast Street Rod shop I visited.



No doubt our Californian friends will shed some light on what I am rambling on about Hal.

Cheers

Bernie

[Randy Rosenberg]

Hey Bernie,

Without going into a whole lot of details, basically SB100 allows for the titling of 500 Specially Constructed Vehicles to meet the smog requirements of either the year they were constructed or the year of the vehicle it replicates. And, yes, you're right - if you are #501, then you must wait until January of the following year. This year the 500 "sequence numbers" were assigned by Feburary 27th. This means that all new purchases, new builds, out of state purchases and title corrections since Feburary 28th much wait until January 2005 to begin their title/registration (or re-title/re-registration) process.

Do a search on SB100, you will probably find a hundred or so threads on this topic alone.

Thanks for your observations.

Regards,
Randy R...

[BMK]

Randy

Thanks there, makes sense?

I suppose we cannot glout over here in Australia, as it is getting harder and harder to gain registration for what is loosely described as "Individually Constructed vehicles'

Even after an expensive process involving engineers who oversee the project at an average cost of $1800+ pending on the project and the complexity, registration is not a given.

Currently the Street Rod Federation at National level are making in roads into the registration process, but my understanding is that this is not that clear at the moment.

Even after registration you run a gauntlet of cops who can just defect your vehicle at a whim. Back to registration you go with a roadworthy certificate from your workshop.

Bit like the annual emission testng you have in California as far as difficulty and inconvenience.

Again, just some observations from Down Under.



I will be game here and say..



I am amazed in a country where you have "The right to bear arms" under your Ammendments you seem to be so restricted in your various States for simple vehicle registration.



I guess you could always say you know your rights when next registering your Cobra - would be interesting as an observer.

Keep smiling

Cheers

Bernie

[ccomt]

Bernie,

Hoping that I'm not going too far astray on a tangent - I was born here in the U.S. and have lived here all my life and I too am amazed at how difficult registration has become. It is important to note that gun ownership is guaranteed under our Bill of Rights but vehicle "registration" falls more under the category of a "privilege" similar to obtaining a driver's license.

What has become even more disturbing is how difficult it has become to obtain a building permit! I have been denied permits without any explanation. In my county, the government is not even required to respond to our applications. Our rights as citizens are constantly being taken away from us. Although I vote in every election, I too am guilty of not taking the time to "get involved" in politics and try and help turn the situation around.

[BMK]

Hi ccomt

Its interesting to note that building cars, house etc. do a lot for the economy.



When you consider how many people are involved in the Kit Car industry and the associate businesses such as trim, auto electrical, paint - on and on the list goes one would think they we all would have a bit of clout.



I was being smart bringing up the "Right to bear arms". We also are reminded that driving and registration is not a right.



Be it building a Cobra, or building/extending the house, you must be prepared for some 'red tape' and some people who appear to be justifying their position.



Keep on "pushing - ahead" with the project there.

Good luck

Bernie

[Excaliber]

I wasn't going to post HERE as there IS an on going discussion here:

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...815#post467815

HERE is the SINGLE new release that I am aware of:

http://www.caag.state.ca.us/newsalerts/2004/04-042.htm

The news release says arrest warrants have been issued for the owners of these THREE business'.

WHICH one is actually an SPF dealer?

Hilbank Motor Corp. in Costa Mesa?
Woodruff's House of Cobras in Anaheim?
Top of the Hill Performance Center?

I have not heard even a "rumor" of ANY other "indictments" or warrants issued for anyone else at this time. Just trying to keep it FACTUAL.

[STG]

If you call SPF's 800 number from Southern California, it rings at Hillbank.

[Excaliber]

OK,,, so ONE SPF dealer then?

,,just getting the facts.

[RPRICE]

STG, what's your point. The Superformance 800 system is set up to ring to the dealer that covers that area you are calling from. You cannot dial the number from CA and reach Dynamic or Reed or Olthoff.
Richard
Memphis

[STG]

Excaliber asked "WHICH is actually an SPF dealer?"

If you dial the SPF number and Hillbank answers, I GUESS THAT MAKES LANCE AN SPF DEALER!

WHAT'S YOUR POINT???

[Excaliber]

The title of this thread and the first post leads one to belive that multiple SPF dealers were involved. Therefore, perhaps it was an SPF standard business policy?

I don't believe for a second it was anywhere NEAR an "SPF Policy" at large. Just pointing out how a statement can be mis-construed.

At this point the FACTS indicate ONE dealer, who happened to be selling SPF. I wonder if it would have been the same if he was an FFR, ERA or whatever dealer. It was HIS way of doing business, not an SPF way of doing business.

[Dream Master]

Mr Bruce, I personally think that posting "Superformance Dealers indicted" implies that SPF dealers are dishonest or doing illegal things. Not quite fair in my opinion. This is still America where people are innocent until proven guilty.......even OJ. Yes, I understand you did not say that anyone is guilty, but the heading of your thread is certainly misleading at best.

I will not get into a discussion about this, I just thought that your thread heading was out of line.

[Goober]

I totally agree with Dream Master. "Anything to sell a car", pretty cheap shot. Believe me, these individuals knew exactly what Titles Unlimited supplied. They are the ones that took a chance using 'washed titles'. Not the dealers. I personnally was advised by a SPF dealer to stay away from any such action.

I strongly feel that SPF runs a tight ship and have not succeded in business by cutting corners / doing illegal business praticices

Just my 2 cents

[mr bruce]

Sorry for the strong words gents. But the other thread singled out HOC, I'm sure there are other car dealers along with the streetrod builders too. Fact is, anybody involved with streetrods, replicas ,etc , knows exactly what they were doing by using Titles Unlimited, or any other of the title services.