Ariel Atom + Texas DMV no bueno

Yea for the Christian conservative republicans running the Texas state house! Hip hip hoorey! Go for it Gov Abbet! At least in Texas you can carry a gun!

 

Any clue as to what the state's issue is?

 

Gosh its sad to see whats happening to Texas,,, Lived there 20 years and love it.

Soon you will be like us up here in Colorado, ran over by Californians and restrictions..

 

That sucks to hear. Move to Florida...no one here cares as long as you pay the tax and title fees. Not uncommon to see Ariel atom like cars or obvious illegal imports from Japan that weren't converted to epa/dot specs running around. There's even an Indy car converted to road use.

 

That is the Florida I know and love. When I was in college there, they had a tourism slogan "Florida, The Rules are Different Here." Being smart alecks, we'd invariably append "There are No Rules Here!"
T

 

People leave one state and move to another to ruin.

 

There are street legal VW dune buggy rails running around.
Even considered getting one because the fun vs dollar ratio is out of this world.
Are these affected ?

 

I wouldn't say "Californians," I'd say progressive liberals. Don't let your politicians do what they've done to CA. Fight back, before it's too late like us.

 

I have my Ariel Atom registered in Florida. Florida did require an inspection of the car. Since their are so many in the State 3 cars at the time, they gave me a plate.

Texas may have a requirement for the car to be registered. There was an exhaust plus an emergency brake requirement.

I would call The Atom factory and they can tell what you need. a lot of these extras are optional. Your car may not have these. I am sure they will help you. They do not want to lose Texas for sales. You can most likely buy the kit to make yours legal.

As a side bar these cars are made with an MDO not a Vin number. MDO means "manufactures direct order" so the state has to issue a Vin.

Good luck

Lee

 

agreed.

It happens all over the country. Its almost as if people from the other states leave their home state because of the bureaucracy.... and then they implement it again in their new state. Drives me nuts.

It happens alot here in Arizona... some of the nut jobs from California migrate to Arizona and then ruin things.

 

As a scientist, I know a lot about atoms, but I know next to nothing about Ariel Atoms.
Interesting design. Seems there is a dealer up the road a piece (ca. 150 miles) from Dallas in Wichita Falls.

So, do the rules change if you build the car yourself versus having it come from the dealer pre-built, in terms of it being street legal?

T

 

Last week I received a fabulous letter in the mail from the Department of Public Safety asking me kindly (or well demanding me) to mail them my title, license plates, and registrations stickers to my Ariel Atom.

Note : Location - Texas.

I purchased this little guy to putter around town in and run some errands or head to lunch in on occasion. Not as a track toy. Has anyone here any experience registering a vehicle out of state to get around staunch regulations in their home state?

Apparently some Texan oil tycoons son was just killed in his Ariel Atom in SoCal which has led to this highly disappointing outcome. My condolences to the family however not the correct fix to an emotional grievance.


Worst case scenario... Anyone looking for an Ariel? Ariel Atom 2 245HP Variant 2006 import titled in 2007 for the first time.

 

Was posted back in February too.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/general-automotive-discussion/479421-ariel-atom-texas-dmv-no-bueno.html

Can't believe the currently registered ones aren't being "grandfathered" under the law.
.

 

Any particular reason that they are citing the removal of the vehicle from the street?

 

To the above poster thank you for the link!

As far as your question. It states the plates were never intended to be issued and that the vehicle is a hazard to other drivers...

I wouldn't think a 1,100 pound car 36 inches off the car is going to do much to another vehicle's inhabitants! Then again I do like doing some pretty stupid stuff in parking lots on occasion

 

Ariel Atom is a Sherman tank compared to a crotch rocket.
Are those illegal now too ?

You know.. safety being the highest priority and all.

 

My reason for asking is that I am a PA State Inspection mechanic. I hold all the licenses here in the state including a Reconstruction/Special vehicle license. My point to this is that federal law determines what can or cannot be allowed on US Highways. If the state of Texas has a special vehicle provision in the rules (and I believe it does) you may need to see a Texas State inspection mechanic and have the vehicle certified before the re issuing of tags and title. Since salvage vehicles are permitted on TX highways after complying with the reconstruction laws, you may find the same provision for your vehicle. I would reccomend you check with the TX Dept of Public Safety and speak with them. It simply may mean a special vehicle title and a inspection to verify the vehicle meets safety standards.

http://www.dps.texas.gov/rsd/vi/index.htm

 

I fail to understand how the state of Texas can say no to the Ariel Atom however motorcycles are perfectly acceptable. I love Big Brother in all aspects of my life.

 

Ariel Atom's are awesome I'd want one if I could drive it on the street in Canada.

 

Why not get it registered as a firearm. Texans love firearms!

 

lol

This is quotable!

 

Can you still build a kit car in TX, like a Factory Five? If so can you "rebuild" an Ariel?

 

Is this not a taking of property without compensation? WTF?