Triumph Sports Cars

I want to buy a a modified 1980 TR-8...I have one in mind that was modified by the Wedge shop....4.6 liter etc etc....the only problem is i live in california and i don't know how to get it to pass the smog test....In California, if it is from 1975 or earlier, it is exempt from getting smogged....Does anyone know how i can legally drive this car in California? Is there any way t get an exemption on a 1980 vehicle....are there any other tricks out there? I am willing to bend a few rules as i am not a lover of all the rules and regulations this state imposes on its citizens.....can someone help me out with this......i really would like to be able to drive this car out here.....I would really appreciate your help....Lets think outsde the box and come up with a solution...you can write or call if you like.....thanks in advance!!!

Jeff 510-910-1591......... JLBANKY@Comcast.net

> Lets think outsde the box and come up with a solution.

You might set up a trust in another state. The trust owns the vehicle
but you are the sole executor of the trust. Since the trust owns the
vehicle, it gets license plates in the state the trust was set up in.
I've not seen this done to skirt California emissions before but I have
seen it done to avoid paying personal property tax (in states that have
such taxes) on big ticket items (exensive cars, motorhomes, aircraft,
etc,).

Dan Jones

Begs the question - what is the best state to register a modified car in?

How hard would it be to actually pass the smog test? They probably don't measure displacement... What exactly do they test/measure/inspect for?

They check for all the equipment in place and operating so if anything has been removed/bypasses it won't fly. Then it has to pass the sniffer.

the reply from Dan about doing a trust is what I am talking about when it comet to thinking outside the box!.....great idea!!

Maryland seems to be real easy to register a historic car (20+ years old) that does nothing but issue plates after proof of insurance turn in the title if from out of state and pay the applicable taxes. No inspections! Plates are $35.00 maybe $45.00 now and its occasional use. Now if your going to do the daily drive as a TR8 or 7 then you have emission testing with a visual and the sniffer. My stock TR8 coupe less air pump back in the day 1998 when I bought it passed the sniff test no problem after having it super tuned at Mount Joys prior to my purchase. Recently a few TR8s with stock cams and catalytic converters and a 390 holley have failed the sniff test even with timing and carb adjustments. They just get historic plates and hit the road. The historic plates get abused here so who knows how long that option will be feasible?

Hysterical plates get abused everywhere. In KY they dropped the smog check a few years back. Decommissioned all the smog check stations. Must be a BUNCH of dynos out there somewhere just waiting to be picked up.

Jim

Jeff and clan, I feel your pain my distant CA neighbor. I suggest you log on to Ca state webbsite for "exempted" zip code areas in CA. YES, they DO exist ! 92059 is one, another near Julian/etc. These are areas within our state, that are sparsely populated enough/clean enough air, that you smog your car ONCE to this zip, and NEVER again. 25 years + aged cars can apply for "Historical" status/smog exempt, but restricted on use. Learn all of your options. Knowledge is power. Power to the people/what a concept. Good Luck, roverman.

Hello Jeff. I live in So Cal and I too feel your pain. My 1980 TR8 had a Stromberg catch fire in 2000 and while I got the fire out, it scared me so bad I've let the car sit ever since. Two months ago I decided to revive it and rather than rebuild the Stromberg's, I bought the 390 Holley from Wedgeshop. It's nearly ready to crank up, perhpas this weekend. Next, the dreaded smog pretest. Woody at the wedgeshop could not gurantee it would pass but I am hoping that the Holley can be adjusted to provide the required numbers. I will have to educate myself on how to tune it first. I am not sure where this will take me but I'll learn shortly. The upshot is that I'm planning to sell the car, even though it's only got 25K miles on it. I'll let you know how this turns out.

You wouldn't believe what gets tagged & driven here. :)

Certain counties in some states have no smog tests. Where I'm from in Washington state only the more populous counties test. King,Pierce, and Spokane. Where I am now in Kingman,Az (Mohave CO) no testing either.