New Build Super Seven

[Road Ready]

My son and I (mostly my son) have completed our build of a Caterham Super Seven. The build was a long process with some long pauses while we figured things out. The original starter was faulty and our first attempt to start ended with some melted wiring....

 

Now we're dealing with the intricacies of Titling and Insurance. We live in North Carolina which is apparently not the easiest of states in which to accomplish this. Any NC Caterham folks out there that could give us any pointers?

 

John

Weaverville, NC

[Warren Nethercote]

See

 

http://www.bipac.net/page.asp?content=tag_title_toolbox&g=SEMAGA

 

for information. Whether it's helpful or not depends .....

[TurboBird]

My 7 was titled in NC in 2011 as follows: Year - 1962; Make - Replica; Model - Lotus Super 7. Unless things have changed you will have to work with an inspector from the NC DMV License & Theft Bureau. They should have an office at the same location that does drivers license testing near you in Asheville.

 

My 7 was previously titled in Illinois so it may have been easier to do in NC than what you will have to go through. I'm sure you will need receipts for major components to show they were not stolen, etc. Anyway, they will issue you a VIN and eventually an inspection report that you can take to the tag office to apply for a title and get your tags. As a 'Replica' it should not be subject to NC inspection or emissions requirements (at least mine isn't).

 

Stop in and visit with an inspector to get things started. Send me a private message if you want to discuss further. Good luck.

[Road Ready]

I ran into difficulty with the inspector. We do have a VIN for the chassis. Officer Goheen was concerned that we lacked ID numbers for the engine and transmission that we got from Caterham USA. Although we have the invoice for those components, there are no ID numbers; the number on the engine is only partly legible and we've not found one on the transmission. Caterham USA has no record of the numbers.

 

Although the NC-DOT regulations don't seem to require ID numbers, Officer Goheen is being a bit of a stickler, but a good-natured one.

 

Our original tack was to get the car titled as a custom vehicle, defined by NC-DOT regs. as completely reconstructed or assembled from new or used parts. Year of the vehicle will be year of assembly.

 

Now we are shooting for a Replica Vehicle title, defined as 1) a motor vehicle which is a replica manufactured from a kit and sold unassembled; 2) titles as the make and year model intended to be replicated.

 

I have no issue with either method of titling, but it does seem a bit odd to get a genuine '07 Caterham Super Seven titled as a '57 Lotus Seven. At least they look pretty much the same to the untrained eye.

[jlumba81]

Check the sides of the transmission case. Mine has #s on both sides. Might need a bore scope to see it. Its a tight area.

[TurboBird]

As I mentioned above my 7 was originally titled in Illinois so the transfer to NC seems to have been simpler than what you are going through.

 

My 7 is an F2/7 kit I imported from the UK in 2001. My NC inspector suggested the 'Replica' title and I had no issue with that. I picked the 'Year' and went with 1962; and the model 'Lotus Super 7'. He took pictures of the car including a chassis plate (provided by F2/7 and riveted in place by me in 2001), motor S/N (mine is bike motor so no separate trans), and the VIN plate from Illinois. He issued an inspection report a couple of days later and that was it. Seems like the NC process may be somewhat variable depending on the inspector.

 

Good luck.

[Road Ready]

Insurance secured. NCDOT requires a bond on the car BC there's no legible number on the engine and we've not found the one that may be on the trans.

 

Because of the peculiar way NC does titles, this '07 Caterham Super Seven be legally titled as an 57' Lotus 'Replica.'

 

The amount of the bond that I'm required to get broke some sort of threshold and now the bonding agency wanted a complete financial disclosure from me. Cash on hand, savings, short term debt, long term debt, income, real estate, insurance policies, stocks and bonds, the works.

 

That could take days.

[Road Ready]

This is torture.

 

I've been told that the financial disclosure was acceptable, the bond has bee approved, but the letter that officially says so is being snail mailed to the insurance agency. Nothing will happen until it's received.

 

I'd never seen an insurance agent put her head down on her desk before.

 

Meanwhile, the Seven sits in the garage, fueled up and ready.

[Croc]

This is torture.

 

I'd never seen an insurance agent put her head down on her desk before.

 

Oh I have seen it! I see it daily at my office and I really feel your pain. This type of stuff is more common than you realize at insurance companies. You are one of millions across the US dealing with this type of insurance frustration annually.

 

All you can do is keep the faith and take it one step at a time. Eventually you will get through the process and it will be quickly forgotten once you get on the road. :cooldude:

[Kitcat]

I have had judges do that in my carer as a lawyer (never a good sign). Two even fell asleep and had to be woken up.

Edited June 13, 2014 by Kitcat

[Road Ready]

Finally, everything came together.

 

I had my first (legal) drive today, with a chase car, just in case.

 

I was impressed and came away with a list of things to do:

 

1) move clutch pedal position adjustment as far down as it will go.

 

2) tighten hat

 

3) loose 20 pounds

 

4) make some brackets that will allow mounting of the side mirrors directly to the windscreen

 

What do you guys do about your left foot when it's not on the clutch?

Edited June 18, 2014 by Road Ready

[Road Ready]

The final stage of getting our Seven registered was like an episode of 'Andy of Mayberry.'

 

I went to the next (more rural) county over from ours because I knew the lines would be shorter. When I presented all my documents to the girl at the counter she said that "mary" would have to handle it, would I mind waiting.

 

Having already waited years, I was well prepared to wait as long as necessary. The process took an hour and a half. I has already obtained an indemnity bond as NC required, gotten a title for a '57 Lotus "Replica" as NC required and had a stack of signed and notarized documents.

 

In the course of the session I discovered that "Mary' had been to our house back when she and been a FedEx driver, what medical conditions she suffered, who she knew (everyone) and what kind of cookies she liked.

 

The next day I brought the cookies to her office. She was thrilled.

[TurboBird]

So after the cookies and all did your paperwork go through? How long does NC retain your bond? I guess compared to some other states NC is a walk in the park.

 

Glad to hear it all worked out (assuming it did).

[Road Ready]

It's the bonding agency, not NC that retains the bond payment, and they're responsible for the payout if somebody determines that the engine or trans was stolen.

 

Forever. That's a sunk cost.

 

On the other hand, I never have to get inspected.

[wemtd]

even if you move or sell the car out of state?

[Road Ready]

even if you move or sell the car out of state?

 

Probably. If I sell the car to someone out of state it's the buyer's problem.

 

If I move in-state it's the same deal as where I live now. I'm pretty entrenched where I live now.