How to registration a speedster in Massachusetts

I'm very close to purchasing a speedster. The only thing holding me up is the registration process. I have contacted the DMV in Boston, but most folks are unclear about what to do. What I have learned, if this is accurate, that I need a certificate of origin form the manufacturer and then I need to trailer the car to the state police for an inspection. If I pass that it is off to the DMV for a VIN. Not sure about how the emission tests is going to work. It would be great to speak with someone who has gone through this experience. The last thing I want is a car I can

Gordon Nichols should be able to help.

Tom,

Who is Gordon Nichols and how to I reach him?

Thanks for your help.

Gordon is from Mass. Go to registry and look in proximity to you (if you've entered your info) and he should pop up. He will probably respond to this post before the day is over, anyway.

Joe, I take it you are buying a car that is not based on a VW pan. My speedster has a vin# from a '65 VW and the title says 1955 Porsche Replica. Registration and inspections were much easier than I was expecting. However, a friend in the next town over bought a beautiful Beck Spyder and had to go through what you describe. Emissions tests and the trailer ride to see the State Police inspector. I think his title said it was a 2000(?) car and he always sweated the inspections. I haven't run into him in about 2 years but I think he sold the car.
Gordon stays up on these laws and I bet he can give you some answers.

Tom and Al,

Thanks for the help. I'll see if I can locate Gordon. Yes I am looking at a speedster from Beck and I don't want to continually sweat inspections if I can avoid it. On top of everything else, I understand the law is changing on April 30th. Prior to this date the Vin # will be based on the year the

First, you need to tel us exactly what you are buying:

Who/How manufactured (like, Intermeccanica, Vintage Speedsters, Home-built CMC, etc.)

If it is a CMC, Vintage or JPS and based on a VW pan, you can, in Massachusetts, register it as an original volkswagen for the year of it's manufacture (for instance, mine is registered as a white, 1969 VW convertible, and the Mass DMV is OK with that.)

If it is a tube-frame based car (some IM's, Beck and SAS) then you need to register it as a custom automobile and it can get a bit more complicated, so look here:

http://www.dmv.org/ma-massachusetts/custom-built-cars.php#Current-Procedures

Massachusetts adopted, last year, the SEMA based bill for registering and insuring custom built cars such that you register it as the year it represents, i.e., a car that looks like a 1957 Porsche can be registered as a 1957 Porsche and is emissions exempt. I'm not sure if the law has taken effect yet or not (I don't live up there any more). That all sounds great, but not a lot of people working at the DMV (and, especially, local inspection stations) know what's going on with the law so it's best to call the DMV, Tell them what you're trying to do, get a competent person to help you with the right steps and have them call the state inspection station where you'll have your safety inspection done so they won't screw it up (see Al's post above).


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Gordon,

I'm looking at a Speedster from Beck, so I guess it would be a custom car. Thanks for the link, I just took a look at it. I'm excited about the car, but the process sounds daunting. Hate to wind up having a car that won

Joe, if you're buying a Beck, I'm sure that Carey Hines can put you in contact with another Beck owner in Mass. Every state is different. I sweated the inspection, etc., but in the end, everything worked out okay. Mine is registered as a "2010 Assembled" vehicle". I had to provide the paperwork and get a safety inspection from my local police. Then some time passed and the state guy came to my house and affixed the MI VIN. Everybody was super nice about the whole thing.

Move to Wisconsin. I sweated out all the registration thing last year only to find that here a Beck is classified as a Hobbyist car. Didn't need to get it inspected, no one came to my house, plates came quicker than the "warned" 6-8 week waiting time. I suppose this is no consolation, but I think you'll get it on the road without too much trouble...BUY IT!

Thanks guys.

I

Joe:

You can also call the folks at Factory Five Racing at:

Factory Five Racing, Inc.
9 Tow Road
Wareham, MA 02571
Phone: (508) 291-3443
Fax: (508) 291-3883
E-Mail: info@factoryfive.com

I would call them on the phone.

They are going through all the same stuff with their Cobra replicas and should be more current on how the Mass. legislation is shaking out than I am at this point - Heck I live 1,000 miles away, now! Explain that you have a tube-framed Beck (similar to a tube framed Cobra as far as the DMV is concerned) and how do their Mass. customers get their cars registered?

Also, Al Gallo, on here, has been through this recently and he survived, so I guess YOU can, too!

gn

Hey, Joe....welcome to the madness. You haven't got your car yet and it's already threatening to drive you nuts. It's still worth it.
What Gordon said about calling Factory Five is a great idea. If they don't know how the system works in this crazy state no one does. Let us know how it goes and good luck.

Hi Joe,

I can tell that we are both belt-and-suspenders guys from your posts. First thing is to relax. There will be a process in place that the folks at Factory Five can bring you up to speed on. Even if your car is incomplete, you will be able to register it with a Manfacturer's Certificate of Origin or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, which Carey will complete for you, and a few receipts. I just completed the process in California, and I'm still alive to tell the tale. No worries, it's all doable.

What a cool community! Everyone is so generous with their time and expertise. Who knew you could you send an SOS into the Ethernet and receive such well reasoned responses. Thanks to you all.

I did call Factory Five and they confirmed what I was thinking would be the process. Not pretty, but can be done. Spoke again with Kevin at Becker and think we have a work-around. If the car is register in Indiana it will get a Vin # from that state, with a lot less hassle, and then I just need to transfer title in Mass. The engine is new, but built on the 1954 specs, so the emission test should be based on that year standards, which should pass easily. So it looks like is a go. Hope to place the order on Friday before I head to Florida for a few weeks of golf and sun.

Thanks to one and all.

Once things settle down, I

Joe, come to Carlisle Pa. in May. There will be knuckleheads from all over the country and lots of speedsters and spyders, not to mention egg sammiches. It's like a family reunion except you like everybody.

Al,

Sounds good. Thanks

Al,

Now that I think about it, PA is a long drive from MA. Do you make that drive in your speedster or do you live down there? Your profile says Eastham, MA. A double life perhaps?

Joe

Hey Joe, take the drive, you'll enjoy the scenery, attention and open road feel. I'm driving up from Ft Lauderdale.

Nope, Joe, I live a simple life out here on the "sand bar". My wife and I are planning our 4th trip to Carlisle this year, the first time with our speedster. We will be towing our older car but if I had a new Becks I would drive it. As you get sucked deeper into the vortex you will find that many people with more "sorted" cars drive great distances to get there in their cars. That is my goal as well.
Resistance is futile. Go to the " events " category and make your reservations for 5/17- 5/20, (before it's too late) and hang out with some interesting car nuts, commonly referred to as "knuckle heads". Even if you don't buy a car now, you will be welcome.

Joe:

Along with Al, I lead a double life: Summer in the heart of Liberalism in Graton, MA., just to the west of you, and Winter here in Beaufort, SC, in the heart of the Secessionist South.

I was a regular at Carlisle from 2004-2009 (and an organizer for some of those years) but have missed the past two years due to family issues. I'll be back in Mass. in time for Carlisle and may lead a Northeast Caravan down to PA for the meet. In past years, we've had as many as 8 cars caravanning along to give each other moral and mechanical support. As the years have evolved, people who used to be a little leery of driving their Speedsters any distance to Carlisle (or the west coast meet) have now, because of locally organized caravans, become confident enough to not only make the trip solo, but have begun attending other meets as well, often over several days.

To be honest, I usually trailer my car to Carlisle, not because I doubt it's ability to get me there, but because I prefer to ride in climate-controlled comfort, and the trailer has come in handy several times at Carlisle as a make-shift "lift" for working on other people's cars (I also bring along about half a workshop of tools in case anyone needs help).

Anyway, think about it, follow along on the post threads about Carlisle and poke around the registry on here to find like-minded Speedstah Folks near you.

Gordon
The Speedstah Guy from Beaufort (and Grafton, MA)

And then there are folks like:

- Jack Crosby who drives up from Hot Springs, AR
- Tom Blankeship who drives over from Detroit, MI
- Marty Grzynkowicz who drives over from Chicago, IL
- Nolan Scott who drives up from Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- John Hallstrand who drives up from Louden, TN
- Leon Chupp who drives up from Gainesville, GA
- Me, who drives up from Charleston, SC
- Many who drive up from the DC/Baltimore area
- Others from all over that I cannot remember

All of us come in our Speedsters. Nolan towed once, but drove the next time (I believe). The rest of us always drive the Speedsters.

I came from Wisconsin last year in a 911. I was coming from Wisconsin this year in my Speedster but had to cancel because of over committing myself. But, I'll be back...

Sounds great but I just back from a trip to Ireland on the 16th and I'm sure I'll have major jetlag. Good to know about this event for next year.

Thanks,

Joe

You're not an EMC'er, are you?

Don't know what an EMC'er is.

Looks like today is the day that I jump off the cliff and place my order for the car. Hope the ride is enjoyable and the landing doesn't leave a mark. Thanks for all the help.