Socal_Tom

Was there a cutover year or model year where the 928 became 50 state compliant making it easy to register any car in California?

Thanks!

SeanR

Most states that require inspections did the cut off at 25 years. California didn't go that route, instead did by the year and I can't remember what it is, 1976 maybe? Chances are you car will never be exempt.

V2Rocket

Any gasoline-powered car in California of model year 1976 or later is subject to CA emissions compliance and testing.
There is no rolling exemption.

No 928 is safe...

Socal_Tom

Hi guys- thanks for the notes back. California does not have a rolling exemption, 1976 and newer will always require SMOG compliance.

I'm actually asking a slightly different question - sorry if I am not being clear. Many manufacturers had two versions of the their cars, a Federal for 49 states and California specific. At some point manufactures just certified to the California standard making it easy.

I was hoping to find out what year Porsche did that.

Will try to post the factory emission sticker here in a couple minutes....

Socal_Tom

Here is the sticker

Tom in Austin

You'd think they only ever imported 50-state-compliant cars ... costs to have two different kinds would be crazy

Socal_Tom

Hi Tom - most did have two versions actually. Seems like this went away in the 90's but not sure as relates to our 928s.

dr bob

For a while, Cali would add an extra "fee" to registration costs for 49-state cars brought in from the rest of the country. That fee was thrown out sometime in the 1990's. Then and now, there are no issues with bringing a 49-state compliant car into California and getting it titled and registered.

For "converted" or "gray market" cars brought in from other countries, California is very strict. A car that was federalized in another state might easily require a whole re-federalization, especially if the original work wasn't documented extremely well and that documentation isn't present when you bring it in. While it's possible to clean up the tailpipe numbers with cats for inspection, Cali still expects you to have all the rest of the stuff that was supposedly installed when it was originally blessed. It's a crapshoot, often related to how well you get along with the clerk at the counter when you first bring your paperwork in for review. I've bounced around a few clerks in different offices, starting with a "how to do this?" question and only proceeding when I got the right responses. Once a car is flagged as a problem or exception in the system it carries that with it forever, so you really don't want to get started down a wrong path at all if you can avoid it.

I'm sure everyone has horror stories about episodes at the Cali DMV. I can safely say that I've had the best outcomes at the smaller offices in outlying places, vs late in the day at a very busy/overworked office and staff.

Rob Edwards

Your 1987 49-state emissions sticker is 928 006 101 51, but there was a California market emissions sticker which is 928 006 101 52:




In 1990 there are 4 different US market emissions stickers, 92800610171, 72, 81, and 82, for 49-state auto, 5-speed, and California auto and 5-speed respectively.

My GTS is a California market car and it's called out on the emissions sticker as well, so the year range is at least 87-93. I have a pic of an '85 sticker that doesn't say anything about California. Next time I'm at 928Intl I'll take a survey of Mark's collection of hood emissions stickers.

Socal_Tom

Thanks gentlemen.

So it appears that there is a difference in build based on it being a California delivered / sold new car. Let's assume for a second that is the ground truth.

The question then become is it an issue to bring a car that does not have that sticker/equipment into California related to its ability to pass SMOG. In other words, will a 49 state car pass California SMOG?

Mongo

As of this year, 1980 and newer are subject to emissions testing and rolling dyno (excl 2000+).

Socal_Tom

Thanks Andy.

Anyone brought a 49 state car in without SMOG issues?

My concern is that it will flunk visual without the emissions sticker saying California.

Socal_Tom

Called a couple local SMOG test only places. Two said no problem on 49 state car, one said "no way".

bureau13

This is your regular reminder that California is for visiting, not for living in.

Socal_Tom

Nah, fantastic place to live that has some quirks of geography that cut both ways.

Back to the question - going to keep digging here since it seems like a good thing to establish for the forum (beyond my specific inquiry).