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Hello, hope I’m in the right spot. I am considering purchasing a 1934 Ford Coupe. It is currently registered in Florida. I am in California and wish to register it here. The engine is a 2004 Corvette LS1. The current Florida title is listed as a 2004. My question is what am I required to do to comply with California emissions standards to register it here? What equipment/inspections/testing will I need? Would it be more advisable to purchase a California compliant vehicle here rather than dealing with California’s unbelievable requirements?
Thank you in advance. I’m new here so I’m hoping I’m doing this correctly.
Bob rgilb@charter.net
Hopefully some Cali members will chime in here, but I'll pose a few questions: Why is it registered as a 2004? Is it a kit car, not a real '34 Ford? Or is it a 2004 Vette that's been rebodied? If it's a rebodied Vette, you may as well buy a compliant vehicle at that point. I think in terms of kit cars, California wants ALL the emissions equipment that came on the original car installed on the kit car. Probably not easy on a '34 Ford. And most likely, it doesn't have the Vette exhaust manifolds, which will likely also be needed for compliance. If it were me, I'd honestly be worried that California will simply start to ban all older vehicles from the roads, period, and I'd wonder if my investment will be stuck in a garage somewhere, unable to be driven legally. But that's just my opinion, lol.
Hopefully some Cali members will chime in here, but I'll pose a few questions: Why is it registered as a 2004? Is it a kit car, not a real '34 Ford? Or is it a 2004 Vette that's been rebodied? If it's a rebodied Vette, you may as well buy a compliant vehicle at that point. I think in terms of kit cars, California wants ALL the emissions equipment that came on the original car installed on the kit car. Probably not easy on a '34 Ford. And most likely, it doesn't have the Vette exhaust manifolds, which will likely also be needed for compliance. If it were me, I'd honestly be worried that California will simply start to ban all older vehicles from the roads, period, and I'd wonder if my investment will be stuck in a garage somewhere, unable to be driven legally. But that's just my opinion, lol.
There are no emissions requirements, standards, or equipment (federally or at the state level) on any vehicle built in 1934, so there is nothing with which to comply and no standards to meet - that is, assuming the title expressly states "1934 Ford".
Like mentioned above, if the title is for an '04 Corvette chassis/kit then it will need to meet standards of that model.
Cali smog law Since it is titled as a 2004 model,I see it as you would have to pass emission standards for California to register it. Unless you can have it categorized Vehicles registered as “specially constructed” that have received an emissions waiver. I have no idea what that even entails.
Somehow I missed in the original post that it says the car is titled as a 2004, I thought it was just a 2004 engine. In this case, I agree with the guys above that you're going to be held to 2004 standards as the vehicle is not actually a 1934 (regardless of its appearance or current shell).
California.... why does anyone live there unless you are wealthy or live in a rather rural part of the state.... Not only do they restrict car enjoyment for folks like Robobob, but they have above average crime, high taxes, etc... and we won't even get into the droughts, floods, fires, and water consumption issues,.. We don't even vacation there anymore and it is very upsetting because it is such a beautiful state geographically. Fortunately we visited and vacationed often in the 1980's and 90's especially, so we didn't miss out. On one of our last trips there we were staying in Pacific Grove on 9/11. With no flights back to our home in Tampa, we drove cross country in our rental 2001 Camaro. We certainly felt home in that F-body for the long 3,000 miles distance.
Best of luck to you Robobob in your quest for a CA compliant fun car but that 2004 sounds off-limits.
Thanks for the kind words. My daughter just moved to Tennessee for some of the reasons you mentioned and they love it. At my age it doesn’t make a lot of sense for us to move. Our house is paid for as are our vehicles. We have been in this house for 42 years and it’s in good shape. I retired after 35 years with my employer and enjoy it. My wife and I are in our 70’s and we’re all about cars growing up in socal. So we thought let’s get us a rod and go spend some time with people of like minds. I just went to the Good Guys National Roadster show in Pomona to get a look at what is out there. Anyway the state is run by Demotard asshats and is screwed up as every other state run by them. I guess now you can say that about the country with our geriatric president. Done with the rant…
Thx,
Bob
Vietnam 1966-67
Well, post like that you're on the same page as any of us with common sense. I understand the age aspect, if the house is paid for then cash out when things are at the high and buy in somewhere else. Money in pocket at that point.
Anyway the state is run by Demotard asshats and is screwed up as every other state run by them. I guess now you can say that about the country with our geriatric president. Done with the rant…
Thx,
Bob
Vietnam 1966-67
I know how you feel, I'm stuck in a state (IL) that is similarly afflicted with nonsense. It's unfortunate, because much of IL is perfectly fine other than most of the Chicago area. Relocation is hard when you've spent your entire life in the same general place. My wife and I grew up here, went to the same highschool and have now been married for almost 25 years.
I would love to move out by NC01TA and be his new neighbor, but a move like that is just too complicated for us at the moment.
In any event, I wish you luck in finding a car that works for all of your 'special' CA requirements.
^^^ It is very difficult to leave. We completely 'get it'. Your lives are very similar to ours as my wife and I grew up in Florida and also went to the same high school back in the 70's. We left family as well when we moved to NC in 2002 after my retirement from law enforcement. Fortunately we could visit FL with a one day drive any time we wanted. By the way, my deceased neighbor's house with the 12 car garages has not been put on the market yet.
Side note, @NC01TA I see your little avator photo, I recognize the Dragon, took my C5Z06 up there. Good times.
Good eyes! We live less than 2 hours away and visit it every time we get a different car. Not only fun to drive but those professional photos are the best! We sure have similar tastes. I've had two Corvettes and an '87 SS Aerocoupe in the past. I wish I could have kept the Aero but the Corvettes just didn't work for us personally with the lack of space for our numerous road trips.
Here are our past rides on the Dragon in those cars, plus the T/A which was taken in 2009.
1996 C4 Z51 2009 C6 Atomic Orange 1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe 1987 Monte Carlo SS Aerocoupe 2001 Trans Am in 2009
Sorry Robobob, didn't mean to hijack your thread but too many good replies here..
I totally understand your situation and it is so nice to hear from CA car folks. There are still many of you. Hopefully your car search is successful, and also congrats to your daughter for her move to TN. Just like FL, no income tax. Where did she move to in TN if you don't mind sharing? The entire state is good except for Memphis.
Yup there's an idea, see if it can be registered out of state. Probably have some rule about it being there and driven there tho.
Originally Posted by NC01TA
Good eyes! We live less than 2 hours away and visit it every time we get a different car. Not only fun to drive but those professional photos are the best! We sure have similar tastes. I've had two Corvettes and an '87 SS Aerocoupe in the past. I wish I could have kept the Aero but the Corvettes just didn't work for us personally with the lack of space for our numerous road trips.
Here are our past rides on the Dragon in those cars, plus the T/A which was taken in 2009.
Good looking cars. Yea those guys definitely take some good pics. The one above infront of the shop I took, I got a couple along the road. Few of us came up from the panhandle of Florida where we live and hit it a couple years back. Got some in the rain too.
^^^ It is very difficult to leave. We completely 'get it'. Your lives are very similar to ours as my wife and I grew up in Florida and also went to the same high school back in the 70's. We left family as well when we moved to NC in 2002 after my retirement from law enforcement. Fortunately we could visit FL with a one day drive any time we wanted. By the way, my deceased neighbor's house with the 12 car garages has not been put on the market yet.
I would be lying if I said that we hadn't at least discussed the general concept of this, the 12 car garage and wonderful neighbors would just be icing on the cake! Not sure what the price on a house like that would run in your parts, but I imagine with a garage that big the house itself is probably much larger than what we would need. I'm sure there are other houses, but relocation would be so daunting at present that I can't envision actually pulling it off. Although, if taxes get much worse here I'm not sure if we'll be able to stay even if we wanted to (and having to leave for that reason is a sickening thought).
I think that in CA you can take a car like that to a smog referee and seek an exemption. Worth a try at least.
As for the "relocation blues", native Californian here that took a position in Kansas 30 years ago, but kept a foothold in San Diego with a condo there. Here in KS i have a house with a 3 car garage and another lot with a 2 car garage on it. It's just not going to work in CA with a one car garage and one parking lot space at the condo. With retirement looming next year, I'm thinking to spend part of the year back home, but I can't see living full-time in CA ever again.
03-11-2023, 12:05 AM
2004 LS1 from Florida to California 
Not only do they restrict car enjoyment for folks like Robobob, but they have above average crime, high taxes, etc... and we won't even get into the droughts, floods, fires, and water consumption issues,.. We don't even vacation there anymore and it is very upsetting because it is such a beautiful state geographically. Fortunately we visited and vacationed often in the 1980's and 90's especially, so we didn't miss out. On one of our last trips there we were staying in Pacific Grove on 9/11. With no flights back to our home in Tampa, we drove cross country in our rental 2001 Camaro. We certainly felt home in that F-body for the long 3,000 miles distance.
Not sure what the price on a house like that would run in your parts, but I imagine with a garage that big the house itself is probably much larger than what we would need. I'm sure there are other houses, but relocation would be so daunting at present that I can't envision actually pulling it off. Although, if taxes get much worse here I'm not sure if we'll be able to stay even if we wanted to (and having to leave for that reason is a sickening thought).