Alan...does that mean you cannot register an RX7 with a veilside kit?....911 with a 935 bodykit....not much left of the original look of either of those...of even more so a Fiero with a Lambo body...
Why would you need to re-register
Dunno. As a practical matter maybe you don't. But if you do need to, didn't, and got caught, you would be made
extremely unhappy I think.
The specific language I'm basing that assertion on is the following from
http://dmv.ca.gov/vr/spcnsreg.htm
"A specially constructed vehicle (SPCNS)
does not include a vehicle that has been repaired or restored to its original design by replacing parts or a vehicle modified from its original design.
Example: A Volkswagen "Beetle" with modified fenders, engine compartment lid, and front end, but still recognizable as a Volkswagen is not considered a specially constructed vehicle."
It's the "still recognizable as...." language that I'm basing my assertion on. I would think the GTA falls into a grey area between "modified from its original desing" (which it clearly is) and "reconizable as a Talon" which I'm pretty sure it isn't. But maybe if you show whatever authority a photo of a Talon roofline and doors you will get by.
Anyway, the beauty of this as Roger points out is that since if it isn't recognizable as a manufactured car it is treated under SB100 as a 1960 model year, which means you can do whatever you want with the engine; there are no emission requirements.
But if you are "recognizable" you have to run a visually-verified 1996 (or whatever) induction and exhaust system with all the emission control parts present
and you have to meet the emission measurements for that year in a semi-annual test. And what's the fun in that?
. However, the SB100 route doesn't look that bad, and gets you a smog exemption (non-replica body allows you to claim 1960 as the smog year!). It's also the only economical (i.e. non-CARB certified parts) way of doing CA-legal engine modifications that I know of.
