sweet928

I'm new to CA and grew up in NJ. I'm about to buy a '79 928 and wanted to check if there are any issues to be aware of before shipping the car cross country.

Were all 928's 50 state compliant?

Was CA smog equipment optional back then?

I know the car, so assume it's running perfectly and needs nothing. Any issues here in CA to smog it?

Wheelman_99

Is that not exempt due to age?

(non-Californian here)

alex70

I think you are a few years short to qualify for an exemption... I thought it used to be 25 years old, but their website states otherwise.

Does my vehicle qualify for a smog exemption?
Smog inspections are required unless your vehicle is:

Gasoline powered 1975 year model or older
Diesel powered 1997 year model and older or with a Gross Vehicle Weight rating (GVWR) of more than 14,000 lbs
Electric
Natural gas powered with a GVWR rating of more than 14,000 lbs.
Motorcycle


https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/smogfaq

Read through to the counties listed too. Should be exempt if a non-listed county.

The Forgotten On

As long as it isn't a Euro you just need the original emissions equipment in place and functioning well to pass a smog test.

If it's a Euro, get ready to pay big $$$ to have it carb certified.

Chalkboss

The CA smog exemption applies to cars 74 and older, or pretty close to that. 79 definitely will need a smog here.

karl ruiter

As long as it was a US car it would have shipped with all the required equipment. But that does not mean it will pass smog. It could have disabled or non working smog equipment. It could have a burned up cat. It could have an air leak in the intake. It could need a valve grind. It could need a O2 sensor. If you buy a car in California the seller is required to furnish a current smog cert with it. Unless this specific car is very special I would go that way.

dr bob

You can, of course, have an equivalent inspection performed on the car in NJ as part of a PPI procedure. If the car is near Stan (Mr Merlin) in the Philly area, he is certainly qualified to do the PPI, including the emissions equipment presence and functionality. And that all important tail-pipe test.

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The last Porsche I brought from NJ to Cali was my first car, a '65 SC cab, in The Great Family Migration of 1970. Cali checked the numbers on the tunnel and body and pronounced it worthy of plate$ and fee$. Times were lot simpler then.

sweet928

I am going to do just that. Get it PPI'd for Smog on the east coast.