I've going through the same thing. I bought my car from a dealer in Texas. It was registered there as a 2000 Ford. After DMV opened up I began my process. Taxes, fees, certificate of sequence, CHP inspection with a CA ID number, and all the forms. It was then I called for a BAR inspection. I got a "virtual" appointment by phone and was told to send in a list of materials first. That was back on August 31, 2020. After numerous calls and emails I still don't have an appointment. But I haven't been denied. I think much of this has come out of the Superformance Cobras. I'm told the same thing that's in the above communication, that Caterhams aren't really kit cars but made by a small volume manufacturer for which I disagree. I have the original invoice for my car that shows the components. It was bought from a former dealer in SoCal, Autocourse. The first owner was in Alabama, the second in Texas. So far DMV has been good in giving me temporary registrations, four so far. But the delay is with the BAR and CARB. Still waiting. BTW my car is the closest possible to a Series 3 Lotus 7 crossflow.