More Bureaucratic BS

[NSXguy]

Subscribed to this topic for future reference, specifically as it relates to reg in CT. My current 7 was already registered here so didnt have to go through all this when i purchased. 

[Sean]

Reading this reminds me of seeing literally the first vehicle to drive past me when I stepped out of the train station in Osaka Japan in 2017, which must have been a legally licensed for road use vehicle, as I understand they were from a popular rental business (which I believe was only shut down due to a lawsuit from Nintendo, not for safety or equipment violations).

 

[Bartman]

I just wanted to give a shout out to Hettric, he kindly sold me his bumper set up that fits my car, it was not easy to do as the box is a big one but he made one to suit and they are en-route from CT to MD. I will mount them ASAP and then get the reinspection done. So thanks Hettric and to everyone that offered suggestions and work arounds the world of 7 is small but filled with truly good fellows.  - Bart

[Bartman]

With new tires, the bumpers arrived and fitted and a few odds and ends sorted I got the re-inspection done today and hooray a its a pass    So now just got to take the bumpers off and all is well in the world (at least as far as my 7 is concerned). Now its street legal, we are setting about making it the track car I wanted and maybe not so street legal.

 

I was at the track last week driving a Formula car (so much fun) and it had paddle shifting on a Sadev sequential, seamless shifting up and down with no clutch and really quite impressive to drive. So I  got home and did a little digging around and after some thought ordered a pneumatic version from Simon (meteor) to fit the Sadev that's already on order. We decided to change the ECU from an Omex 600 to MBE9A9 to give me a combined ECU/GCU, I know I could have piggybacked a geatronix unit onto the omex but the MBE solution seemed to be simpler and thus preferable. The only fly in the ointment is that when they dyno the new engine in the UK the builders don't have a MBE loom so it's going to be dyno'd using an Omex and then when it arrives here we will make a loom in situ for the MBE and mess with the MBE base map from there.

 

I also ordered a blank Carbon dash from Classic Carbon in the UK (Really good price and only 40 GBP to ship it), I have an Aim XMP to replace the steam gauges and give me data logging etc. With the suspension in transit from the UK the  last thing to resolve is the brakes and what to do AP/Wilwood/other I have 13" Compromotive wheels so need to figure what will fit - any suggestions welcomed of course.

 

Bart. 

[Kitcat]

I like how you roll:). 

[panamericano]

Congratulations! 

 

With the hassle people have registering theses cars, there is an interesting side note.  Hagerty offers a coverage (Cherished Salvage ) that lets you keep the salvage after a (agreed upon value) total loss, at no charge.  The extra premium is 15% of  the damage premium.  My whole total annual premium in Texas is $305, so 15% of something less than that.  At worst, say you need a replacement frame and a corner, you still have the state registered identity of the car (1965 Lotus) and are building a kit over.  Of course you get a hicky of "salvage" on the title. 

[fastg]

Bartman, we're are you in MD, I am in Laurel, 29 and John Hopkins.

 

Graham

[TShu]

I live in northern Virginia and recently purchased a '79 Caterham S7.   Two owners ago it was registered in Indiana and issued a new VIN as a 2016 assembled / salvage vehicle.  I don't know why it got changed to a 2016 but it has created a challenge to registering in VA.  Because the car is titled as a 2016 salvage, it first has to have a VA safety inspection to 2016 standards, which it will not pass.  So my top priority is to get it back to 1979 as an antique.  I now have original Certificate of Origin from Caterham.  I have an appointment with VA DMV to go in and try to explain what happened and hopefully get a reasonable person behind the counter.   

 

Anybody know why it might have been registered in IN as a 2016?  Anyone had experience with registering a 7 in VA?

 

[Bartman]

On 9/18/2021 at 9:16 PM, TShu said:

I live in northern Virginia and recently purchased a '79 Caterham S7.   Two owners ago it was registered in Indiana and issued a new VIN as a 2016 assembled / salvage vehicle.  I don't know why it got changed to a 2016 but it has created a challenge to registering in VA.  Because the car is titled as a 2016 salvage, it first has to have a VA safety inspection to 2016 standards, which it will not pass.  So my top priority is to get it back to 1979 as an antique.  I now have original Certificate of Origin from Caterham.  I have an appointment with VA DMV to go in and try to explain what happened and hopefully get a reasonable person behind the counter.   

 

Anybody know why it might have been registered in IN as a 2016?  Anyone had experience with registering a 7 in VA?

 

 

Hi so what was the outcome with the DMV? Did you have any joy in the joyless task of working with the DMV? In my case I was unable to get the car date corrected here in MD but did get it tagged in the end.

 

Bart.

[TShu]

So now outcome yet.  To have a hope at changing the registration year, I have to go to the main DMV in Richmond.  But they only take pre-scheduled appointments which I could not get until mid October.   In the meantime, what little 7 driving I do, I’m doing in the “I’ve done all I can do and I’ll beg for forgiveness if it bites me” mentality! 

[CarlB]

You might want to look at this site. You have a replica of a Lotus and can title the car as a replica. 

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/reconstructed.html#:~:text=Every person who owns a reconstructed vehicle%2C specially,vehicle must be shown on the Virginia title.

If you title as a 1962 Lotus there aren't any emissions and the safety equipment only has to match what was on the car originally.  

[TShu]

Thanks @Carlb.  This might be exactly what I need.  I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[TShu]

On 9/29/2021 at 2:51 PM, Bartman said:

 

Hi so what was the outcome with the DMV? Did you have any joy in the joyless task of working with the DMV? In my case I was unable to get the car date corrected here in MD but did get it tagged in the end.

 

Bart.

I’ll hand it to VA DMV.  It wasn’t easy, but after writing everything up and talking to the right person in Richmond, I was finally able to get it all squared away.