Investigating Speedster purchase or new build

Sorry Stan.  In many states it's simply untrue. 

Art if your SB100 was from out of state, you were exceptionally lucky.  If it was from California, the same state you were registering it in, there is no problem.  When you go to sell it, if your new buyer is also in California there won't be a problem, but if they aren't there could be big problems. 

Bob Eiland, who used to be on this list first bought an Arizona Special Construction car and could not get it registered here.  He eventually was able to get the seller to take it back.  This is not an unfounded concern in many states!

Troy,

From California.       Both times I had to explain to the clerk what it is. "Oh, OK, that will be $147 please."

 

I am likely one of the few list members who has registered a car both ways quoted above in California: I bought a VS almost 20 years ago, and Kirk used his registration company to get it registered as a 19__ VW.  I didn't know much about the registration process at that time, and, when he asked if I wanted him to register the car at no cost to me (except actual DMV costs), I jumped at the chance.

In 2013, I registered a new, still-unfinished Specialty Autosports replica coupe.  By that time, I was more familiar with the SB 100 registration process than the manager of the DMV office I visited in Capitola, CA.  There were some delays in the process, as I was the first person they encountered asking for this unique registration.  As a reminder, my car was, for DMV purposes, a new out-of-state build with zero miles, using SB 100 registration.  What could possibly go wrong, right?

I was initially refused, since the car wasn't finished and couldn't be inspected.  I gave the manager my contact number, told her that my research showed she was incorrect, and suggested that she contact Sacramento and get back to me.  Someone left a message on my phone later that day that I could return to the office and complete the process.  I did so.

Yes, it did take longer than a "normal" registration.  Each of us needs to understand what the law says, and make a decision on that law that we are comfortable with.  If you have any doubt about how clear the law is, read Cal. Vehicle Code Sec. 580, which states that a SPCN (special construction) is one that no longer resembles the car on which the VIN # is based.  Thus, if you put big fenders on a 63 VW, it's still recognizable as such.  Our replicas are no longer recognizable as VW's, and must be registered through the SB100 process.

We all make choices.  Mine are not always correct.  You do need to know, however, that registering your replica as a VW in California is illegal.  As a young kid, I didn't care whether school kept or not.  I am no longer a youngster, and I'm too old to earn it all again if I lost it in a lawsuit that Stan refers to above.  I am comfortable with the risk/reward ratio of driving a car that is legally registered.  YMMV.

Title, shmitle.    For me what counts is what my insurance company does if I stack the car up or some tourist exploring the Emerald Coast of Florida gets too enthralled with the scenery and smacks me.

I believe in working backwards from that eventuality to cover my financial keister. I don't want to give my insurer the slightest wiggle room in taking care of any issues.

If I have to register the car as a four wheeled motorcycle or a goat cart to accomplish that, fine with me.

Titler beware!

 

Stan Galat, '05 IM, 2276, Nowhere, USA posted:

Illinois is a SEMA state. Registering a tube frame car is very easy if you know who to talk to at the Secretary of State's office. Registering a pan-based car as a VW is illegal (just like it is in pretty much every other state). I'm unsure why this is a "BIG plus".

Marty, Joe, and me (and probably a dozen other silent guys on this website) have all done it the right way. Don't let unfounded fears of registration issues drive you away from a better product. In this state anyhow, the fears are completely unfounded. 

What part of this is confusing to you, Troy?

 

Well OK, maybe I do want some popcorn, after all.

There's the matter of the letter of the law and how the law is actually administered.

Here in CA, the speed limit on most freeways is 65. If you routinely do 80, sooner or later there will be flashing blue lights in your mirrors. But if you cruise at, say, 72 mph, you'll probably never be stopped, even though you are technically in violation.

The letter of the law vs. its administration.

In a related incident, I have been stopped in my Speedster for exceeding the legal limit by more than a substantial margin. The arresting CHP officer was enough of a car guy to tell me that, while following me, he could tell that my carbs were jetted a little on the rich side. (He was right.)

This car guy officer examined my registration and knew very well I wasn't driving a 1969 Volkswagen. He also knew I wasn't wearing a front license plate, as mandated by the state vehicle code. Neither of these matters concerned him. His focus was only on my doing 67 in a 45 zone.

The letter of the law vs. its administration.

And in yet another matter, before I got my VS (emphasis on 'before' here), I made it extremely clear to my insurance company what I was up to. I made sure they understood just what kind of car I was buying and were they SURE they would cover me?

Yes, they said, they got it, and my policy would not say 1969 Volkswagen or 1958 Porsche or even Special Construction Vehicle. For their legal purposes, the policy is written for a 'kit car'. I don't like that term in any context, but I'm pretty sure if I have a claim they won't be able to weasel out because the car isn't a 1969 VW.

Again, as in my previous post, I think it's crucial for the potential buyer to understand what the local laws are AND how that actually plays out in practice. If you can't talk to nearby Speedster owners, maybe look up the local Cobra club and find out from real people how they actually register and insure their real cars.

As a wise man once said, forewarned is forearmed.

 

Stan. I'm not.  I will admit THAT,  just like when you mistakenly thought he was considering an SAS, I missed that you were referring to Illinois and I had no idea where you lived.

I probably should have quoted this sentence "Don't let unfounded fears of registration issues drive you away from a better product." 

That doesn't change much, about anything I posted, except to clarify how it works in Illinois.

Art.   You didn't have California DMV issues because your car already had a California SB100.  That would not have been the case if you walked in with an out of state Special Construction title. That doesn't mean it couldn't get done, but there are a lot more hoops to jump through and in some cases, you may not be able to provide the documentation they require.

Or, you can buy a Miata, and not worry about anything. 

Except, of course, your image...

Troy,  I'd buy that except that I made reference to Illinois, and the fact that I live here (along with the original poster) not once, or twice, but three times in various posts.

So what's happens if you go SCV and are required to pass yearly emissions.  A dual carb'd 2110 VW engine isn't going to pass nor will a 1971 1600 cc engine.

I've always been amazed that a VW pan cut in half will weld marks a foot in front of the VIN (really a chassis #) doesn't land you in pokey - and then there are the unmarked or re-stamped engine blocks.

That's fine Stan, believe what you like.  By the way, he doesn't live in Illinois he lives in Indiana. 

SteveB posted:

Good Afternoon Members

I am investigating the purchase of a used 356 or a new build and really confused by all the postings.   I thought I wanted to use the Subaru drive chain,  but have reverted back to the 1915cc VW.  I reside 45 miles from Bremen and going to visit Beck next week.  They seem like the most expensive game in town.  I'm not considering the Specialty mid-engine car and really trying to figure out who has the best build and value.  A Beck Speedster fully optioned is close to 46K.   The Vintage Car seems like the best value,  but is it close to the original?  Would like input and possibly see a few cars in the Chicago area to help make a sound decision.

Thanks to all!

SJB

 So SteveB, still feeling up to buying a Speedster?

Haven't been deterred yet. Lots of information I'll know more tomorrow night.

Sent from my iPad

> On Jun 18, 2017, at 7:02 PM, SpeedsterOwners.com <**************> wrote:
>
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I didn't know you lived in Illinois Stan  

Troy Sloan posted:

By the way, he doesn't live in Illinois he lives in Indiana. 

So he does. In that case, Carey is a valuable and reliable resource regarding registration in Indiana. 

Hmmmmm?  I think I might have said something like that in an earlier post.   Oh look, here it is "That doesn't mean you should rule out buying a Beck, Carey can guide you through the process in your state."  

IaM-Ray posted:

I didn't know you lived in Illinois Stan  

He doesn't. It says right on his name thingy that he's from Nowhere, USA. I'm trying to find that on google maps but it's not coming up.

Rusty S posted:

IaM-Ray posted:

I didn't know you lived in Illinois Stan  

He doesn't. It says right on his name thingy that he's from Nowhere, USA. I'm trying to find that on google maps but it's not coming up.

I live in Nowhere, USA as well. As in NOWHERE to escape the heat!!!

112 in Bakersfield. It's kind of scary. We were thinking of moving to Arizona but with temps like this right here we're now thinkin' what the hell for? We can pay high air conditioning bills right here and we don't have to move a thing!

 

This is all a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, Robert.

They've hacked into our phones, making them display much higher numbers than the actual temperatures outside.

You troublemakers in California are always trying to make things appear much worse than they are.

Just relax and have a cup of covfefe.

 

 

Sacto Mitch posted:

 

This is all a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese, Robert.

They've hacked into our phones, making them display much higher numbers than the actual temperatures outside.

You troublemakers in California are always trying to make things appear much worse than they are.

Just relax and have a cup of covfefe.

 

 

KOMBUCHA ACAI SMOOTHIE with TUMERIC and B12

So..... did you make the trip to Bremen? If so how did it go.