willabeest Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 hello. my name is bill. i own a 3 series BMW, a 1992 NSX, and a toyota tundra. i have one question. i did a search and found nothing on the FAQ. how hard is it to register a "7" in california by buying a caterham chassis and then installing engine oneself? also - is it possible to buy a used caterham (complete) and register it in california? i mean for this to be legal - nothing underhanded. please be honest. having never seen a caterham on any road in california since the 1960s i would think it is impossible. just checking. thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGTorque Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 its possible. even easier if u find one fs that is already in CA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willabeest Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 anyone in california done this? i would hate to spend 60K + and find out the DMV did not wish to register it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparecr Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 There are many in cali. Many on this list are in california and have bought and built thier cars and some have bought out of state. Keep watching you will find it easier than you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 hello. my name is bill. i own a 3 series BMW, a 1992 NSX, and a toyota tundra. i have one question. i did a search and found nothing on the FAQ. how hard is it to register a "7" in california by buying a caterham chassis and then installing engine oneself? also - is it possible to buy a used caterham (complete) and register it in california? i mean for this to be legal - nothing underhanded. please be honest. having never seen a caterham on any road in california since the 1960s i would think it is impossible. just checking. thank you. Lots of folks on the list are in California, myself (MHKflyer52), Slomove, Gert, Mopho just to name a few. The simplest way is to just buy one that is already street legal in California or go through the SB100 process here is a link to get you started. http://www.replicarclub.com/Newsletters/Tech_articles/Registering_your_car_in_California.pdf A lot of people will tell you that it is hard to do but if you follow the rules and play the game you will and can get your car registered in the state of California without too many problems and besides that is part of owning a seven. By the way my Lotus 7 Replica is for sale if you are interested. Hope this helps. :driving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 A couple issues: I believe you can register an out of state car straight up if it has been registered and has over 7500 miles (not sure how the smog check works). Mopho can probably chime in on an out of state car with less mileage. You can build one yourself or buy a "turn-key minus" which is everything but the engine/trans, and then purchase a motor/trans from another business and have them install it. Then apply for SB100 exemption. This is what I did. The only problem is California only gives out 500 exemptions a year and they are gone in a matter of hours. So if you car is ready in March you'll have to just stare at it and wait until January 2nd (do all the DMV paperwork in December) and hope your DMV gets thru to Sacramento. Mine didn't the first time and I went a year on temp registration.... I've been told that they no longer will issue temps while you wait for another chance (though it seems they should give you back your registration money then). You can also buy a 7 that was made in the 70s and not have to worry about smog. I've also heard the custom/kitcar industry is pushing to up the allotment of SB100 certs. It seems the smog exemption will likely make the car more valuable if things don't change. Your best bet is to keep checking places like here, californiacaterhamclub.com and ebay for a California car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willabeest Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 A couple issues: I believe you can register an out of state car straight up if it has been registered and has over 7500 miles (not sure how the smog check works). Mopho can probably chime in on an out of state car with less mileage. You can build one yourself or buy a "turn-key minus" which is everything but the engine/trans, and then purchase a motor/trans from another business and have them install it. Then apply for SB100 exemption. This is what I did. The only problem is California only gives out 500 exemptions a year and they are gone in a matter of hours. So if you car is ready in March you'll have to just stare at it and wait until January 2nd (do all the DMV paperwork in December) and hope your DMV gets thru to Sacramento. Mine didn't the first time and I went a year on temp registration.... I've been told that they no longer will issue temps while you wait for another chance (though it seems they should give you back your registration money then). You can also buy a 7 that was made in the 70s and not have to worry about smog. I've also heard the custom/kitcar industry is pushing to up the allotment of SB100 certs. It seems the smog exemption will likely make the car more valuable if things don't change. Your best bet is to keep checking places like here, californiacaterhamclub.com and ebay for a California car. //The only problem is California only gives out 500 exemptions a year and they are gone in a matter of hours. So if you car is ready in March you'll have to just stare at it and wait until January 2nd (do all the DMV paperwork in December) and hope your DMV gets thru to Sacramento. Mine didn't the first time and I went a year on temp registration.... I've been told that they no longer will issue temps while you wait for another chance (though it seems they should give you back your registration money then).// THAT is the kind of info i needed. 500 exemptions a year. i wonder how our elected representatives justify that. probably big donations to their campaign funds by the same car companies that i pay taxes to keep out of bankruptcy. :deadhorse: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 (edited) THAT is the kind of info i needed. 500 exemptions a year. i wonder how our elected representatives justify that. probably big donations to their campaign funds by the same car companies that i pay taxes to keep out of bankruptcy. :deadhorse: As I heard it, the author of SB 100, California Senator Johannessen, is a real car guy who pushed this bill against great resistance in the state Senate. The only way he could get it through at all was to include an annual cap on the exemptions issued. It never would have passed at all otherwise. Or so I have heard. To your original question, I would say it is not difficult to register a Caterham 7 in California in full compliance with the law through the SB 100 process, if you do your homework up front. However, the 500 car limit is currently woefully inadequate for the number of applicants, so it can be a bit of a lottery. Preparation is crucial. Edited August 20, 2009 by Sean added: "...through the SB 100 process..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 (edited) The problem with full smog compliance is that it's not just the motor/ECU/catalytic converter.... you have to have the same transmission/ rear axle & gas tank (that's the hard one) that came with the origninal car... and no ECU errors (like speedo for example). If the State really wanted clean air they would just check tailpipe emissions for compliance and have the owner address gas vapors from the tank. That's what matters. And to top it off, I know of at least one rich bastard with connections that has no problems getting exemptions for the custom cars he builds. Edited August 19, 2009 by Mondo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierats Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Detailed instructions for registration: http://www.californiacaterhamclub.com/wiki7/pmwiki.php?n=Building.SPCNS100 It is easiest to get a car that is already registered (preferably under SB100 because you don't have to worry about emissions - ever). Purchasing an older car (pre-smog), or an original Lotus would also be a valid way to register/import a car in California. Note that the car MUST have at least 7500 miles on the odometer to be imported into CA. One of the users on this forum had to wait a full year to get their SB100 number because they did not get a number the prior January. I don't want to scare you away from a car, but it is a risk. He eventually got a number and is now driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Note that the car MUST have at least 7500 miles on the odometer to be imported into CA. That is not correct The 7500 mile rule only applies to cars that are 49 state legal cars (all cars built since 2001(?) are 50 state legal ) and that need to be smogged. Since with a 7 you are registering it as a specialty construction vehicle under SB100, you are exempt from smog and the mileage is irrelevant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierats Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Sorry Mopho, I was not clear. The 7500 mile clause does not apply to SB100 cars. However does apply to any other cars being brought in from out of state. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Sorry Mopho, I was not clear. The 7500 mile clause does not apply to SB100 cars. However does apply to any other cars being brought in from out of state. As I understand it, that only applies if the car needs to be smogged, you can still buy a car with less than 7500 miles on it, but it would have to be certified as 50 state smog legal. This would only be a concern if you were buying something like a 98 Toyota, but if you were buying a car that was built pre smog, such as a Lotus Seven, the mileage would not be a concern Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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