What do I need to do to drive this on the street???

just a quick look and I see headlights, side markers, glass, seat belts, airbags, muffler/cats. etc. or find a friendly person at the DMV.

 

The lack of a VIN/title, would be the #1 problem. IIRK CH cars are sold with a sales receipt, not a title.

 

Find a dealer that will rent you a dealer tag long term.
Tom

 

I would image insurance would be the biggest problem.

 

Forgedabowdit! Simply put, Challenge cars are not street legal in the US. The cost of making it street legal would far exceed the worth of the car. Not to mention that it was brought into the country under a limited use bill of lading and has not passed and will not pass DOT or EPA requirements without a major amount of work. If you are serious about doing it, contact Classic Coach in Elizabeth, NJ (ask for Jimmy or Rocco). I understand that they do the DOT/EPA conversions and clearances on the Mazzerati GT cars that come into the US and can probably give you a ball-park estimate on how much and whether it could even be done. My guess, forgedabowdit. But they handle a LOT of Challenge cars and could probably tell you if it is even feasible.

 

Absolutely correct. And getting a VIN and title for a car that has never been titled is a major PITA, especially since the car simply was never intended to be used on the street.

 

Call it a '32 Ford and get a street rod tag for it. Someone near me took a tube frame Nascar stock car and put little halogen lights in the brake duct openings in the air dam and mufflers and is driving it around, slicks and all with street rod tags.

 

AFAIK, the only exception to the "no CH cars are street legal" is the 1995 355 Challenge. These were all factory modified Berlinetta's pulled right off of the line, correct?

At least, I hope what I had been told is true, since I'm looking for a '95 355 CH to register/insure and drive on the street.

Dave

 

Dave the 348 Challenge cars should also be legal since I think they were street cars that came with the challenge parts in a box/crate

 

The vintage cars were issued titles years back as there were not EPA/DOT requirements to meet.

 

Some states don't issue titles on cars over a certain age. I know when I bought a 1960 Pontiac from GA back in the 90's there wasn't a title issued. I wonder if he registered it in one of these states as a '60 Ferrari Challenge using the motor number as a "vin" Might work until they see the car .

 

There still remains the insurance problem.

 

Yep that does still remain unless he is self insured, I'm not real familiar with all the requirements though and I am sure they vary by state, are there any states left out there that do not require insurance?

 

In theory, you could buy a wreck that has a title. If it's a clean title, you're done, register it and go drive (I would never ever suggest moving the vin number that would be very very wrong).

If it's a salvage car, in most states an inspection of the repaired vehicle along with receipts for the required parts (lights and such) the receipt for the challenge car (that you purchased for the chassis) down to the inspection place and get yourself a salvage title and off you go.

 

Not sure how it is in the states but here in Ontario, Canada alot of new applicants need to inspect the car at a recommended shop just to give it a look over and confirm what it is. So if this is the case....this "60's Ferrari Challenge car" may be easily detected

I would go with the dealer plate option if possible. Good luck!

 

Do we know that no one will insure something like this? Are there no ID numbers at all on these cars? Anybody tried and been turned down?
Liability ins. goes with a dealer tag. It's my understanding in Virginia for example you can put a dealer tag on anything as long as it's for sale.
Of course, I could be completely wrong about all of this.
Tom

 

+1 These cars never had MSO's and therefore can't be titled, no matter what. And don't expect any help from Ferrari! Even if you have a buddy at DMV, they can enter the VIN and it will just come up blank. Besides, who would ask anyone to risk their job for this? Ditto insurance. Your agent will enter the VIN and come up blank or invalid---no insurance. Liability may come with dealer tags but I'll bet there is something in the policy about only street legal cars. Make a claim, enter the VIN and oops! DENIED! Challenge cars should only be used for exactly what they were intended---the TRACK!

Dave

 

Yes, Dave. I believe that is true. The '95 355s are streetable as they have VINs and titles. But most of them are fairly stripped down and lack required safety equipment, windows, etc., so would require a lot of work/money to put them in streetable shape, as they would be required to pass state inspection.

 

It's not going to happen.

For a long time, I wondered why, if you have a VIN and proof of ownership, you can't just register the car and play upon the DMV's lack of knowledge of cars. The problem is that I've searched a few states' DMVs, and no state will issue a title without certification of the car's passage of emissions and safety requirements which, of course, you can't get. In short, no state will issue you a title, and without a title, you can't get it registered.

As for why people can drive classic racing cars on the road, the answer is simple: emissions laws, federal anti-theft laws, and crash protection laws were passed after those cars debuted. Consequently, they were 'grandfathered' in, and the laws don't apply to those vehicles.

 

There is another reason... In most states, once a car is over 25 years old, it can be registered with "historic" or antique plates, which do not require inspection or emissions testing. So as long as the car has a title, it can be registered as long as it meets the age requirement, and it doesn't matter whether it satisfies any vehicle safety or emissions standards.

 

FasterIsBetter,
You're on the right track, but slightly off. It's not 25 years per se. Rather, the car has to meet crash and emissions standards for the year it was manufactured in. In 2000 or so, it was 25 years ago that cars were not required to be tested for emissions. Hence the notion of 25 years old. Now, it would have to be closer to 30. I don't know the details, you will need to reasearch it.


Modena1_2003,
Your best bets are:
1. Buying a salvage vehicle old enough to be exempt from the emissions requirements, and swapping in enough parts to be able to pass the Challenge car off as that salvage vehicle. Illegal, but it will work. Just don't put both cars on the road...!! You just have to find a friendly "inspector".
2. Finding out the requirements for a home-constructed vehicle (kit car) eg. wipers, indicators, etc. and then having your car inspected as a kit car. Typically, they want to see proof of a roadworthiness inspection plus the recepts for the work carried out.
3. Dealer or distributor tags...but the owner of the plates will be liable. If it's a buddy helping you out, he is risking his livelihood. Worth it?

Some states require a DMV inspection. Some will accept any peace officer's sign-off. Some will accept a mechanic's certification. Find one of these states, find one of these friendly officers or mechanics, and you will get the signoffs you need. Then DMV won't need to see the car. You will prbably get a kit car title, not a Ferrari title.

Insurance:
Hagerty, other specialist insurance, or post a bond and insure yourself. Find out the requirements in your state. Usually you have to put up just a percentage of the bond value, so it's cheap...unless you cause an accident and have to pay for someone's lifelong care.

Step back for a moment and think about whether you REALLY want to do this. Sounds cool and all, but is the risk worth it? If Ferrari find out, they will hang you out to dry. If the cops find out, they will throw the book at you. If insurance finds out, they will deny coverage. And driving a loud, raucous challenge with a very harsh ride and few comforts would get old after about 10 minutes. The loudness will attract all the wrong attention, from cops and others. Are they even watertight? Or would you not drive in the rain? Will the tires and brakes work when cold?

 

I think Emissions in CA started in 1966 and nationwide I think was 1968. I think my biggest question would be why he wants to make that car street legal.