If I figure out a way, we are going.

 

Well, it would seem that these people are indeed on the up and up, however the cars are not street legal, having not been passed by the DOT etc... This presents the all too familiar problems of tagging and insuring them. There are a few methods that are shall we say "grey", but nothing sunstantial to report.

They are going to send me some info for the magazine so perhaps I will know more then. While in California for the JGTC I am planning on stopping by and checking them out, grabbing some pics etc...

 

why not legal? emissions? power? RHD? or all. (not too familiar with the legal reasons of them not being street legal)

 

Number one reason- Government BS.

 

Why not legal?

Reason #1: Imported under "Off-Road" use only importation. Any vehicle that is imported as "OFF-ROAD USE ONLY" can NOT be changed to a ON-ROAD USE vehicle, without first being exported and re-imported by a RI and ICI.

Reason #2: Has not passed NHSTA crash testing, safety upgrades, and has not been petitioned on the federal register.

Reason #3: DOES NOT comply with OBD2 regulations for EPA. Currently, this is why the R34 is no longer sold in the USA.

Reason #4: RHD must NOW be crash tested, and are not considered "Comparable" to similar models due to different crash dynamics

Reason #5: Because it just isn't.

Get it if you want, but driving it on the roads is a violation of federal law (FELONY) and if you are ever in an accident, insurance will decline coverages.

There is NO LOOPHOLE for some "Porsche". They were all petitioned, and converted according to the letter of the law.

Charles

 

Well put. That about encompasses all the details I didnt think I needed to go into.

 

Don't get me wrong...I would buy a S15 in a heartbeat if they were legal.

 

What is stopping someone from welding up a frame to base the car around and registering it as a "home built" vehicle. Kit car builders can get their stuff drivable so there has to be a way to get tags and insurance legally. Buy a body, notch it and weld in some rails, drop in a motor, and call it a Kit. As far as I know you just need a bill of sale for the parts, but I could be wrong. There is probably a mileage restriction but I don’t think that’s too big of an issue. Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm ignorant to the whole legalization thing.

 

There are restrictions here as well....not as easy as it sounds (actually impossible).

what makes matters worse is the fact that most states (including Florida) will title and register a car like the S15....but that doesn't make it leagal (Federal vs State issues)

 

government BS is teh obvious

well at least i was right on what i thought were the reasons
i didnt know the specifics tho.

question though, if florida will register it, how can they?
ok, if insurance companies wont cover it, how can it be registered? they wont allow you to register a car without proper insurance paperwork beforehand.
honestly, i think they should have to conform to at least a certain emissions level, and crash test is stupid...they should take nissans testing and compare it to other testings of similar cars here and go from that. they should allow it to be legal, and let the insurance companies have a field day (that way it keeps the dumbasses deterred from wanting to do it so fast and wreck a gorgeous car)