So I've inherited an 12A powered, FB from a friend that moved away. Its a runner, but the battery is dead so it's a "sleeper" at the moment. Anyway, I don't have any paperwork for the car... I'm not even sure if the car will pass smog, but everything is stock at least... but assuming it does: How hard will it be to get it registered/titled?

 

Whats the expiration date on the tags? Does it even have a license plate. U could be looking at back fees due and if it was truely your friends car, you have to apply for a dup title by the owner of record, or u may work it out with the dmv, pay back taxes, and take ownership by abandonment. It's been a while but I've done this before. Got pictures?

 

Good questions. There is no license plate. My friend bought it off a guy, and apparently it was supposed to be a race car, so he didn't place a high priority on such matters as "paperwork." The car is supposedly from out of state. I'll gladly pay back taxes/fees or whatever. I have no idea how to approach this with the DMV.

The car is bone stock and looks like every other stock SA FB out there. Nothing fancy or special. It's dirty because it's been outside since before the fires.

 

out of state...sounds like a parts cars now. Any number of things could be up with this fb. I would start with getting a KSR ($5) from the DMV(they'll use the VIN), that'll show you who owns it, where it's from, if its stolen etc... and go from there. There are many fb's that could use the limbs off that one, if you choose too. Or better yet, buy a legal fb that needs most of the parts from that one and start swapping. Goodluck!

 

I Think you can fix this, first get the VIN number and check to see if it is in the system, ie: stolen or registration, once you know it is NOT in the system you set a path to get it in.....i have done a few of these with success in San Francisco on pre smog cars(Healy Sprite & Ginetta, it is all a matter of filing a DMV provided form "statement of fact"......., this is where you state to the DMV how you got the car and that you have no paperwork, etc, be careful what you say, put that the car was stored at xxx location in a garage (so it was off the street and didnt require registration) and a few other things, careful not to say too much or the wrong things.......... you tell them you want to register it as "non operational title" only, you will be required to get the VIN number verified by a police officer or DMV official, (here it helps to know one so you dont have to move the car unregistered) once you get this clear title it is a matter of a smog check and a fee to get it on the street again.....
PM me for more details, but first get the VIN run so you know what you are dealing with

 

I did a carfax check and it looks good to go. It looks like the car was originally an out of state car, brought into California about four years ago.

The "Statement of Fact" form is good advice, too. Thanks!

 

Uh oh. Found out some more info on the car. I did a VIN check and nothing bad showed up, so that's good. But then I get a Haynes manual and I read about a sub-zero start-assist thing. I think, "Haha, poor saps in the cold, they need start-assist."

I go to charge my battery this morning, and what do I see? FREAKIN SUB-ZERO START-ASSIST!@# That means my car is from out of state.


Oops. Forgot to add that I had originally thought this was a CA car that the first owner took out of state. Bleh. I didn't know it was an out-of-state car to begin with.

 

almost anything can be regisatrd... as long as it's legal

All the DMV wants is money

ALWAYS BE NICE

any paperwork you may have on it

you will defiantly need a SOF

Bill of sale if you can get it

apparently new California law requires all registered vehicles to have minimum insurance coverage... the DMV may hand the sticker to you over the counter even if you don't have coverage... BUT THEY WILL SEND YOU A LETTER IN THE MAIL A MONTH LATER REVOKING YOUR REGISTRATION... I suggest a "non op" if you don't plan on driving it


or it might be easier and cheaper to lien sale it

 

this is an IFFY situation and there is no use spending more than what the car is worth. get rid of it.

 

or just give it to wacky

 

 

BLAH BLAH BLAH just go to the DMV with the vin numbers and you will find out the truth.!

 

Word. Thanks for the help, guys! I'm probably not getting rid of the car. If I can't get it registered, I'm prepping it for racing. But still, I got the car for basically free. I figure I don't want to spend more than a grand getting it safe and reliable. I'll be pretty happy either way it goes.

I drove it around illegally this weekend, mainly around my neighborhood. It's freakin fun. Although, the transition from regular driving to "acceleration mode" seems a little abrupt. I'm sure the car just needs to be run in, and all the filters and fluids need to be replaced.