Mondo Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 For a while there, wasn't much for sale. Lately some great cars have come up... along with great prices. Very nice car, should sell soon. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdaddy Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 EXTREMELY tempting. Just not sure about getting it home and registered in CA :drool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 Thx for the shout-out Marine7. There is a "glut" of beautiful Birkins on the market at the moment, so it's a great time to be a buyer. Any one of them will make its buyer very happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick OTeen Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 EXTREMELY tempting. Just not sure about getting it home and registered in CA :drool:Having just purchased a Caterham from out-of-state and successfully registered it here in California I would say go for it. That is one great looking car at an exceptional price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyHilton Posted July 24, 2012 Share Posted July 24, 2012 (edited) Hi Jason, It seems that the car has a history of bouncing back and forth between TX and CT!! If we can find a reasonable method of returning car, and parts, back to TX again, I am very interested. Many thanks, Jimmy Edited July 25, 2012 by JimmyHilton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdaddy Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Having just purchased a Caterham from out-of-state and successfully registered it here in California I would say go for it. That is one great looking car at an exceptional price. Thanks. Did you have to go through the CA process as if you assembled the car yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick OTeen Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Yes, essentially the same process as the SB100 program. It takes patience (waiting at the DMV in particular) but overall it's not that difficult. You begin by going to the DMV to start the process. You don't need to bring the car - even though the lady I dealt with first said I did. I showed here on the DMV website where it clearly stated you did not. Do bring the MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin) for the car along with a Bill of Sale and Title. You'll also bring the proper application/registration paperwork already filled out. Oh, and bring your checkbook, you'll pay the tax and registration fees on your first (there will be three) visit to the DMV. If all goes well they'll issue a one-day permit that will allow you to drive the car to the CHP for a brief inspection and VIN verification (and a little more paperwork). Once that's done the CHP will give you a document that you'll take back to the DMV for the next step. You'll also have to take the car to an approved shop for the inspections that will give you the necessary brake and light safety certificates. When you take the CHP document back to the DMV they will then give you a 30-day Temporary Operating Permit. About ten days to two weeks after that first DMV visit you'll receive your SPCN Sequence Certificate in the mail from the DMV. Once you have that you can call the CARB (California Air Resources Board) to set an appointment to bring the car to one of their locations where the Referee will examine the car and establish how the car is to be registered in relations to emissions testing. They ask if you want to register based on the year of the engine or based upon the year of car your car most resembles. The choice was easy. It was agreed the Caterham closely resembled a 1960 Lotus 7. This means the car will never have to be go through smog inspection. The Referee did ask me to add a PCV hose which meant I had to go home, make the change and (after calling in to making another appointment) bring the car back. On the second visit he passed the car and gave me the necessary certificate (to take back to the DMV) and then affixed a very official-looking sticker to the firewall. Next was the third, and last, visit to the DMV to turn in paperwork (including turning over the previous title) and the CARB certificate. After a few minutes I was given plates for the car and a temporary registration/title document and should soon be receiving the actual documents in the mail. The good news is that, due to the slow economy, there are still SPCN (Special Construction) Sequence Numbers available which makes all the above possible. In past years it was common for the five hundred numbers to be grabbed up by car enthusiasts by January 2nd. However, there are fewer folks building Cobra replicas and the like so there are still numbers available. You may want to call the DMV in Sacramento to confirm this - though I doubt they've given out the remaining numbers within the last month or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine7 Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share Posted July 25, 2012 My car has a Birkin Cert of Orgin, Bill of Sale and receipts for Engine, ECU, intake and many, many other parts. I dont have a receipt for the tranny (it came with the roller chassis), nor do I have a CT title. In Texas its pretty easy to apply for title/registration. Get it inspected, vin verification, apply for title, register and bobs your uncle. In CT its a bit more difficult due to the fact that the inspection is much more idtiotic. Ct has silly bumper requirements, covered exhaust, DoT labels on lenses, US dot labels on windshield glass, etc. Basically everything a new Birkin, or old Lotus wouldnt have.... Its not impossible in CT. Budlite and others have done it successfully. A lot of the pain and agony is driven by the individual inspector and his/her level of common sense. There is a process, but the person can make it agony. Rgds Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyrayandersen Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 16 hours from TX...:willy_nilly: Wonder what it would run to ship enclosed? I've only ever shipped open, but this one is a bit too sweet for that. Man it's tempting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 It cost me $2K to ship my Caterham from Seattle to Cincy, enclosed, 2 months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine7 Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share Posted July 25, 2012 I've used Intercity in the past to ship enclosed. Best $1,200 I ever spent. Its point to point delivered to your door. I've used them for my Birkin move, two personal cars, and a motorcycle. Each time it was a pleasure working with them. I would suspect that costs may be a bit higher give fuel costs. I would not even consider open transport for a Birkin or really any other car that I gave a hoot about. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyrayandersen Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 I've used Intercity in the past to ship enclosed. Best $1,200 I ever spent. Its point to point delivered to your door. I've used them for my Birkin move, two personal cars, and a motorcycle. Each time it was a pleasure working with them. I would suspect that costs may be a bit higher give fuel costs. I would not even consider open transport for a Birkin or really any other car that I gave a hoot about. Jason I shipped 2 cars open -- a 2004 smart fortwo, and a '63 FIAT 500 -- neither worth shipping closed IMO (I got a thing for microcars). I also bought a '86 944 Turbo, but I flew out to KY and picked it up and drove it home... not sure that would work in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine7 Posted August 16, 2012 Author Share Posted August 16, 2012 Well folks, Its off to Ebay for my Birkin. The listing can be found here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Brand-new-Birkin-S3-/280943527593?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item41698a06a9 Feel free to comment, critique, poke fun or bid... Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Test drivers must bring their own heart medication:) (Did Hank give you that line:)). Good luck w/sale, if it works, I'm next! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdaddy Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Good luck with the sale too. I'm bidding and may be forced to find out first hand about the California registration process... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcarguy Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Good luck with the sale, but I still want the Brooklands for my car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyHilton Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Jason, I took your advise on Intercity. It is now $1300 from OH to TX, but they are knowledgeable and efficient. Problem with transport right now is Pebble Beach. It will take me at least 3 weeks to get the Birkin I bought. Good luck with the sale! I really wanted your Birkin, but it was a bit out of reach at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywood2311 Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Sitting on a small pile of money, trying to convince myself use it as a down payment to purchase investment property. This doesn't help... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdaddy Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Sitting on a small pile of money, trying to convince myself use it as a down payment to purchase investment property. This doesn't help... Same here. Good news for Marine7, the bidding has started very strong. Maybe the "Buy it Now" should have been higher... It's a gorgeous car. :drool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine7 Posted August 16, 2012 Author Share Posted August 16, 2012 Thanks for the compliments. Perhaps the BIN should have been higher, but in the end if the buyer and sellers are both happy with the result its a win-win. I've had a lot of questions from bidders and there is a lot of time left in the auction so anything can happen. happy bidding. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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