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Arkansas adopts SEMA custom car title legislation
We recently reported how SEMA had helped get new kit and custom car registration legislation passed in Virginia. Well, the razorbacks didn't want their Southern rivals to get too far ahead and recently passed a similar bill of their own. Arkansas made changes to their vehicle titling and registration classifications for street rods and created a new class for custom vehicles too. The bill was recently signed into law by Governor Mike Beebe after being approved by the Arkansas State Legislature. Arkansas now defines a street rod as "an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949" and a custom as "an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948." And like the Virginia law, kit cars and replicars will get tagged as being the same model year as the car they aim to replicate. So a freshly built '32 Ford would be a 1932 Ford, and a new Cobra would be a 1960's car on the books. Arkansas' new law also allows non-original materials to be used, allocates special license plates for this class of vehicles, and lets builders use blue dot taillights. Street rods and customs will also be exempt from many of the standard equipment requirements and emissions controls. Things like catalysts and seatbelts will only have to meet period requirements. As is the case in Virginia as well, the kits and customs that are titled and registered this way will have mileage restrictions, but they tend to be limited use vehicles anyways.
[Source: Auto Spectator]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Frustrated Consumer 9:29AM (3/31/2007)
I don't quite understand how the states can simply exempt cars from federal regulations. If this starts to be a popular move across the country, I'm guessing the feds will step in and stop it. Especially in light of all the global warming scare (whether you believe it or not) - I can't imagine they're simply going to let a wave of new cars on the market that don't have any emissions restrictions. You can bet the major manufacturers will fight that trend...
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Will 3:52PM (3/31/2007)
@1 I believe you're missing the point. Enthusiasts and kit-builders cannot afford to crash test, emmisions certify, or get into step with all the federal regulations that new car manufacturers have to abide to.
Is the gentleman who is building that replica Shelby Cobra next door, going to be responsible for engineering an emmisions system for his vintage 427 motor? What of side impact tests; How many mules of the same exact car would the gentleman have to build so that the feds, followed by the insurance institutions, need to destroy so he can enjoy his project car?
The Caterham, GTM, Proteus, Ultima, are all fantastic project cars, but would be out of the financial reach of most people if they were to become regular production vehicles.
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