Another California registration adventure

[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.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by nkb

It appears that Superformance, Backdraft, and Caterham California registrations are all being held up. The BAR referee won't schedule an appointment to allow registration. Reason being given is that these cars are "turnkey". The Caterham community blames Superformance for having delivered turnkey cars. Caterham is accused of skirting the regulations by shipping their drivetrains separate from the rest of the car and then reassembling into a turnkey. The fact that Caterham delivers turnkey cars in the UK doesn't help either.

Please don't lump all "Caterham" sales/dealers into the same pile (and some SPF/BDR/Cat/ whatever dealers). Caterham is the manufacturer, not the retailer. We import the Caterham chassis and a separate, not affiliated company imports and sells the powertrains. Other than we know the other company, we have NO financial or other relationship with them.

Also understand that "Superformance" has NOT been the Caterham importer for about five years so that is a dealer/retailer issue, not the importer. Currently Caterham deals directly with the dealers, there is no "importer/distributor" involved.

In this industry there are several entities who are contravening the federal regulations regarding "arms length" by selling chassis and also selling the powertrain and even doing the installation. We know who they are but have not bus rolled them by turning them in as that will only cause closer scrutiny of all specialty car sellers.

Play by the rules and it works. Play fast and loose with the regulations and they bite you in the ass.

[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]

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.

[twobjshelbys]

Got an uneasy feeling bout this one

[jhv48]

Read your registration. Unless it’s registered as a 2022 SPCNS vehicle with an sb100 sticker on the firewall, it’s been registered incorrectly.

[SBSerpent]

Originally Posted by jhv48

Read your registration. Unless it’s registered as a 2022 SPCNS vehicle with an sb100 sticker on the firewall, it’s been registered incorrectly.

True Dat! And if it's not registered in CA as an SPCNS (on title AND registration) with an SB100 decal attached somewhere in the engine bay, then it is incorrectly registered. What happens when you need to renew your registration the next year and the DMV requires a smog cert? The only way to be smog exempt for the entire life of the car is with an SB100. Does not sound kosher at all.