Euro Spec Cars

[hbf]

I see an ad for 1985 911, Euro-Spec Car in the Cars For Sale forum.

Does anyone know if there are any gotchas with these cars that a buyer should look out for when it comes to registering them in the US?

Comments will be appreciated.

[nkotselas]

I don't think there is much to worry about. My car was imported and I don't believe there were any issues (I hadn't been born yet) It looks like it already has Massachusetts plates anyways.
The main issue is smog. Euro carreras had higher compression ratios and no cats that brought power up to 231, US versions had 217 or 207, Japan and California getting the weakest cars. I don't know the smog laws in your state but you should be ok. Its us in california that have to worry.

So pretty much your only issue i think would be not getting tickets with that extra power

[trak ratt]

What’s the cut off in New York state for antique license plates? In VA at 25 years it doesn't matter.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by hbf

I see an ad for 1985 911, Euro-Spec Car in the Cars For Sale forum.

Does anyone know if there are any gotchas with these cars that a buyer should look out for when it comes to registering them in the US?

Comments will be appreciated.

there were several different engines that could be in a RoW car, you need to get the type # from the engine block to know which version was installed

the most desirable is the 930/20 170kw #63F00001-10000
but a Row could have
930/21 150kW which was used in US/Japan. When used in German Carrera's it was option M298 #64F00001-100000

or 930/26 170kW Sweden/Switz/Australia 63F10001-11000

most had 5spd manual trans w/ external cooler 915/72 but the M298 cars had the US trans 915/73

When the car was brought over it was Federalized and should have 2 documents
1) EPA exemption or release depends on the section of the law that the car was brought in under
2) DoT release all had to meet US DoT safety requirements.

I'm unsure of the inspection requirements in the Buffalo area, but the only place there is likely to be an issue in NYS is in an area w/ enhanced inspections like the NYC metro area, for most of the state once it was registered that is no longer an issue, only the usual safety items are an ongoing concern

[Joe Bob]

If you mean grey market import and the VIN has "ZZZ" in it....they are "Federalized" when imported. There should be paperwork with it and a sticker in the door jam.

They upgrade glass, ensure the smog is up to spec, door braces, etc.....

[hbf]

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Trak ratt asked the obvious question. I should have too: what is the NYS cut-off date for emissions testing?

Well the answer is that cars 26 years old or older do not need emissions tests.

Mmmmm, let's see....2011 minus 1985 equals 26. Gosh, that's neat!

Safety inspections are still needed. My '73 was tested last week. No problems. Inspector said the car is in better condition that a lot of modern vehicles that he sees.