Canada, Land of Indestructable Red Tape for Kit Cars

[Argess]

I was thinking of building a GT40 for some time, but am still put off with the legality of importing a kit. A real kit, no partial assembly. I have done this before with a Cobra kit. The Motor Vehicle Safety Act changed during that time and as far as I know, I didn't break any laws as I merely imported parts.

I was assured by the private engineering company that certifies homebuilt cars for the maritme provinces' Registry of Motor Vehicles that one can still import a kit as seperate parts, but I'm not so sure.

Since I brought in parts years ago, the law may not not have changed, but Transport Canada's view on it has been "adjusted" that puts a nail in the "parts" loophole coffin, as per these two links:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/t...4-menu-685.htm

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/t...04-faq-689.htm

Although I did research this a bit two years ago, I was unaware of the above two links, and certainly unaware of the Ministry of Transport vs. Macro Auto Leasing on the import of partially assembled Superperformance cars. Here's the link for that:

http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/200...2007fc521.html

I heard a rumour of a fistfight in Ontario between a Superperformance rep and a member of Transport Canada (possibly Harry Baergen) which can't have helped much. And apparently the Ontario Kit Car Association/Club (am unsure of their exact name) is still doing battle with TC on this.

Looking for updates, I see that Transport Canada's appeal on the Macro case was dismissed:

http://decisions.fca-caf.gc.ca/en/20...008fca136.html

and more here:

http://reports.fja-cmf.gc.ca/eng/200...2007fc521.html

On that basis, one should be able to import most any kit. But nothing has changed with TC that I can find.

Seems to me, that TC should be more concerned with having a competent inspector certify a homebuilt car vs trying to keep a pile of car parts from coming into the country. In light of the TC appeal loss, and seeing their subsequent clarifications (first two links) I doubt that will ever happen.

Anyway, lots of good reading and info for Canadians interested in Kit Cars.