Newbie thinking about taking the Spyder plunge

Have owned 99 air-cooled Vintage Spyder and 03 Subaru Vintage Spyder.  You need to talk with Greg Leach at Vintage.  Greg also sells cars through Seduction Motors out of Arizona.  Greg is in the LA area.  If you want to talk specifics PM me.  I currnetly own a magnificent Intermeccanica but do miss the Spyders.

There a number of Spyders in the Bay Area.  I'm in the east Bay & have an older Beck; there's a variety in the South Bay, including a new Vintage in Morgan Hill.  I'd be happy to show you mine once it's back from its refresh.

Thank you for the replies.  I am in LA next week and may stop by Vintage if I have time to meet Greg.  

 

RCosta do you know if anyone in the bay area is interested in selling?  If so please let me know.  Also if you could let me know when your Spyder is back I would love to come see it.

 

Thanks Again!

Don't know of any for sale at this time.  Will PM you when I've got the car back.

You can PM Daniel, username: Seduction Motorsports. He builds turnkey cars for Greg at Vintage Spyders. I'm his secretary and he's actually prototyping a new Spyder 550 Fuel Cell as we speak.

Here is a link to the website where you can find engine packages and photos, there are also some other options available that aren't listed on the website. I'll also attach a link to the Facebook page where you view some more photos.

 

http://www.SeductionMotorsports.com/

 

https://www.facebook.com/SeductionMotorsports

 

Daniel will drop a line when he gets back into the office.

We have a used Beck Spyder going through the plant for a total refresh currently. It is being gone through from stem to stern and is also receiving 2014 wiring and switch update as well as an all new interior. 2165cc CB motor with new 4:2:1 exhaust and  Rancho trans. Handful of tasteful period correct options. It will be ready for sale in just a few weeks.
PLUS it is already SB100 smog exempt for CA and CA titled.

Obviously you are doing your homework, and regardless of what builder you choose, pay CLOSE attention to CA registration and rules as they are now VERY different from most states. New builds have a specific build/purchase path for CA, and used cars built as a turn key for another state (and first registered in another state) may not qualify to be registered in CA.

Also check out Beverly Hills Motorcars. Speak with the owner, Carl Wong, he is a great guy to deal with and keeps a large inventory of used replicas from various manufacturers.

Finally, feel free to shoot me an e-mail or PM and I can put you in touch with Beck owners in CA, both old and new.

Daniel, how do you legally register a newly built car in California as a 1957 vehicle? Do you have a stockpile of VIN #s that you stick on the car? Certainly you must be referring to an SB-100?

Yes, we can provide a 1955 title as well, and that is exactly what the state of Indiana wants us to do, so it is 100% legal for Indiana, as well as the majority of the other states.  I know AZ is one that does this as well, as indicated by Daniel above. I WILL NOT do this for CA clients because the proper (and CA legal) way to go about it is completely different and has VERY specific requirements that cannot possibly be met via the method described above.

 

Will other methods work? Sure they will.  Will you get in trouble for doing it wrong? Possibly but who knows.  I'd rather just do it the right way and have no worries down the line... even if it is way more convoluted and just a real headache to do right.

We register all vehicles in Arizona. Transfer the title for you depending on which state you live in. It's originally titled as a 1955 Special Construction here in AZ, issue it a brand new VIN plate from the Arizona DMV since all our chassis are tubular construction, never being on a VW pan of any sort. When transferred to purchaser in CA, registration/title is then moved over as a 1955 making it smog exempt. In no way whatsoever will we title it as anything else other than a 1955 550 Spyder Spec Con. With this, you can still get collector's car insurance... premiums are extremely cheap.

 

-Daniel

Not sure what you are referring to here... however according to the State of Arizona, this is the ONLY correct way to go about it for our builds. Every state is different. Get in trouble? No. Again, we go by the book here in Arizona. So... again, this is the RIGHT way to register them according to AZ DMV 2014. If you want to go about trying to register your own car, sure we will not issue a VIN for you... not sure why you would want to go that route however.

Daniel, the method you suggest for registering in California is illegal. Period.

Daniel,

 

Actually, Terry is correct, your process may be fine for AZ but is illegal for CA.  Many years ago we did the same thing you are, just with IN titles and assigned IN VIN instead of AZ titles/VIN. Same concept, different state.  It was perfectly legal in IN (exactly how they wanted it done) but DOES NOT comply with CA law.

 

Your comment:

 If you want to go about trying to register your own car, sure we will not issue a VIN for you

This shows that you absolutely DO NOT understand CA rules on special construction vehicles, period.

 

I am not saying your method won't work, especially since you have a guy in CA who has a beaten path to make it work, but that doesn't make it right or legal, and it really does have the potential for disaster/revoked registration/flagged VIN.

 

No sense in dragging this out, and I am not trying to give you a hard time, nor do I think you are intentionally misleading clients, but you are misinformed in this case.

 

We completely understand how the laws work in California when it comes time to register a special construction build in California.

 

For those who DO NOT understand CA laws, here is a simple guide... pulled from the BAR CA GOV:

 

http://www.bar.ca.gov/01_Consu.../SPCN_Fact_Sheet.pdf

 

No misleading clients whatsoever in our case. Now, Canada, thats a complete different story.

Just FYI: I called Daniel and we spoke about this thread, my experiences in CA, as well as his experiences in CA. 

In the end, the BAR people that I deal with have told me a very specific path that they consider "correct" and I will continue to follow that, no matter how much of a PITA it is compared to the other 47 states... (yes I know there are 49 others, but NJ and PA piss me off too)

 

BTW Daniel was great to speak with and he certainly seems to have the right attitude for this industry.

Hi Carey,

 

Daniel may have the right attitude, but he is, probably unintentionally, putting out incorrect information.  He says that he can supply a 1955 title on his Spyder replica.  What he should be saying is that he can supply a 1955 Special Construction title from AZ.  This, as you know, is vastly different than a "built in 1955" title.  An Arizona 1955 Special Construction title would not entitle the new owner to register the car as a 1955 automobile in California.  Rather, the car will be registered as SPCNS (Special Construction), with the year as "Year First Sold", which complies with YOM (Year of Manufacture).  In my case, I registered my 1957 Porsche coupe replica with CA DMV as a 2012 SPCNS.

 

All of us are doing their best to stay current with the changing regulations in the state in which we live.  I know quite a bit about CA SB100 regs, since I needed to learn them to register my replica.  I'm sure Daniel is trying as hard as the rest of us, but he harms himself by either not knowing the law, or being deliberately obtuse.  The clear impression I got from his e-mails is that he would not only provide a 1955 title, but would help a CA buyer to register the car as a 1955 car, all seemingly legal in his opinion.  This clearly flies in the face of logic, since the car was not built in 1955, but was built in about 2013.  It is the impression of sleight-of-hand that doesn't sit well with me.  Good on ya' for following up.  None of us has all the answers, but it's threads like this that help bring us all up to speed.    

 

Danile, it is important to remember the sequence of the following: 1) Ready, 2) Aim, 3) Fire.  Reversing numbers 2 & 3 can have disastruous results. 

 

Great speaking with you as well Carey, I appreciate your phone call. I know how busy we can get, it's always great to speak/learn from other builders in the industry.

 

Our main goal is to get clients on the road with their new Spyder/Speedsters. If we did not care, then we would be losing out to a vast majority of sales in the state of CA. So regardless to what some may think... we're here to help you get your car on the road, with a VIN, with a title.

 

 

Jim,

 

I went through all our companies emails and saw nothing regarding any emails to/from you. Unless you were going by James, or another name in your emails. So not too sure when we spoke or where your impression came from.

 

I did however post up the CA BAR LAWS in an earlier post a few above, therefore I can advise you I do know the CA registration laws, and am no way offended by you implying I am "obtuse", again your words, not mine.

 

 

Here is the bottom line. In Arizona, yes the car is viewed as 1955 Replica. Does not get more simple than that. We get a LEVEL II Inspection done, VIN plaque issued, registration issued, title/plates/tabs, all at once, regardless Jim if you think I am "obtuse", that is the process... about as blunt as it gets.

 

I'll leave it at this. Do your homework before registering in other states. If you want advice and help on future purchases/registration. You're more than welcome to give me a call. Again, I did a search through our email data base and saw nothing with Jim Kelly in there so my apologies if somehow it was overlooked. We typically follow up within 5-10 hours via email.

 

-Daniel

 

 

 

Well, Daniel, I'm sure you're still trying, but you don't seem to be making any progress towards clarity.  You and I have never communicated, either by phone or e-mail.  I never stated nor intimated that we had.  When I quoted "your e-mails", I was quoting this thread.  Just scroll up and you will see your words: "Yes, we can provide a 1955 title as well". 

 

Sorry to disappoint, but you can't provide a legal 1955 title.  No one can, since your car wasn't built in 1955.  Perhaps you aren't obtuse, just need more coffee to get going today. I'm sure you mean well, but you seem to keep digging a bigger hole.

Jim,

No disappointment here. Some folks such as yourself always seem to throw in banter, uneducated information,ignorant comments, whatever you may call it. Keep patting yourself on the back. Information is supplied here. I am informing you as much as you feel the need to argue, car is 1955 on an AZ title. Heck, you even get nice copper Historic Vehicle license plates upon registration. End of discussion. Can't argue stupid my friend.

-Yours truly, Mr. Obtuse.

OK, Daniel, you win.  And you're in the car business, right? I would suggest to any potential buyers of your replicas that they study the laws of their state before buying any of your "1955" vehicles.  You may want to Google Boyd Coddington to see how the Calfornia AG's Office handles false registration. 

Just to clarify a few things in regards to California Registration and SB100, The 500 cars a year SB 100 exemption is only for the "Home Built" users, basically you CAN NOT get a SB100 legally if you did not assemble the car yourself meaning from a kit to a complete vehicle. I am not saying it has not been done but if the Bar referee becomes aware your car was a complete build for you by xyz he or she will kick back your Sb100. I know this from personal experiance.

Arizona Titles these cars as "1955 or 1956" Porsche Spcn (special Construction in case you didnt know what SPCN was) every state is different on how "they " register a Kit car. What one state may allow another may not.

VSpyder;

 

What about the second or third owner of a SB100/SPCN car, they certainly had nothing to do with the build, how does Calif. handle those folks? 

 

Off to the store to get some Guiness.  Cheers all.

 

Thanks, Art

Mmmm Guiness.... wait! It's Saint Paddy's Day! Almost forgot!

Greg,

That is exactly what I was trying to convey, and exactly what I explained to Daniel on the phone. If anyone but the end user installs the engine or transmission (transaxle) CA doesn't want it registered there. This includes used cars first registered outside of CA.
Our process for CA clients is COMPLETELY different than any other state for this very reason.

SB100 exemption stays with the car for life.

yes sb100 stays with the car for the life of the vehicle and is tranferable to the new owners.

 

Greg 

I can confirm this.  I lived in DMV purgatory for 4 months last year because of this.  Carey stayed with me all the way and provided all the help I needed.  Super kudos to Carey for his excellent customer service, all the while taking care of others.  Many thanks again Carey