What's the deal with Zonda's in the US?

The Huayra has never been approved for a waiver from the Smart Air Bag regulations.

Agreed - there are many cars on the road that don't come close to meeting any safety standards, even for the year they were manufactured which is what the law requires. Enforcement is sporadic at best.

The one thing to keep in mind about these "ridiculous" laws is that in addition to frustrating a company like Pagani which may be seen as unfortunate, they also serve to keep a lot of the sub-standard automobiles that are produced in China and elsewhere off of our streets. I'm not sure if you have seen any of the crash test footage, but its dreadful to watch and if those vehicles were available here there are certainly people who would buy them regardless.

>8^)
ER

 

Maybe Pagani hired a former Motorex employee.

 

That is what those laws are meant for not high end low production vehicles, but we all know that, too bad the government can't see the difference and has to always force it's power over these small upscale companies.

 

This very same Huayra appeared at a Miller Motorcars event in New Canaan, CT over the weekend and a sharp eyed viewer noticed that the data plate has now been removed from the car, leaving in place only the four fasteners where it used to reside.

Smart move by Pagani getting it off of there, but questions still linger about whether the cars have indeed satisfied all the regulations for importation. Anyone have that answer in something more conclusive than a "What I heard..." comment?

>8^)
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So what's the deal currently?

I believe production has come to an end now (might be 2-3 chassis left, I'm unsure); are these cars finally eligible for import now (some law about importing extremely rare out of production cars)?

What where the actual reasons (in short) that cars couldn't be imported and registered in the States? I know the Spyker finally could. If it was just emissions, couldn't someone import a Zonda without an engine and use the M120 from a US spec Merc SL600?

 

Spykers have had DOT/EPA approval in the U.S. since MY2005, through 2010 -- though there are only about five MY2010's in the states...

The problem with the Zonda all along has been emissions. One key requirement of Show & Display is that the car still has to meet EPA regulations. The EPA doesn't really care what NTHSA lets in, as long as it meets their regs; they really don't coordinate anything between the two of them. My guess has been that the Zonda doesn't have any provision for OBDII, which could be a big hassle to retrofit.

The Zonda's dirty little secret is that it's never even been certified in the EU either. It's only possible to register one in certain countries (UK, Switzerland, Monaco among them) that have provisions for single vehicle type approval. Since EU regs closely mirror those of the U.S. EPA, there's not much hope really of getting one into the U.S., at least until the rolling 25-year exemption arrives.

As for your hypothetical engine swap job, that might be a question for someone more versed on Zondas/AMG's, but still you'd have to get it EPA compliant somehow.

 

Thank you. Never knew that the Zonda's actually use the UK SVA loophole (after it passes that one, and presumably those in Sui or Monaco too), it can then be registered all over Europe as it's been registered in a previous EU country before. Caterhams do (or did) the same...

The 760 spec engine is apparently only good for Euro 3 emissions , so that has no hope in hell to be EPA legal, lol.

 

You wouldn't want to go down that road trust me. Importing something that shouldn't be here is never fun. I have owned a few oddball cars.

 

America - Land of the free (except for stuff we say you can't enjoy).



I kid!

 

But true :-(

 

What's the deal with Zonda in Amercia. Ask Mark Zuckerberg, He just bought one...

 

It's funny but I've heard a lot of Americans say that! Mostly in discussions about Cuba/Cuban cigars.

 

That doesn't necessarily mean it will legally be wearing a U.S. plate.

 

He's allegedly bought a Huayra, not a Zonda.

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNucu-U19nY[/ame]

Huayra owner claims Zonda's will be legal in about 2 years time in US. Anyone shed some light on this?

Will production end of Zonda have anything to do with it? I thought the BIG issue is EPA related.

 

Not to derail the subject...

But the pandoras box you would open if you were able to retroactively go back and outlaw older cars even just the modified ones would be absolutely ridiculous.

What you purchased with your money 30 years ago should have absolutely nothing to do with the government. ZERO

 

Without watching the video, it could only mean that someone is making an attempt at a S&D application, but you are correct, the Zonda will have to be made EPA compliant. Someone with big pockets and patience must have finally grown weary of the situation.

 

Resurrecting this. There's now a couple of Zonda in the US. What's the deal? Are they fully legit? Or does he indeed own a dealership? Is it 2500 miles PA restricted?

 

There are only two Zondas in the USA I'm aware of that were imported legally - the one-off Zonda Monza race car which is not legal for road use anyway, but was legally imported is one car. The other is the Yellow C12 S that has been in Malibu for over 15 years - imported under bond through the owner's electric vehicle technology company and only rarely driven on Manufacturer plates.

There was also a third Zonda in the Boston area - a Yellow F Roadster - that was imported temporarily last year via the foreign passport waiver which allows it to stay for up to one year. All the other Zondas here - and indeed there are quite a few - at least 8, including 4 Zonda Cinques - have not been legally imported under any legit method that I'm aware of.

There still isn't a single example of the Zonda that has been approved under "Show or Display" which on the surface would seem to be the most logical method for someone who wants one, but if you can't satisfy the relevant EPA requirements then it isn't a viable solution.

>8^)
ER

 

The monza is spotted regularly on the road fwiw. Instagram is a gold mine showing the zondas that are in the us.

 

It was parked on the street in NYC for the Huayra BC premiere, but I'm fairly certain it gets trailered everywhere else.

>8^)
ER

 

Thanks for that. So funnily enough the Cali cinque's that are driving on the road atm are likely not legal...

 

"... are likely not legal"

You can lose the word "likely", I would guarantee it.

Even funnier - a couple of weeks ago one of them got stopped for not displaying a license plate and was allowed to drive off with a warning.

Of course cars driving without plates is fairly common in California since new vehicles are allowed to do so for a period of 90 days while waiting for their DMV-issued plates. While doing so though, they carry a sticker in the lower right corner of the windshield indicating temporary registration, which of course this Zonda does not have.

Photo courtesy @tallmonkey02 on IG.

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As they say, "If you've got it - flaunt it."

From a secret underground bunker somewhere inside the OC.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSkig8wl5yf/

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https://instagram.com/p/BSkhRgqFr_h/