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Not my car: Original 7 on BAT


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That almost looks easier to restore then trying to get a newer Westfield/Birkin/Stalker/Caterham through the NJ registering process.

 

I disagree, getting a new "7" replica through the NJ process has gotten easier in the last two years. Just has getting through the countless cobra replicas. it is only when someone attempts to circumnavigate the process in hopes of getting a "vintage" title that things go wrong. If you call the special titles division on State street in Trenton and ask for their "kit car package", then follow the instructions, you should have no problems at all.

 

 

 

Bill S.

 

PS: It will require a very heavy gauge sump guard as they do not like anything hanging below the frame rails, but that is the only issues that have come up recently that I know of.

Edited by mrmustang
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Sorry Bill thats not correct. Titling in NJ is easy for a new Caterham/Birkin/etc. The real problem is the special car inspection process in order to get your license plate and be able to legally drive on the road. The private company performing the inspections on behalf of the state does not follow NJ EPA laws by accepting emission waivers for low volume manufacturers from having OBDII as is common in most states. The NJ EPA has never issued an OBDII waiver from inspection and does not plan to. The Cobra guys do not have this issue as their engines are most commonly based off a pre-OBDII engine block which totally sidesteps the legal problems that the usual Caterham/Birkin with a Duratec or Zetec encounters (as the engine blocks are post 1991). Ot they use a full OBDII compliant crate engine which also works under the inspection protocols. Enough NJ people on this forum have the personal legal bills to prove the problem exists and I have my own personal correspondence from NJ MVC, NJ EPA and Parsons (NJ inspector) stating the problem (it helps having 50 attorneys around me in the office). The secret to easily getting a Caterham/Birkin registered legally in NJ is making sure you buy/build a pre-OBDII engine car - this would then follow the Cobra registration/inspection protocols. But who then wants a crossflow R500? The alternative is you make the car fully OBDII compliant like Brunton does with its Stalkers.

 

Stalkers which have working OBDII sail through the NJ process for the most part once you get past the inevitable airbag and other silly arguments from the inspectors. I was the last one to get a post-OBDII year Caterham through on its correct year of manufacture because it had working OBDII.

 

Given NJ MVC has been proved to monitor forums like this for registration/titling/inspection threads, I am not going to contribute to any further debate online but happy to take it offline.

Edited by Croc
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Mike,

 

What private company is doing the salvage and specialty safety inspections? As of last month (just sent a new FFR build flying through the system with stack injection and a new Rousch motor, aftermarket ECU) it was still Asbury Park , Westfield, or Winfield (Morristown being shut down permanently by hurricane flood damage), all which are state run, with state employees and not run by private contractors.

 

Bill S.

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Those inspections you think are state run are actually run by a company called Parsons. I think State of NJ owns the sites but the rest is private. Contract was renewed in 2013 through to 2016.

 

The reason your car sailed through with a shiny new Roush motor is that the engine block will be an old design, probably 1960s, that is grandfathered on the master list with NJ EPA/NJ MVC/Parsons as being a pre-OBDII block. There is no way to get a Duratec or Zetec on that list as they are viewed as "modern" engines thereby requiring fully functioning OBDII, including all emissions equipment from the originally manufactured car.

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Those inspections you think are state run are actually run by a company called Parsons. I think State of NJ owns the sites but the rest is private. Contract was renewed in 2013 through to 2016.

 

The reason your car sailed through with a shiny new Roush motor is that the engine block will be an old design, probably 1960s, that is grandfathered on the master list with NJ EPA/NJ MVC/Parsons as being a pre-OBDII block. There is no way to get a Duratec or Zetec on that list as they are viewed as "modern" engines thereby requiring fully functioning OBDII, including all emissions equipment from the originally manufactured car.

 

Parson's is only contracted to run the state emissions inspection stations, they do not have anything to do with the "salvage and specialty" inspection stations I mentioned in my previous post. As for the block of the Rousch motor, brand new casting, not a 60's item

 

 

Bill S.

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God, I'm glad I live in Alaska!

 

I walked into the local DMV office with my title from Caterham, and the inspection certificate from the sheriff in Colorado (where I built my 2007 Caterham S3/Cosworth Duratec), certifying that there were no stolen parts on the car -- and 5 minutes later I walked out with my Alaska registration and plates.

 

The DMV clerk even knew what a Caterham was....!

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Wow... this went from an old seven thread to a registration thread in a few short posts.

 

Back to topic... great buy for whom ever picked this up. Anyone here? I see lots of work and lots of money to be spent, but what agreat project.

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