Vince you have lived in the socialist state of Cali too long hahaha. Couldn't resist sorry, anyway there are a lot of states that don't have vehicle safety inspections or smog inspections. The only thing they worry about is whether or not the serial number is clean ie; not hot or that someone may have a lien on the car. Another thing to remember is that the '97 & '98 factory 355CHs that came into the US came here legally, maybe on a bill of sale, but still they are here legally and do not appear on anyones radar screen as a problem vs. cars that were not "let in" by the EPA or DOT.
Listen folks, I got the message straight from "Old Guy." In case you missed the memo, he ran the Challenge back in the day. The only Challenge cars that are street legal are the 348CHs that were never raced. Period. End of statement. Quit dreaming. A 355 Challenge car is a race car. Why would you ever want to drive one of these cars on the streets? Dale
I do and its great. although with some modifications to the springs, ride height and alignment. It only gets used on back country roads and only 2000 or so miles /yr but its great altho definitely not for the faint of heart, hahahaha
No creature conforts here, I was told it was their Sebring setup. Drove to Indy and back, from DC to Watkins Glen the long way round, now I plan to drive to Toronto for the 08 national meet-from SC. Why-because I'm hard core. I drove a drag boat on the lake for years, and I suppose that did not damage my ears enough...anyone up for the drive to Toronto?
Street legal here in Australia. Great to drive on the roads, think of it as a 355 gokart with big brakes and firmer suspension and mods to enhance durability ( like oil coolers, brake cooling ducts etc). There's not a lot in a 355C that detracts from the streetability (only roll cage & seats, but they are easily removed.) M
LOL at least someone understands the fun of a CH all the racket and noise/music, what could be better? That Toronto trip would be great fun.
Thanks Vern. I was told that the only FACTORY cars were produced in 94/95 and that subsequent years were customer conversions using the CH package. I still do not understand how a 97 production model can be street legal running an OBD I system. If the car came into the US this way, it could only be cleared by EPA/DOT under the exclusion for "racing only", which legally the car would have to be recertified according to DOT and EPA rules in effect according to year of production. So I guess the Factory was still building CH cars in 97 and putting in the early 2.7 OBDII engines?? When did Factory quit making the CH??
Okay, now I remember. Be careful, my friend. You probably will not have a problem getting into Canada, but coming back may be another story. If you do not have absolutely bullet proof paper work, you may be in for a long day or even weeks. Dale
Actually its the other way around the early cars were kit assembled road cars. In '96 there were some factory CH cars but they were for euro only IIRC. ie; the US cars in '95 & '96 were kit assembled. In '97 & '98 the factory assembled them for you to some extent the dealer still had to install bits and pieces. Then in '98 came the update kit for all 355CH cars(wing, steering rack, gearbox oil cooler and other misc. items). Yes all 355CH cars had the 2.7 engine management, the engines were current year production('97 etc) ie; my block is drilled for knock sensors but does not have them, 5.2 used them 2.7 did not.
But Vern you live in a free state of montana. Up until just a few years ago you could drink alcohol while driving as long as it was not in the city limits!
What the hell that's in Alabama isn't it. Better yet no sales tax and car licence fees for my 355 were 38.00. FBB you forgot about the no speed limit too, but that went away with the open container law a few years ago. What's really shi!!y about the whole deal is that after living there all my life I moved further south where they tax the crap out of everything.
The '96 US(key word) road cars would be OBDII cars so you probably would not find any street cars converted to CH(less power/not as competive because of the 5.2 vs. 2.7). You would either buy a 95 car and add the kit or weight for the '97 cars. There are '96 Euro CH cars, their serial numbers are in the 104... range. There are some in the US now but I don't think they were here during the time the cars were raced in the series there would be an added advantage being they would be slightly lighter and there cam timing(IIRC) was a little more aggressive.
That's completely incorrect. The original owner driver signed an agreement with FNA that once converted to a challenge car they would not convert back to street car. There was no reporting to DOT or state DMV that these cars were illegal. I fact my 348 CH was raced, then sold as a street car. It has been titled in FL, CA, PA, NY and now IL as a street legal 348. The dealer I bought it from did not even know it had been raced. ALL 348 CH's carried a street car title. Whether they conform entirely to DOT or not is a different story. I see quite a few cars on the street that are not DOT legal. The only thing on my 348 CH that would not comform to DOT is the rear part of the roll cage that was left in. I spoke to the "old guy" on the phone about my car and he did not seem suprised that it was sold as a street car.
