SC question

[rscupper]

Is it possible to find an SC (any year) without a sunroof? I don't think I've ever seen one. Was it an option? Maybe an option delete? Maybe it's just tough to find in the US? Thanks for your help.

[thabaer]

I've heard that the US cars had them standard and the euros were common without it.

Mine does not have: sunroof, power windows, A/C, door crash protection.

[rscupper]

Charlie, your's sounds like what I'm looking for - lightweight & simple. Do you think I'm best off looking for Euro models only?
Do you happen to know if later Euro SC models were similarly lean? Thanks

[IceBlueSC]

rscupper,

My '81 SC has the sunroof delete option.

It's a US spec car (from the VIN), but I think that the previous owner ordered specifically without the sunroof. From speaking with the PO at length, he never took the car to the track, where the stiffer body would have come into good use.

It does have air (which works great!), 16" Fuchs, and power windows.

Cheers,

[RarlyL8]

My SC also has no sunroof. Took me 2 years to find one. This car was special ordered by the PO with no power anything, no sunroof, no A/C, and a minimal AM/FM radio. Guess they didn't have a "light weight" option that year ('78) so he made one. This car also was not tracked. Nimble street machine I guess. Except for updates he left the car bone stock for the 20 years that he owned it.
They are out there, it just might take a bit to find one.

[SeaDweller]

Mine was the same way, manual everything, no sunroof, and even a single outside mirror. An underdash A/C unit which was made specifically for the 911 was installed, but removing that would leave the bare minimum.

As others have mentioned, my car was not tracked either, but the PO had an obsession with race components. He added upgraded calipers and drilled rotors, larger Fuchs, the Carrera oil cooler, and upgraded the suspension. The suspension, along with the lower European ride height, makes the car drive like a sand rail on the street. It's not comfortable by any stretch, but it sure handles nice!

[rscupper]

Thanks everyone for your input. Maybe I can find what I want.

Another question, though (maybe for another thread?). How are 'Euro' cars registered/smogged in the US? Loopholes? Any California people can comment? Thanks again!

[Joe Bob]

Lot of threads on this....check the archives.

Short story...they all had to be "Federalized" when imported. They all should have docs and stickers to prove they did it. Some were federalized to 49 state configurations, some went to CA.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/

You can get some information above, the Bureau of Automotive Repairs (BAR) is the rule maker for the smog regs. If you buy an SC, it will have to have a smog pump, cat pipe to pass the visual part and THEN pass the sniffer test.

No carbed monsters will be allowed unless it came from the factory like that AND was allowed in the country AND certified by CA BAR.

Mine is a euro car, all I needed was my papers and DMV sailed me thru...AFTER a smog check.

Oh yeah...mine doesn't have a sunroof either

[rattlsnak]

There are a few that were allowed into this country as true gray market cars that did not have to be "federalized". I have all the us legal dot papers and my car has never had any smog or cat, or any of the other stuff, and has to undergo a VERY basic sniffer test, basically using highly inflated standards using the idle standard only, no dyno test.
--by the way, mine also has all power and sunroof.--

[rscupper]

Hey Mike, does it help at all to be a 'smog Nazi'?

[Joe Bob]

Nope.....everyone hates the STATE smog weenies....

BTW...that Georgia SC would have to be brought up to CA smog standards to be registered here....

My SC was modified twice...once in Texas, then again in CA when the previous owner moved here.

[SeaDweller]

This is something that I simply can't understand. If the car passes the CO and other related emissions tests, what difference does it make if it has an air pump and CAT?

I also have the required DOT and EPA docs, and my car never had any emissions equipment at all. As a matter of fact, my EPA docs state that my car is exempt from the requirements. In this case, would CA require that I still update the engine, even though it never had the equipment from the start?

This is critical for me, as I'm facing a possible relocation back to CA, and I'll be damned before I sell the car, being that I've poured so much money into it!

[Joe Bob]

Dunno...guess I could find out. Email me offline and I can look into it for ya....

mtz1@home.com

I would love to be able to ditch my cat and stuff...