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I'm very close to purchasing a speedster. The only thing holding me up is the registration process. I have contacted the DMV in Boston, but most folks are unclear about what to do. What I have learned, if this is accurate, that I need a certificate of origin form the manufacturer and then I need to trailer the car to the state police for an inspection. If I pass that it is off to the DMV for a VIN. Not sure about how the emission tests is going to work. It would be great to speak with someone who has gone through this experience. The last thing I want is a car I can
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I'm very close to purchasing a speedster. The only thing holding me up is the registration process. I have contacted the DMV in Boston, but most folks are unclear about what to do. What I have learned, if this is accurate, that I need a certificate of origin form the manufacturer and then I need to trailer the car to the state police for an inspection. If I pass that it is off to the DMV for a VIN. Not sure about how the emission tests is going to work. It would be great to speak with someone who has gone through this experience. The last thing I want is a car I can
Joe, I take it you are buying a car that is not based on a VW pan. My speedster has a vin# from a '65 VW and the title says 1955 Porsche Replica. Registration and inspections were much easier than I was expecting. However, a friend in the next town over bought a beautiful Beck Spyder and had to go through what you describe. Emissions tests and the trailer ride to see the State Police inspector. I think his title said it was a 2000(?) car and he always sweated the inspections. I haven't run into him in about 2 years but I think he sold the car.
Gordon stays up on these laws and I bet he can give you some answers.
First, you need to tel us exactly what you are buying:

Who/How manufactured (like, Intermeccanica, Vintage Speedsters, Home-built CMC, etc.)

If it is a CMC, Vintage or JPS and based on a VW pan, you can, in Massachusetts, register it as an original volkswagen for the year of it's manufacture (for instance, mine is registered as a white, 1969 VW convertible, and the Mass DMV is OK with that.)

If it is a tube-frame based car (some IM's, Beck and SAS) then you need to register it as a custom automobile and it can get a bit more complicated, so look here:

http://www.dmv.org/ma-massachusetts/custom-built-cars.php#Current-Procedures

Massachusetts adopted, last year, the SEMA based bill for registering and insuring custom built cars such that you register it as the year it represents, i.e., a car that looks like a 1957 Porsche can be registered as a 1957 Porsche and is emissions exempt. I'm not sure if the law has taken effect yet or not (I don't live up there any more). That all sounds great, but not a lot of people working at the DMV (and, especially, local inspection stations) know what's going on with the law so it's best to call the DMV, Tell them what you're trying to do, get a competent person to help you with the right steps and have them call the state inspection station where you'll have your safety inspection done so they won't screw it up (see Al's post above).


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Joe, if you're buying a Beck, I'm sure that Carey Hines can put you in contact with another Beck owner in Mass. Every state is different. I sweated the inspection, etc., but in the end, everything worked out okay. Mine is registered as a "2010 Assembled" vehicle". I had to provide the paperwork and get a safety inspection from my local police. Then some time passed and the state guy came to my house and affixed the MI VIN. Everybody was super nice about the whole thing.
Joe:

You can also call the folks at Factory Five Racing at:

Factory Five Racing, Inc.
9 Tow Road
Wareham, MA 02571
Phone: (508) 291-3443
Fax: (508) 291-3883
E-Mail: info@factoryfive.com

I would call them on the phone.

They are going through all the same stuff with their Cobra replicas and should be more current on how the Mass. legislation is shaking out than I am at this point - Heck I live 1,000 miles away, now! Explain that you have a tube-framed Beck (similar to a tube framed Cobra as far as the DMV is concerned) and how do their Mass. customers get their cars registered?

Also, Al Gallo, on here, has been through this recently and he survived, so I guess YOU can, too!

gn
Hi Joe,

I can tell that we are both belt-and-suspenders guys from your posts. First thing is to relax. There will be a process in place that the folks at Factory Five can bring you up to speed on. Even if your car is incomplete, you will be able to register it with a Manfacturer's Certificate of Origin or Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, which Carey will complete for you, and a few receipts. I just completed the process in California, and I'm still alive to tell the tale. No worries, it's all doable.
What a cool community! Everyone is so generous with their time and expertise. Who knew you could you send an SOS into the Ethernet and receive such well reasoned responses. Thanks to you all.

I did call Factory Five and they confirmed what I was thinking would be the process. Not pretty, but can be done. Spoke again with Kevin at Becker and think we have a work-around. If the car is register in Indiana it will get a Vin # from that state, with a lot less hassle, and then I just need to transfer title in Mass. The engine is new, but built on the 1954 specs, so the emission test should be based on that year standards, which should pass easily. So it looks like is a go. Hope to place the order on Friday before I head to Florida for a few weeks of golf and sun.

Thanks to one and all.

Once things settle down, I
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