My Recent Experience with SB100 & Bringing a Used Cobra into California

[ACHiPo]

Originally Posted by Cobalt289

ACHiPo - Just be prepared for dealing with a lot of bureaucracy and possibly some people who seem to think their job is to prevent you from getting licensed, instead of just handling the paperwork and verifying that you're doing it right. Most of the people I dealt with were great - but a few along the way seemed to think they were there to protect California from cars like ours. Remember, the laws here allow us to have these beautiful autos and to drive and enjoy them (well, at least 500 per year), so be patient, be polite, have your paperwork all done up, and you'll get through it.

Cobalt,
Thanks--I will definitely need to psych myself up for this, as I'm not a terribly patient person, particularly when it comes to bureaucrats.

My plan is to get the MSO as soon as I can so I can get my number and CHP appointment. I'm hoping I will have an MSO by this time next year, which will give me 2017 and early 2018 to apply before my car arrives. From what I've found out SB100 numbers are plentiful after 2009, so hopefully it won't be a problem.

I did find several posts on this site that RodKnock pointed me to that were very helpful--I plan to print them out along with the DMV website pages with the salient parts highlighted for reference in my discussions with the various folks. There are a couple decent emissions stations in Pleasanton that I've used for other things--I still need to find out if they can do the certification I need for SB100 or if there is a "special" emissions place I need to visit.

AC

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by ACHiPo

Cobalt,
Thanks--I will definitely need to psych myself up for this, as I'm not a terribly patient person, particularly when it comes to bureaucrats.

My plan is to get the MSO as soon as I can so I can get my number and CHP appointment. I'm hoping I will have an MSO by this time next year, which will give me 2017 and early 2018 to apply before my car arrives. From what I've found out SB100 numbers are plentiful after 2009, so hopefully it won't be a problem.

I did find several posts on this site that RodKnock pointed me to that were very helpful--I plan to print them out along with the DMV website pages with the salient parts highlighted for reference in my discussions with the various folks. There are a couple decent emissions stations in Pleasanton that I've used for other things--I still need to find out if they can do the certification I need for SB100 or if there is a "special" emissions place I need to visit.

AC

You'll have to go to a BAR referee. Not a "special emission place."

"Smog Certification
The first smog certification for an SPCNS vehicle must be issued by a Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee Center. After inspecting the vehicle, the BAR Referee Center will issue a BAR reference data sheet and affix a BAR label to the vehicle. Subsequent smog inspections may be performed by any licensed smog check station when the BAR label is intact and emission equipment is the same."

[ACHiPo]

Yes I need to read more. I have a year;-)

By "special emissions place" I meant BAR--now I just need to find one.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by ACHiPo

Yes I need to read more. I have a year;-)

By "special emissions place" I meant BAR--now I just need to find one.

There's one in Livermore, but I believe most of us used the BAR Referee in San Jose at Evergreen College.

Ask the Ref > Home

[ACHiPo]

Thanks! Might be worth the drive if they are more familiar.

[socalliving]

Cobalt289, nice write up on the process. That was my exact experience minus AAA. Although, I paid a professional DMV processor to handle the paperwork to avoid waiting in DMV lines here in San Diego. She was very familiar with SPCS/SB100 process.

My car was from out of state with a different type of registration.

If you don't have the time or patience I recommend paying one of these people who do this for a living and who have a good rapport with the DMV staff. It will be a seamless process. I still had to go to the CHP and Air Resource Board for the inspection and sticker.

Like you said it was not too bad but very time consuming if you went to the DMV yourself.

BTW, she was up in Grass Valley and everything was mailed to me. Worth every penny.

[ACHiPo]

Originally Posted by socalliving

Cobalt289, nice write up on the process. That was my exact experience minus AAA. Although, I paid a professional DMV processor to handle the paperwork to avoid waiting in DMV lines here in San Diego. She was very familiar with SPCS/SB100 process.

My car was from out of state with a different type of registration.

If you don't have the time or patience I recommend paying one of these people who do this for a living and who have a good rapport with the DMV staff. It will be a seamless process. I still had to go to the CHP and Air Resource Board for the inspection and sticker.

Like you said it was not too bad but very time consuming if you went to the DMV yourself.

BTW, she was up in Grass Valley and everything was mailed to me. Worth every penny.

Can you PM me contact info?

[tanenson]

Can you send me contact info for the lady in Grass Valley?

[tanenson]

Can you send me contact information for the lady in Grass Valley?

[JustinT]

I'm considering purchasing a FF car that is currently registered in another state as a '65, but it has a late model injected engine. Do you think that will cause any issue? From what I've read I think it could be registered under SB100 by bodystyle but under that example older engine blocks were used.

Thanks for your expertise guys

[Ron61]

Justin,

You can no longer use the engine year to register a car under SB-100, just the body style. As some have stated, if you have access to one of the people that do this such as the one in Grass valley, it is well worth the money to pay them to do the darn paper work.

Ron

Originally Posted by JustinT

I'm considering purchasing a FF car that is currently registered in another state as a '65, but it has a late model injected engine. Do you think that will cause any issue? From what I've read I think it could be registered under SB100 by bodystyle but under that example older engine blocks were used.

Thanks for your expertise guys

[Cobalt289]

Hey Justin - My car was registered in another state as a '65 too, so the only difference is that I still had the MSO (so it's not automatically taken away when registered elsewhere). The later model engine shouldn't affect CA SB-100 registration, as long as you have the minimum emissions required for a '65 car, which is a closed crankcase for a carbureted engine - and I don't know what it would be for an injected engine.

[tanenson]

I am looking to buy a Cobra replica that is registered in MA as a 2007 vehicle. The body style is a 1965 Cobra manufactured by Backdraft Racing. If I buy the car I am worried that I won't be able to get it through the California registration process. It is used and comes with all the build receipts, but since the original owner had to surrender the MSO to register the car in MA I will not have that as a part of the transaction. I would value you opinion as to whether I will be able to get through the California registration process with those conditions in mind. In summary, not manufactured in California, no MSO available, registered as a 2007 vehicle in MA, and I am buying it used from the finish company that is selling it for the current owner.

Thanks,

Tim

[JustinT]

Did you have any luck or learn any more on registering without the MSO?

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by JustinT

Did you have any luck or learn any more on registering without the MSO?

A previously registered car will not have the MSO, that is surrendered when first registered. However, the state title replaces the MSO. Look at it like the MSO is the birth certificate and the title is the replacement for it.

Most states will take another states title at face value. There are exceptions and often are due to valuation concerns (i.e. the "1965 Ford" $500 title that was used to register the car initially, etc.). Remember in most states it is all about the Benjamin's, they want ALL of the tax revenue they can get!

[Cobalt289]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

A previously registered car will not have the MSO, that is surrendered when first registered. However, the state title replaces the MSO. Look at it like the MSO is the birth certificate and the title is the replacement for it.

Most states will take another states title at face value. There are exceptions and often are due to valuation concerns (i.e. the "1965 Ford" $500 title that was used to register the car initially, etc.). Remember in most states it is all about the Benjamin's, they want ALL of the tax revenue they can get!

My ERA Cobra was first registered in Wisconsin, then registered by me in California - and I still have the original MSO, so they don't always take it.

[dcdoug]

Jeezus that was painful to read. Glad you got it sorted out. Took 15 minutes in Maryland and is registered as a '65 with vintage plates. No emissions, no inspections.

[51astro456]

Cobalt289, can you tell me what air cleaner and breather cap you used for your 351W?...in order to pass the BAR inspection?? Thanks!

[Cobalt289]

51astro456 - I used an Edelbrock 1208 air cleaner off the shelf from a local O'Reilly auto parts store. It has an attachment for a PCV hose. Don't know about the specific breather cap. Just got an inexpensive one at the same store that also had the hose fitting.

[51astro456]

Great, thank you!