Selling the SC

[SeaDweller]

Well, just when we thought we were settled, it looks like I'll be relocating back to southern California. It's not 100% official yet, but everything is pointing to it. As such, my beloved Euro '78 SC coupe (sunroofless) has to go, as it doesn't comply with CA emissions. I don't want to wait until my notice arrives, as I'll only have around 60 days to get things together. With a house and a boat to sell as well, I can't afford to wait. I also don't want to risk taking the car to California. If the relo falls through, I'll simply have to buy another SC, but I'll be sure to buy one that passes CA emissions, as the possibility will always be looming out there. It's really not an if at this point, but a when.

Basically, I need some advice on selling the car. Local paper? Rennlist? Pelican? Auto Trader?

I've got well over $22K in this car, so I'd like to get a reasonable price for it. It needs some work, but I've collected almost everthing necessary to "restore" it, except the front pan. I won't post the laundry list here, but let me just say that I have everything from a new dash to new glass and seals, not to mention a newly installed, rebuilt '83 engine with less than 3K miles on it, and a new factory wiring harness. The front pan repair, a few touch-up's here and there, and the car would be incredible, not to mention bullet-proof.

It makes my stomach turn to think how much I'm going to lose on this proposition, so I can only hope that whoever buys the car will finish it.

How much should I ask? How much is it worth? I'm aware of Anderson's valuations, but this car falls in a gray area with everything I've done, and all the parts that will come with it.

Any and all input would be most appreciated. When I get to CA, I'll buy another SC, so I'm certainly not leaving the Porsche scene for good!!!

Thanks!

[Bill Douglas]

Wow, what a pain. How hard would it be to Californicate the car?

bill '79SC

[SeaDweller]

Much more than I can afford to put into it at this point. I've spoken with folks who know the process, and selling it was their recommendation.

[makaio]

That breaks my heart. What were you told you would need to comply with our smaog laws? Because there are ways to get it registered here.

[Fishcop]

What about keeping all the goodies and selling your car "as is". That way you can pick up a Cal. car in okay condition and use the good bits on it?

The whole thing sucks. I'm glad all the smog stuff is uniform in all states here (Oz).

Good luck mate

[Joe Bob]

Keep the extras....you never get what you have in it. Sell it with minimal stuff.........

[stuttgart]

I would exhaust all the option's before I was forced to sell it!! I'm sure you can get it all sorted out.




Eric Mckenna
78 SC

[Doug Zielke]

Michael,
You've been through a lot with that car. Find a way to take her to CA.

[Evans, Marv]

Doug:
If Matt is right, I'd look into what it would take to get it registered here in California. Try checking the Calif. DMV online. I've never dealt with smoging an out of state car, but seems like I've heard there were ways to get your out of state car registered here. In the back of my mind, I have a vague memory about out of state cars having to install some amount of minimal smog equipment. If you sell it there, you'll probably really take a beating. Other than that, my only other advise would to buy a '73 or earlier car when you get to Cal.

[SeaDweller]

Thanks guys.....

I have been through a lot with this car, and having come this far, it hurts that I can't see it through to completion.

Unfortunately, I have exhausted all possibilities in bringing the car to California. A very kind gentleman on this BBS is quite close to the CA DMV, and he did some research for me to see if there were any loopholes I could take advantage of. There really aren't any that would work for me. The problem is that this car is my daily driver, so it's going to be on the street every day.

I could leave the car registered in FL, but if I were to get caught, I'd be fined, and would have to register it in CA, at which time it would not qualify, and it could get impounded.

The only other option is the classic status, but I don't believe you can bring a car in and register it as a classic. Supposedly, it has to have been registered in CA under the current smog requirements, and when it turns 20, you apply for the classic status. The classic registration is very restricted, and this car is my daily driver, so that wouldn't really work either.

I'm really out of time, and options at this point, so I really have no choice but to sell it. All I can say is I hope whoever buys the car will appreciate what's been put into it!!

Keep an eye out for a car in CA, as I'll be in the market shortly!!

[beepbeep]

Is it only emmisions?

No problem! On with a catalyst and lambda probe....then tune it until it's smog-clean.

But i guess it's more than that

[Joe Bob]

It's not a matter of just adding deleted smog stuff....

I think he has an engine swap that does not have air injectors holes in the heads....his mods make it impossible to smog THAT engine....he would need another smogged motor as he can not add the required equiment to the current motor....

[82SC]

I have heard that you can tune the car to pass emissions in CA but the visual gets tricky, but there are some members here who have done it...I am coming up on my 2 year inspection and I will either put the CAT back on or try to pass using the above method...

call a reputable shop and ask them...I know of some regular customers at the shop I use with Euro cars...

Call Tony Callas...he is one of the top P-car mechanics in the SoCal Area...they use his name in the POA ads in Excellence...

his number is 310-370-7038

I am sure he can help....
or the cooler option is turn it into a track dedicated car...Euro sunroofless is QUITE desirable....

You can bring it to CA and not drive it and sell it from CA...Lots of P-car owners....

Steve Alcron at Johnson's Alignment...again one of the highly regarded P-car alignment guys in the SoCal has a euro car, sunroofless as his track car and loves it...he beat me to it when Tony Callas was selling it for a customer...

but anyways he says on the PCA, POA track scene he was geting tons of requests to buy the car because it was suroofless...

CAll him and see what options he has...310-370-8409

incidently these 2 shops are right next to each other...

hope thing work out...the SCWDP would not want to see a SC owner sell such a lovely car...

Well an early "welcome to SoCal" greeting to you...

[emcon5]

What really sucks about this is it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the ammount of pollution the car actually puts out. If it is properly tuned, I bet it would pass the sniffer test, regardless of no smog pump.

Tom

[Joe Bob]

Actually...the static smog tests are a bit flawed....even if it passes and has no smog equipment, does not mean that it STAYS that way. Smog equipment ensures that it does.

Not that I agree with all this, my personal opinion is that the motor should be designed with emissions in mind, not loaded down with an add on smog device......THEY finally are doing that BTW, it just took the EPA that long to twist the arms of the manufacturers....

Any car that is 25 years old and passes at the tail pipe SHOULD be exempt. But no one listens to me...

[scedmonds]

I suggest you sell it AFTER the relocation is firmed up and BEFORE you get to CA. The best avenues for advertising seem to be those closest to the P-car community: Excellence, Rennlist, and your local PCA mag/website.

There are beaucoup post-80 Porsches around SoCal. If you end up near San Diego, I can point you to the top mechanics . . .

Cheers!

C.

[yelcab1]

The draconian smog laws of California have been found unlawful.

First case: For a dozen years, people from other states moving into california have been "forced" to pay a one time "smog" registration fee of $300 in addition to regular registration fee. This is because their presumably non-california automobiles sold new outside of California did not have the California smog equipment. The $300 additional payment is a way to "compensate" the state of California for this infraction of the smog law. A few years ago, California was sued in Federal court and this practice was found to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL because it unreasonably erected an impediment to interstate commerce. Skilled labor is a source of commerce, and by making people pay $300 to move their cars into California, it was deemed by the Fed court to impede people moving from other states into California. There is this little clause in the constitution about "states shall not erect any barrier to impede the flow of interstate-commerce." For the last 3 years, the state has been looking for all the previous saps who paid them $300 so that the money can be refunded, and they no longer require new out-of-state cars to pay a smog exempt fee of $300 before they get to license their car here.

Your case here is very similar. Now, if you can get another Porschephile on this board who is an attorney to work "pro-bono" and represent you in the Ninth District of Federal Court in San Francisco, you will beat them. The argument is simple: your car was legally licensed and registered in the state of FL, and by refusing to let you register your car in Cal, forcing you to sell it and buy a new one, they are creating a huge barrier for you and others to move to California for jobs. You win, they lose, and you keep your car.

Any taker on the Pro bono case?

[island911]

Finally, someone thinking INside the box.

. . .guess those yellow cab drivers are pretty smart after all.

[Joe Bob]

Nope....nice try. The lawsuit is valid for cars that meet FEDERAL emissions standards. Sea Dweller's SC does not meet that standard. The FEDERAL Clean Air Act requires emission regs and controls.....his car has an engine change that does not meet the 49 state equipment. Meaning he would have a chance if his engine had ANY smog comtrols on it....it doesn't.

HIS current state (Florida I think) chose to exempt his car due to it's age from inspection. It did not "allow" him to remove the smog equipment.....

Hey, I don't write the regs.....

[Fishcop]

What about an engine swap? Surely it would be cheaper to find a good Cal. engine than to replace cars?

Sorry, just an Aussie perception. Though I get the impression from Mikez's background that he has a bit of an idea as to what he's talking about

Good luck