Registering Out of state SPF in CA - Page 2

ou812545 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 08:08 PM

Everyone, thanks for you responses, but the car I decided on was taken away.

I promise to not vent too much, but this is what happened.

I found the car of my dreams on ebay and it was in Southern California:

I made an offer of $49K on Friday. We agreed on $52K on Saturday. We only had to work out the details on who would pay for shipping between SoCal and NorCal, he said he would get back to me with a shipping quote.
I insisted to put down a deposit and the person I was dealing with said I have his word that the car would not be sold under me and he is the owners son. ### Jr. All was good, I had his word.

I'm sure many of you have experience that feeling that this could not happen fast enough and even waking up in the middle of the night thinking of your new toy. That was me for several nights. My poor wife.

Several days passed and he said he is still waiting on a shipping quote. I was able to get 3 quotes in 15 minutes. (first red flag)
Then he said he would have to wait for there DMV lady to figure out how to do the paperwork given the car was registered in NY. (second red flag).

I began to call the DMV, search cc, and call friends at classic car dealers to ask how to buy a special construction car from a dealer and release them of liability for smog and safety. It was clear, there is a legal term given to me by the DMV called "Demand of Title". It simply puts the responsibility on the buyer for smog and safety. I gave this tip to the "reputable" seller and again thought all was good. I told him that I wanted to pay for the car today and to have it shipped on Saturday.

Then I received this email (not even a phone call):
"Dan - Our Dealer Principal does not want us to retail this car. He is concerned about the safety liability the car poses due to the fact that is has no modern safety features and is a handful to drive. We have encountered multiple suits with our Ferraris already and he said that he does not want to expose himself with this car. I apologize for wasting your time and energy, but my hands are tied in this situation."

I immediately called and asked what happened and what they planned to do with the car if it could not be sold in CA. They said that they can only sell it to a whole-seller.
I have a good friend who is a whole-seller, so I said we could do the deal through him.

I was actually begging to buy this car....

Well, he ended the call by telling me the car has already been sold, sorry.
He didn't hold to his word.

Anyways, the venting is over and I will continue my search.

Thanks again to everyone who has answered all my SPF and CA Registration questions.

Dan

thudmaster · #2 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 08:17 PM

Now call Hillbank Motorsports in Irvine (949-900-1951) and see What Lance Stander has to offer. I know it won't be excuses..........

ou812545 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 08:33 PM

Ed, I have been working with Justin. Do you recommend I work with Lance? Is he the owner?

BTW, (this is the car)
Not sure why this link didn't post to my past msg
eBay Motors: Replica/Kit Makes : MkIII Cobra (item 130191097684 end time Jan-24-08 14:55:18 PST)

CHRIS DAMSCH · #4 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 08:58 PM

Looks nice. hope it all works out. you can't beat the color.

thudmaster · #5 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 09:07 PM

Yes, Lance is the owner. If you have been working with Justin, no problem. Lance will make sure Justing gets the credit. They have plenty of cars there for you to choose from. I will be back down there Friday for a few hours. I am picking up parts to put my avitar back together. BTW I really like my new spf 2742. Good luck with your search. I think you are on the right track now......

ou812545 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 09:06 PM

Chris, that car no longer an option. I'm starting over.

vanoochka · #7 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 09:59 PM

Doug,

Read my post up a few on this thread. Morgester gave the definitive word on out of state in early December (after the post you are quoting, I think).

How's the warranty work going?

Chuck

Got the Bug · #8 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 10:20 PM

Chuck,

That's a major advantage for Cobra sellers in states where the standard protocol is to register an SPCN cars as 1965 Ford. It sounds like AZ is a good source CA buyers.

Things are moving along on the warranty work. It looks like they're going to need to pull the transmission and replace the rear main seal. No word yet on when I'll get the car back. Luckily, I haven't missed much driving time with all of the rain we've had.

thudmaster · #9 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 10:28 PM

Did you notice the taillights on that superformance?

ou812545 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 10:37 PM

Yes I did, I called the dealer (SankePit in NJ) that sold the roller and he mentioned that was a dealer option and it a bit more popular on the East Coast.

Got the Bug · #11 (**permalink**) 01-30-2008, 10:41 PM

xlr8or - Run, Morgester, run....

Go get the scumbags off the street!

Ed - I think you can order those tail lights as a factory option. They don't look bad, but I like the standard issue lights.

thudmaster · #12 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 12:01 AM

Oh I know they are an option just making notice that we don't see them on superformance very often.

xlr8or · #13 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 12:09 AM

Bug they pulled plates and titles from his customers down here. It's not pretty.

vanoochka · #14 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 12:30 AM

Doug,

Yes, it is a huge advantage for sellers from Arizona and other states that routinely title Cobra (and other) replicas as the model year they replicate. In Morgester's December post, he mentions that he expects this "loophole" to be plugged in the future. If that plug is retroactive I'll be getting up early on January 2nd, 2008.

You definitely aren't missing much in the way of driving opportunities although I cruised around for a couple of hours today doing errands that should have taken 30 minutes.

Chuck

RodKnock · #15 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 10:18 AM

I can only hope that Morgester is going after the dealers that were in line getting multiple SB100 exemptions as well. Tony said that one guy in Pleasanton got five.

Tony Ripepi · #16 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 11:35 AM

Hi guys,

Rodknock I hope you are right ....I got my SB100 certificate in the mail last night.

The GT will be on the road legally this weekend.....pics to follow.

TR

Ron61 · #17 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 01:07 PM

I am not an expert on this and neither is our DMV here. But they will accept any car titled out of state such as an Arizona car titled as a 1965 Ford. Then a few weeks later they will pull the title. I have seen this happen to 3 people. The statement they make is the car either has to have the Calif. SPCN number and show SPCN on the Title, or meet the emission requirements for the year the Title shows. Example if the title shows it as a 1965 Ford Roadster and it was sold in 2001, then you either get a SB-100 number or they will pull the title. The explanation that I got after talking to several people in the DMV and our BAR was that unless the title shows SPCN on it, the car is not legal.

Ron

vanoochka · #18 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

The statement they make is the car either has to have the Calif. SPCN number and show SPCN on the Title, or meet the emission requirements for the year the Title shows. Example if the title shows it as a 1965 Ford Roadster and it was sold in 2001, then you either get a SB-100 number or they will pull the title.
Ron

Ron61,

They told you the car has to meet the emission requirements for the year the title shows, but then require it to meet the emission requirements for the year in which it was sold?

So, if I bought a legit 1965 Ford in January of this year, it would have to meet the 2008 emission requirements or I couldn't title it?

I'm not doubting that they told you that, but what they are doing is completely random. BTW, I just closely scrutinized 5 CA titles and none of them show a date of sale.

RodKnock · #19 (**permalink**) 01-31-2008, 01:22 PM

Tony, congrats on getting the GT legally on the road. I can't wait to see it. I'm still SOL on my SB100.

Morgester · #20 (**permalink**) 02-04-2008, 11:52 AM

On the out-of-state registration issue; although DMV is required to give full faith and credit – this only applies if it was legally registered in the foreign jurisdiction.

This means that the state that it was originally registered in must recognize it as a 1965 Ford. The SEMA legislation states usually cover this. The car is described as a 1965 Replica or other related designation.

For those folks that have Arizona registrations, you are making me mighty uncomfortable. Not that I am an expert in Arizona registration law but a quick review seems to indicate that these vehicle cannot be registered as a 1965 without being untruthful about the year at the time of registration.

Just because you can fool another State doesn’t mean that California has to accept it. The key is with full disclosure will they designate your vehicle as a 65. There are only a handful of states that will do this,

I cannot say this enough – be careful because it is a mess when it goes wrong. This is one area where you have to be right the first time.