New member and new owner of my SPL311-26670

[Datsundude]

Hello to all Roadster enthusiasts out there.

I’m new to this site, just join about a month ago and did not have a chance to give my opinion yet. I’m also new with
My roadster SPL311-26670, I have been searching for a roadster for some time, found many but price and condition
Stop me from there. I bought my roadster from a nice gentlemen “Pete Galvan� (great guy) who live in Buena Park for $670.00 include towing from Buena Park CA to Los Angeles CA about 30 miles and with extra engine and 4sp Tran and some extra parts,
This guy who I bought it from had bought from another guy who is in the process of rebuilding the engine but did not
finished and sold it to him and kept it for two years did nothing to it and sold it to me. Overall condition good, little rust on the
Both front quarter panel otherwise rust free, originally red color but had painted white now, 95% complete car all glass and seat are
Perfect and hard top, the only thing are missing are emblems, Side moldings, and fan shroud..

I want to learn the history of my roadster SPL311-26670, beside the guy I got it from does anyone recognize it?

Now I’m on the process of restoring it… so far I got the engine out and half way done stripping the paint in the engine bay.
Got the body off the frame, dismantle, replaced, clean and repainted the rear and front suspensions and frame.
Will post some pictures when I get the chance.

This roadster had not registered I believe since 1981 according to the sticker on the black California license plate. Here’s the bad thing about this car when I bought the car as the owner stated clearly undocumented (NO pink slip) bought this with bill of sale. Don’t know how hard it is to get it reregister with the DMV since it is out of the DMV database.

Question? does anyone out there have gone through this before? bought their car with bill of sale.
If you do can you please tell me the procedures on how to get the car register?

Question? I bought this car in June of 2004 and had not registered with the DMV because the car is not running (off the street), now
When I get it running next year 2005 and take it to DMV to register will they going to charge me with the back fee for not register it 2004?

I have been reading the Forum and learned a lot from folks like you guys willing to help and give their three cents.
I want to thank you guys in advance for helping me because I know I will have lot of questions in the near future. Glade that I joined this
Club

Los Angeles CA

[S Allen]

Glad to see you finally got logged onto the forum. It sounds like you are well into your project. I for one look forward to seeing some pictures of your project. As to the missing title I have done it before and it is not too terribly difficult. You can go to the DMV's website and get the forms you need. http://www.dmv.ca.gov
You will need an Application For Title and a Statement Of Facts form. You can get both of them from here Application For Title http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg343.htm and Statement Of Facts http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg256.pdf
Fill them out as best you can. The car has I am sure dropped off the DMV records so there should be no outstanding fees or penalties. I had one car that cost me $500.00 dollars to get the title changed and registered as the previous owner neglected to pay the $10.00 per year non-op fee. I am sure you will not have that problem. The statement of facts will explain why you did not get it registered sooner. Good luck and enjoy the forum.

Steve

[Datsundude]

Allen,
Thanks for the info you provided and I will follow your instruction

Question? According to the VIN ID tag on my roadster all number match
with engine and frame except the body, the body has a different number is this the way it should be? or the body came from a different car

[S Allen]

If it was an all original car all the numbers should match-body, chassis, and motor. There are a ton of roadsters that are mixed parts so it should not be a big deal. The DMV does not have a clue about the VIN tagging. Show them the one on the body and call it good or get a new VIN tag from Sid and stamp it to match the frame and engine. Completely legal as far as I am concerned.

Steve

[spl310]

Which vin tag does not match? On a roadster that late (if I recall correctly) the VIN is in at least 2 places on the body. The firewall tag (which I have NICE reproductions of), the dashboard (I don't have those, but one of the vendors does) and there may be a tag on the door post (not sure about that. I am a low windshield guy).

If the dash tag does not match, that means that the dashboard has been swapped - fairly common. If the firewall tag does not match, that means that the body was replaced. The dash tag is inconvenient to do, but doable. The firewall tag is simple. Originally the firewall tags were secured by phillips head screws, but a lot have been riveted over the years. The dash tags are riveted. The door post tag that I vaguely recall was riveted as well. Not sure if anyone reproduced those...

[spl310]

Which vin tag does not match? On a roadster that late (if I recall correctly) the VIN is in at least 2 places on the body. The firewall tag (which I have NICE reproductions of), the dashboard (I don't have those, but one of the vendors does) and there may be a tag on the door post (not sure about that. I am a low windshield guy).

If the dash tag does not match, that means that the dashboard has been swapped - fairly common. If the firewall tag does not match, that means that the body was replaced. The dash tag is inconvenient to do, but doable. The firewall tag is simple. Originally the firewall tags were secured by phillips head screws, but a lot have been riveted over the years. The dash tags are riveted. The door post tag that I vaguely recall was riveted as well. Not sure if anyone reproduced those.

On the subject of legality, the title should match the frame. That having been said, there are plenty of roadsters out there that have had frames swapped due to damage or rust. Does that make them illegal? Well, that is between the owner and the state.

[datsunrides]

Also,you will need to get a brake and light certificate to register your car.You will need to obtain a moving permit when your ride is drivable to take it to an inspection station.This is really no big deal,just make sure ALL the lights are working(inside AND out) and your brakes are in good shape(plenty of lining,no leaks,hoses in good condition,e-brake functioning,etc.)Last time I had this done it cost $60.At least you wont need a smog!Good luck with your project. Mark

[Datsundude]

Mark,
Thanks for the info, I’m not going to worry about the brake because I Just installed new hose and rebuild my caliper with new seals.
Light, I don’t know if they are working but I assume they are… I will check them when I put the motor in or is there a way I can verify them
Without the motor in the car?

Registrations, According to Pink slip (title), when you bought a car you have 15 day to get it register to your name.
Now I’m trying to avoid any kind of penalty and tax here, do you guy suggest that I have the car register now even though
It’s not drivable or waits until next year 2005 when the car is drivable? Will it be any penalty or tax?

[dbrick]

I've had friends use this in the past for barn finds, basically legal unless you know the car is stolen. If you know someone you trust in another state that does not require titles, he used Alabama and I think Virginia in the past, have them register it with the bill of sale you have, then "sell" it to you with their "new" title. If you aren't altering documents to decieve, I can't see this as being illegal. You can write a check to each other for proof of payment. Just decide which VIN is the right one before you start.

Good luck
Dave

[ambradley]

What dbrick recommends may work but is akin to title washing IMHO. It is possible it was reported stolen years ago. I've heard of this happening to a very nice early Ford Mustang. The Mustang was stolen, somehow registered (maybe as dbrick recommended), then sold to someone who put a LOT of money into it thinking it was all legal. Come to find out it was stolen so the original owner got it back with all the extra work done as a bonus.

Better to do the research to find out who owned it previously. It may be off the books in the CA DMV but they can research it. Make sure there's a clean title history before you put money into it. Otherwise if you get stopped for speeding you might find out the car isn't really yours.

[dbrick]

Adam makes a good point. If it had California plates once, there is a record somewhere. Always try the conventional route first. Worst case would be to buy a wreck with clean title history and use that frame. As far as I know, that is to the letter of the law. Good excuse to do a really nice frame up restoration.

[Datsundude]

I paid this car for $670 bucks, it came with bill of sale with this guy driver license and I did corrispond the driver licence wthe the bill of sale and phone number. I think its a great deal but it scare me because like some of you guys said it could be stolen, I have put lots of effort, time and some money on it. I dont want to find out its stolen when I'm done with it. So last month I registered the roadster and haul roadster to CHP (Califonia highway patrol) for inspection, the car is clean and now it is registed with title.

thanks
Ben (Datsundude)

[dbrick]

Good to hear all worked out without any problems.