Street Legal?

Hello there,

I have had my eyes on these gt40 replicas for awhile now. I have a few questions that im having trouble finding the answer to online. Im just wondering how street legal these cars are? I would like to own one for a daily driver pretty much. How do these cars fall into the emissions inspection? Do they have to have smog pumps and such? Where can i find information about this at? Do you have to have safty features on replicas (airbags and such)?

Right now im living down here in Texas. However im fixing to be graduating from aircraft mechanic tech school and there is no telling what state that im going to live in.

I hate to ask this many questions but I'm not sure where else to find this info at except from people that own these cars.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Sam

 

[Ian K]

Sam,

It all depends on the state you live in. CA, AZ, NY, NC,
and others have recent bills that allow a small number of
vehicles to be registered per year and be smog exempt.
However, you might run into problems with safety regulations.
Some states, it probably doesn't matter at all.
Others, you might find it to be a very difficult
and heartbreaking process.

Others on this board have more experience in this arena
since they have gone through the process (alas, I am not
an owner -- yet).

If you search the forum, you'll find some topics about
registration and emissions.

Ian

 

[Steve Toner]

I doubt you can get insurance for use as a daily driver. The cars are not really practical in any sense anyway (e.g., harsh ride, no cargo capacity, you can't even lock the doors on most replicas), and I don't think you really want to try to use one as a daily driver.

Some states base emissions requirements on the year of the engine block. The internals can be changed, but you have to find a pre-smog block.

Ah, airbags. I believe that technically, yes, you are required to have airbags. The car is considered a <year of completion> model, and theoretically needs to meet safety requirements for that model year. However, I think that's a federal rule and most states don't enforce it when you go to register the car and instead only require it to have the safety equipment for the year that it replicates (plus seatbelts, if pre-seatbelt requirements?). I suspect if enough people tried to use these things as daily drivers there'd be a crackdown though...

 

Hi Guys,
Try this in your state. If your gt-40 has a vin # with the right number of caracters as a 1966 or so year you can register it as a 1966 untitled car and get plates and get collector car insurance. You also need to have a bill of sale with the vin # on it. Also use your imagination on what make car it needs to be. And don't forget it needs to be a 2 door coupe.
Mini

 

[Rick Merz]

I live in Virginia and I had no trouble getting the car titled and insured by State Farm for stated value ($100,000 based on turn key cost), with a 7500 mi/year limit, only condition was that the car be stored in a locked garage, all for $940/year, I can drive it anywhere as long as I do not exceed 7,500mi/year. Oh... no insurance when it is on the track! I don't know why though... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif People please enjoy these cars!!! I have never had a problem parking and leaving it anywhere, if anything people will go out of their way to avoid accidently hitting a GT40 with their car door and there is always someone watching it for you while you are shopping or having lunch. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

Rick,

If you used up your 7500 miles ($940/year), would the insurance company let you (at that moment) pay another $940 and just start another year? It seems like that would be more business for them and would allow you to drive year round. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Have fun!

John

 

[Rick Merz]

No, this is the limit set by them because the policy is for "limited use". I will add that I use my car a lot and I have yet to exceed 5,000mi in a year with 3,000mi/yr or less being typical. I only drive my car on sunny days with the only exception of rainy days at the track. If I pay several hundred dollars you can bet that I am going to be on the track getting my moneys worth. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

Guys,
I forgot one other thing. If your car is registered as a 1966 there are on emission issues. Also you can get replacement insurance with an agreed value policy. Does State Farm offer this?
Mini

 

[Rick Merz]

Yes, That is the type of policy that I have. BTW my car is registered as a 1965 Ford GT40. When I went to register it the lady behind the counter could not understand that it was a replica of a 1965 Ford GT40 so she registered it as the real thing even though I had to show her the bill of sale from GTD. Oh well it should help me if I move to a state with stricter emission laws.

 

Alright, thanks for the info guys.

I will ask around town and see if i can find some more info on state laws about this

 

[Jim Rosenthal]

This thread isn't strictly about insurance, but this may be helpful...my classic and special interest cars are insured with Hagerty. They have been very good to work with, although there are some things they DON'T insure. They are very accessible and even fun to talk to. I recommend them highly.