bagger

I wouldn't normally want to deal with the drawbacks of a gray market car. But I want an SC coupe without a sunroof (a rare car from what I can tell) because I am very tall. The only one that I've found so far is an 81 gray market car. The car war imported to the US from Germany in 1985 but I do not know if the car ever had any official DOT paperwork to document sufficient emissions for the US. Also it does not currently have a catalytic converter. So I'm interested in finding out the following information:

1. Is making it pass emissions in a state other than CA just a matter of bolting on an O2 sensor and a cat or are there more fundamental differences like the camshaft lobes that I would need to deal with?

2. About how much do the O2 sensor and cat cost?

3. What is involved in making it pass safety inspections to get licensed? Where American SCs structurally different than Euro SCs?

4. What will be involved in getting insurance? I assume that an insurance company would only want proof of the car passing US safety standards but what is involved in proving that to them?

5. Can anybody recommend any articles or books that deal with these issues in detail?

SC-targa

When I was in college, I worked in a lab that did emissions certification testing. Most of the cars I saw were really bastardized.

At the time the car you are looking at was imported, it would have had to have been certified to meet US safety and emissions standards. It should have had all of the US required safety & emission equipment installed.

Structurally, the car is the same. They had to add some door guard beams and should have added the spring loaded shocks behind the bumpers, added US side marker ligths, changed the headlights and tail lights, the speedo (So the mileage is incorrect), added an evaporative emission system, and a few other things.

The car you are considering has different cam timing than a US version, a higher compression ratio, differenct ingnition curve and larger intake ports than the US version. The original fuel injection metering unit was not set up to work with and O2 sensor that is required for a 3 way catalyst.

I believe that the VIN number will highlight that it is a grey market car to the insurers and they will value it significantly less than a US market car.

82Euro

I've got a gray market 82 targa and have been dealing with the emissions issues. I brought the car out from a state that had no emissions testing so it's been interesting out here to say the least. I was quoted between 5-10k for getting the car retrofitted by my local dealer using genuine Porsche parts. We both laughed and I said I'll drive it back 1000 miles and sell it for a premium since it's a Euro!!!! He also said one of the emissions specialists would charge about $3500 to get the job done Anyhow, I've wondered how all of these folks get these clunkers certified so I asked them and went the same route which I won't delve into. I only have to worry about emissions testing once or twice more then the car becomes old enough to not have to worry about.

As far as VIN #'s go I gave the insurer the VIN and the computer didn't even understand it having a different country code letter in it. They changed it around until the computer accepted it and that was it. Nothing too special.

Richard C2S

Suggestion. Check with your state's department of motor vehicles about classic car registration. In Pennsylvania, a classic car (15 years old or more) requires the annual safety inspection, but does not require an emissions inspection.

Richard

bagger

SC-targa,

You said:
"They had to add some door guard beams and should have added the spring loaded shocks behind the bumpers, added US side marker ligths, changed the headlights and tail lights, the speedo (So the mileage is incorrect), added an evaporative emission system, and a few other things."

Where did you get that information? I've heard items like that too but the sources that I have are not real specific. I want something that I can take to the DOT emmisions and safety people and my insurance company and say:
1. here is the safety and emmisions "gospel"
2. point to each of the "gospel's" required safety changes on the car
3. point to each of the "gospel's" required emmisions changes on the car
4. show the emmissions data meets all of the "gospel's" required emmisions values
5. drive away with street legal and insured car

bagger

Richard C2S,

That is a good suggestion, I'll do that.

That is kind of scary that PA's definition of classic is >15 years old. That would mean that my parent's POS 76 Ford Granada with the nawgahide on the outside of the roof that I drove in high school is a classic... yeee! I guess that I should not associate classic with quality in any way.

thomschoon

I have an '81 Euro that was also brought in 1985. I bought it with a Connecticut title and transferred it to NY. If the car has been floating around for 18 years you should only have to move the paperwork like any other car as it should have a title and reg. My insurance, Allstate, also had no problem with a ROW car.

I think most of the horror tales are urban legend as they usually always are third or fourth hand. Since the car is here it should be an easy transaction.

stiffride

Hello Bagger!
I'm in CA and bought an '81 Euro SC about four years ago. The car is not a creampuff, at least not mechanically. Like you, I prefer the cleaner appearance and appreciate the additional 24HP. This car came to the US in '82 and then had a slant-nose conversion done. Somehow, the car survived in CA for 16 years without ever acquiring the mandatory CA Auto Repair Bureau (CARB) sticker in its doorjamb. I learned this the first time I had to get a smog test and the station refused to test it because it hadn't been blessed by CARB. The car had crude (required but heavy) door impact beams added, which I removed and threw out. It has an O2 sensor and single CAT (I thought Euro SC's had CAT's, but am not certain; the cost of these parts, if you need them, can be as little as $250 new), plus a sport muff. It also has a small airpump added, which is required. It had a small electronic module stuffed into the map pocket located in the driver side footwell, and this was spliced into the engine harness. I disconnected the module, didn't notice any performance affect, and the module joined the impact beam. I'm quite sure that the car was otherwise original. I took the car to a CARB referee (who reminded me in all ways of Bozo the Clown), and after three appointments I was granted a sticker. His only problem with the car was that the seal on the gas cap leaked.
I believe your experience with your local smog people will vary depending on who the technician is that looks at your car. If the car is basically sound, you might as well take it for an inspection, and then make whatever repairs or changes are necessary.
Good luck!

Steve Wilwerding

I think you're talking about my car - it's an 81, non-sunroof, imported in 1985 (and presently for sale). I have all of the DOT paperwork from when the car was brought over. Also, the previous owner had the car licensed in both Florida and California (Cali until the early 90s). So, I don't think you'll have any problems registering the car or getting it to pass smog.

Steve Wilwerding

Oh yeah, and the previous owner is here in Omaha, so I can ask him what specifically he had to do to pass emissions in California.

bagger

Steve,

It is your car. I agree that I should not have any problems registering it but I want to make sure. So it would be useful to know the specifics of what the previous owner did for CA emmisions.