No Kit Cars in Florida !!!

[ctuinstra]

Sounds like DF might have to start reaching out to states like factory 5 and Ariel Adam did.

What would DF do?

 

[SmsDetroit]

What would DF do?

Register with the state as a Kit Car manufacturer which should make it easier to register

 

[Adam]

DF Kit Car would have to be registered with NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), and they are not.

I've looked into registering as a manufacturer with NHTSA. The application requires a description of each type of motor vehicle or covered equipment manufactured by the manufacturer. This requirement is impossible for us to complete as we do not manufacture motor vehicles or any equipment that NHTSA lists as "covered equipment."

Conveniently, NHTSA has a public database of all registered manufacturers. I've done a few searches and have yet to find any kit car manufacturers in the database (there isn't a listing for Factory Five Racing, Race Car Replicas, Superlite Cars or Exomotive). I'd appreciate anyone with some extra time to go ahead and search the database more thoroughly to see if they can find any kit car manufacturers on the list.

Welcome to MID :: provided by vPIC - MID

vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Sounds like DF might have to start reaching out to states like factory 5 and Ariel Adam did.

I've heard of a list of approved replicas in Florida but not a list specifically for kit car manufacturers. I will be asking about this.

Also, Ariel might not be the best example since many states have a strict no Ariel Atom policy (Texas is one) because they are not kit cars. Since TMI Autotech manufactures and assembles fully built Atoms and Nomads (aka "motor vehicles"), they would be required to register with NHTSA and the car would need to meet FMVSS.

I've contacted NHTSA, Florida officials and SEMA to see what needs to be done.

 

[SmsDetroit]

I've looked into registering as a manufacturer with NHTSA. The application requires a description of each type of motor vehicle or covered equipment manufactured by the manufacturer. This requirement is impossible for us to complete as we do not manufacture motor vehicles or any equipment that NHTSA lists as "covered equipment."

Conveniently, NHTSA has a public database of all registered manufacturers. I've done a few searches and have yet to find any kit car manufacturers in the database (there isn't a listing for Factory Five Racing, Race Car Replicas, Superlite Cars or Exomotive). I'd appreciate anyone with some extra time to go ahead and search the database more thoroughly to see if they can find any kit car manufacturers on the list.

Welcome to MID :: provided by vPIC - MID

vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

I've heard of a list of approved replicas in Florida but not a list specifically for kit car manufacturers. I will be asking about this.

Also, Ariel might not be the best example since many states have a strict no Ariel Atom policy (Texas is one) because they are not kit cars. Since TMI Autotech manufactures and assembles fully built Atoms and Nomads (aka "motor vehicles"), they would be required to register with NHTSA and the car would need to meet FMVSS.

I've contacted NHTSA, Florida officials and SEMA to see what needs to be done.

See what happens when I open my mouth and don’t fully understand everything. Lol. The SOS in Michigan had mentioned several kit cars listed but couldn’t find DF so I assumed and you know what happens next. I was not trying to imply anything just thought it might help.

 

[jaredthenav]

I spoke to the Pensacola inspector on the phone today. He hadn't heard of an outright ban of DF Kit Cars for Florida, but did state that Exocets are universally getting rejected. He said 'rail cars and drag cars' are unsafe and will be rejected. He told me to go ahead and email him the packet and he'd let me know what he thinks, but based on the conversation, I'm not holding my breath. Montana to the rescue!

 

[r3drckt]

I spoke to them as well and they said the same thing. What has me wondering is if they are filing their paperwork as kit cars or assembled from parts because they both technically fit the description of a kit car according to Florida statute and the registration process allows for them to be street legal.

 

[jaredthenav]

Yeah, the inspector seemed to get hung up on replica cars--as in, the assumption is that a kit car is automatically a replica car. It didn't seem to make sense that a kit car could be just its own thing without trying to be a Seven or Cobra. Agree that the statutes and even the registration process seem to accommodate a Goblin, and it seems like there is nothing written that would outlaw them, it seems the inspectors have sufficient power to ban them. Short of all of us getting together and lawyering up to fight the HSMV processes, I don't see another way around their arbitrary decisions.

 

[r3drckt]

I’d include this link with the appropriate sections with your paperwork when you email them over:

Chapter 319 Section 14 - 2020 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate

www.flsenate.gov

Florida statute Section 319.14(1) (c) 5: “Kit car” means a motor vehicle assembled with a kit supplied by a manufacturer to rebuild a wrecked or outdated motor vehicle with a new body kit.

The Cobalt is an outdated motor vehicle who utilizes a unibody design and the only “frame” on the vehicle is the subframe which the engine sits on and the rear axle. The frame is still being reused and only the body is being replaced with a tube chassis and fiberglass bodywork. Therefore, it meets the definition of a kit car.

The Goblin should not be titled as ASPT as it does not meet the definition of ASPT according to Florida Statue 319.14(1) (c) 4: “Assembled from parts” means a motor vehicle or mobile home assembled from parts or combined from parts of motor vehicles or mobile homes, new or used. “Assembled from parts” does not mean a motor vehicle defined as a “rebuilt vehicle” in subparagraph 3., which has been declared a total loss pursuant to s. 319.30.

It does not meet the definition of an “assembled from parts” vehicle because it does not solely utilize parts from the motor vehicle in which it was built from, or parts for similar vehicles (other cobalts).

The wording could dictate that utilizing a wrecked donor could force it into the “rebuilt vehicle” category though so be careful mentioning that.