Registration Title Question
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Registration Title Question
Posted: September 08 2005 08:33 PM
 
Bob Gardner (aka FastCo44) [ View ] [ bob.gardner@lmco.com ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Sunnyvale, California
(408) 733-0776
 

I am seriously looking at building a '34 coupe street rod. The only thing holding me back from starting the project is the question of "How to get it registered?" If I go the 1-800-streetrod route (my current plan), the vehicle doesn't have a VIN or any other type of documentation. I have been told by other street rodders that you can buy a title for pretty much any year of car...just look at the ads in the back of the magizines. After searching some I think this is an 'urban myth'. But I could be wrong.



California allows 500 speciality (kit cars) to be registered each year under a special certificate. But these are passed out first come first serve and are generally gone in the first few days. And I am not real sure if there are any restricitions or impacts on resale.



Buying someone's finished rod is another avenue. But that sort of defetes the purpose of the project...the building. This vehicle title area is one that reminds me of the old 'grey' martket sport car scene. What is the best way to get past this problem?

 
 
Comments
 
Posted by DavyJ  -  09/07/2005 06:35 PM
Call the guy with the flowered shirt........didn't he get charged with false titles? If you can find one get a parts donor car of the same year as you wish to build in glass.
Still driving the wife's car, cause I am slow. [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Niagara Falls, Canada Charter Member since February 2005
 
Posted by FastCo44  -  09/07/2005 06:48 PM

The really wants him to be classified as a manufacturer like GM or Ford. More money and more limitations. The state doesn't seem to have a problem with individuals building for themselves...just companies building turn key cars for sale. Come to think about it isn't that what the big three do?
FastCo44 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Sunnyvale, California
 
Posted by team5150  -  09/07/2005 07:59 PM
I was in the same situation as you are. I live in So Cal. I really wanted to build my own streetrod but CA is not a friendly place to do that. I looked into all of the regulations but gave up when they told me I would have to go to a DMV referee station to get the manufacturers documentation turned into a title. They don't help you - they are there to make your life a living hell. It is a catch 22 situation - you have to have the rod done enought to get it there but if it isn't "accepted" your screwed ! The rules say you have to have the same smog equipment as is required for the year motor you have in the vehicle BUT if you made the vehicle - it is a new vehicle and requires all the current smog equipment. Do you see a pattern here ?


I was lucky and found a really nice 39 Ford that was a glass body but on an original 39 frame. I registered it at AAA instead of the DMV. Things went a lot smoother. If you buy a title I don't know how you would convince anyone that the new frame is 61 years old.



I hate to say it but you are better off buying a finished or simi finished car and bringing it in to CA. Just make real sure all your numbers match or they will go after you like a rabid dog.
team5150 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Corona, California
 
Posted by Willys33  -  09/08/2005 08:01 AM

The street rod industry is very big and I hear they (body and frame builders) are moving to have their products accepted as the year they represent. To test this out you may want to call Downs, Outlaw or ??? and ask them. Years ago I build a Speedway LoBoy and took the bill or origin to the DMV and it was registered as the current year (about '95 or so). Next think I know I got a letter from the state of Fla explaining the Lemon Law on new vehicles. Thought maybe as the buyer I could sue the builder (me) and get my money back.
Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico
 
Posted by orphans2  -  09/08/2005 08:35 AM
I have to jump back in here on this one again. I live in PA and PA is not the street rodders best friend either, although they have begun to relax some of the stupid laws. But titling is still a problem, especially if you have a car with no title or no s/n. I purchased an all steel rod with a title, but later found out it had no s/n. None on the body nor on the frame (original frame modified for MII). It took me several attempts, certifications, notarizations and 3 months to get them to issue a new VIN plate, and that was under the old system or a 3 page title request. The new rules for a reconstruction vehicle (street rod) require a 21 page title request form with explanations, documentation, bills and receipts, and step by step photos of the build. Not sure I would want to build here, might be enjoyable up to having to take it to the DMV. If you really want to do it in CA, just do it. Worst can happen is that you loose your investment and have to sell to an out of state buyer in a more title friendly state.
orphans2 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Stewartstown, Pennsylvannia Charter Member since November 2001
 
Posted by FastCo44  -  09/08/2005 08:33 PM

Thanks for all the help. I have decided to start my street rod project. I am going to go down the 1-800 STREETROD route. Now I have to decide between Outlaw, Redneck, or one of the other manufacturers.
FastCo44 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Sunnyvale, California
 
Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  09/07/2005 11:20 PM
Check out what it takes to transfer an out of state Street Rod to CA, You can get titles for other states quite easy, Then you can just transfer it to CA
Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004
 
Posted by team5150  -  09/08/2005 12:06 PM
A funny side note to this discussion - when I got my car to CA I looked for the body # (no VIN in 39) on the chassis. The places where they put them in 39 were the rear drivers side on the top of the frame at the top of the wheel arch and just above the A arm on the drivers side. Well what I found was that when the car was built they welded in a MII front end and it was directly over the numbers so I couldn't see them. It looked like I was going to be faced with having to cut a hole in the body where it was stamped in the rear so the DMV guy could see it. I called the guy who built the car and he said they had stamped the numbers on the X frame because he knew they had covered the original ones on the front of the frame. He told me where it was located and when I looked sure enough it was there - just where the welder attached the hanger bracket for the new exhaust I just put on the day before wiping out 4 of the numbers !!! DOH !!!


I ordered an orginal looking Ford body number plate with the numbers reverse stamped on it with the asteriks at each end and I attached it to the door jamb. When I took it to AAA the lady was so impressed with the car all she wanted to do was sit in in and have another clerk take a picture of her !! She wouldn't have cared if I had the tag attached to my forehead !
team5150 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Corona, California
 
Posted by blackie32  -  09/08/2005 12:06 PM
It's Sept. already, Why not try the first 500 cars thing first? I know a guy in Redding, CA that was 3 days late and still got one.
blackie32 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Lewiston, California
 
Posted by orphans2  -  09/07/2005 03:58 PM
From what I have heard about California, I would recommend moving to another state. Might be the simplest way.
orphans2 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Stewartstown, Pennsylvannia Charter Member since November 2001
 
Posted by BigAlBre  -  09/07/2005 07:48 PM
I'm one of those people that bought a title for my car (out of the back of street rodder magazine) and everything worked out fine... usually the vin number on the title has to match a vin number stamped in the frame, drivers side just in front of the firewall... a policeman comes out and verifies that the number on the frame matched the number on the title (you pick up the form at the DMV) and signs off on it... you take this to the DMV along with the title and a new title is issued...PS this was quite a few years ago that I registered my car so the process may have changed... call the DMV and ask them... good luck...
Big Al sittin back pickin & grinning in paradise. [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Saint Petersburg Beach, Florida Charter Member since June 1999
 
Posted by 1carguy  -  09/07/2005 11:31 PM
I replied to this question on a different forum and got blasted for saying that one could buy an old title, imprint their car with the VIN on the title, and register and title it as an old car. I didn't invent this, it's been going on for years. Probably more than half of the 30's vintage cars running around aren't authentic cars and are titled as such because they bought old titles or it came from out of state. Ask any guy with a glass '32 on a TCI chassis how it's registered and he'll probably tell you it's titled as a 1932. It seemed to be a routine practice up until recently. I always thought that it couldn't possibly be legit... all you'd have to do to re-title a stolen car would be buy a new "old" title. Something seems wrong about that and Ca and other states are taking a harder look at home or pro built newly constructed cars. I've heard horror stories about state officials actually confiscating cars because of title discrepancies. I guess if you can't qualify for one of the 500 "special construction" titles you should take Orphans2 advice....move out of Ca.
1carguy [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Pleasanton, California
 
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