sukugtr
07-02-2008, 09:08 AM
I always wondered what Hawaii's stance was on a custom chassis with no VIN...I guess this provided the answer. Is this true though? I thought I saw some kit cars running around, unless they are using the old Fiero body technique...
http://erareplicas.com/statereg.htm#Hawaii
Gerhardt Gast
CC Member
Registered on 02-14-99
Honolulu
(Cobra Make, Engine: FFR 5.0)
posted 09-29-2000 03:48 AM
This is a copy of the letter I sent FFR tonight.
Mark, Dave, etc.
This is to inform you that Hawaii hates Cobras. They have a reconstruction law here that will never, ever let a kit car of any make pass their safety inspection. I've been driving my FFR here for three years, and last week, after getting my fourth safety inspection, I got a call from the service station that initially passed my car informing me that I must surrender my safety inspection sticker. Apparently, some bean counter noticed that my VIN didn't have 17 digits, and therefore, they knew it was a kit car. Today, they came with police to my garage and confiscated my sticker, thus effectively grounding my car. I can't even sell it 'cause no one will buy it if it can't pass their reconstruction laws. I called the reconstruction department, and they told me that no kit car has, or ever will pass their safety inspection laws unless the manufacturer accepts all liability for the car's safety. Had my car been registered as a 1965, the car probably would have escaped detection, but nonetheless, it would still be technically illegal to drive. Strangely, this "reconstruction" law applies only to the island of Oahu, not Maui, Big Island or any of the other islands. Those islands have populations of less than 100,000, and therefore are exempt--that's just what the cops told me. Despite total outrage by my insurance company, there is no foreseeable hope of repealing this antiquated department.
I have had it with Hawaii. I'm moving to the mainland, and shipping the car with me. Of course, it's not just the car that has prompted this decision, it's the high cost of living, the low wages, ridiculously high car insurance rates (three to four times mainland rates), and the stupid government that taxes at a higher rate than any other state. The price for living in paradise is too high for me.
I just wanted to let you know this because, ironically, I met a guy today who said he just got your brochure, and I told him to forget it. You should tell your customers that if they plan to build a kit car on Oahu, they should change their plans, for no matter how it is titled, it will technically be illegal. The guy at the "reconstruction" department of the motor vehicle department told me that no kit car has ever passed inspection or ever will. He told me sympathetically that "rules is rules." He also noted several people who had spent small fortunes building kits here have had to send them to the mainland because they couldn't get the cars registered here.
Gerhardt Gast
FFR 1086
http://erareplicas.com/statereg.htm#Hawaii
Gerhardt Gast
CC Member
Registered on 02-14-99
Honolulu
(Cobra Make, Engine: FFR 5.0)
posted 09-29-2000 03:48 AM
This is a copy of the letter I sent FFR tonight.
Mark, Dave, etc.
This is to inform you that Hawaii hates Cobras. They have a reconstruction law here that will never, ever let a kit car of any make pass their safety inspection. I've been driving my FFR here for three years, and last week, after getting my fourth safety inspection, I got a call from the service station that initially passed my car informing me that I must surrender my safety inspection sticker. Apparently, some bean counter noticed that my VIN didn't have 17 digits, and therefore, they knew it was a kit car. Today, they came with police to my garage and confiscated my sticker, thus effectively grounding my car. I can't even sell it 'cause no one will buy it if it can't pass their reconstruction laws. I called the reconstruction department, and they told me that no kit car has, or ever will pass their safety inspection laws unless the manufacturer accepts all liability for the car's safety. Had my car been registered as a 1965, the car probably would have escaped detection, but nonetheless, it would still be technically illegal to drive. Strangely, this "reconstruction" law applies only to the island of Oahu, not Maui, Big Island or any of the other islands. Those islands have populations of less than 100,000, and therefore are exempt--that's just what the cops told me. Despite total outrage by my insurance company, there is no foreseeable hope of repealing this antiquated department.
I have had it with Hawaii. I'm moving to the mainland, and shipping the car with me. Of course, it's not just the car that has prompted this decision, it's the high cost of living, the low wages, ridiculously high car insurance rates (three to four times mainland rates), and the stupid government that taxes at a higher rate than any other state. The price for living in paradise is too high for me.
I just wanted to let you know this because, ironically, I met a guy today who said he just got your brochure, and I told him to forget it. You should tell your customers that if they plan to build a kit car on Oahu, they should change their plans, for no matter how it is titled, it will technically be illegal. The guy at the "reconstruction" department of the motor vehicle department told me that no kit car has ever passed inspection or ever will. He told me sympathetically that "rules is rules." He also noted several people who had spent small fortunes building kits here have had to send them to the mainland because they couldn't get the cars registered here.
Gerhardt Gast
FFR 1086