Street Legal rigs?

bbaxter51

bbaxter51

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Location
Stillwater, MN
I'm on the cusp of a new buggy build and thinking about how little my rig actually gets used these days.

It would sure be nice to be able to put my family in it and cruise around on nice days. That begs the question, what's legal here in NC? I have MN collector plates on it now that is basically a free pass on the road, but here with inspections, not so much.

I downloaded the inspection sheet, but that doesn't address stuff like engine, open wheel, etc. If I throw some EB skins on the front of a buggy, attach a vin to the firewall with a 2006, 6.0 in it, am I good to go or will I get laughed out of the inspection place?
 
I rolled like this for a while with my tail light and tag screwed to a 1x6 that was zip tied to the remants of the body.
I went to get an inspection with the bigger caged version and the Jiffy Lube guys said they couldn't. One of their many reasons was the fuel cell. I went down the road to a smaller station and got an inspection.
I have yet to be pulled over and even wave at local cops. I'm sure a Trooper would have a large time with it though.

I will be following the answers to this post, because I don't really know where you can bend the rules. I do know that you don't have to have a windshield but you do have to have working wipers...
 

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Heard same w/ wipers. Stupid NC handbook that can be so vague that it's intrepeted that way by most inspectors. On my vehicles, they'd just flop around without a windshield...:lol:

If you pass through Virginia you have to have front and rear bumpers at a minimum distance off the road. Can't remember exactly.

Does a vehicle require doors? Seen many without. I know there's a lift limit in NC something like 6" max from stock but that's debateable on so many lines. A VIN and active registration is a definate.

I would think if it passed an inspection at any place that is licensed to inspect that anything would be fightable in court. Especially with a lawyer.

I remember this topic came up a good while back. I think a good compiled list of do's and dont's ought to be a stickie...
 
You don't have to have doors but at least two rear facing mirrors, ie rear view and driver or driver and passenger. Also I think the exh has to exit rear of the passenger compartment.
 
95 or older OS the trick. No emission test, just safety check. U also can't put an older motor in the truck.
 
anything with a certain vin has to acheive the emissions and safety standards for that year. And the engine swap must meet the original vin numbers (frame-dash plate) standards. Where it gets fuzzy, many local custom car builders where getting hung by building the old 50-60 ish what ever. Cars that have not been tagged or maybe lost tittled. Building and reserecting cars with all the goodies and going to the dmv asking for that old year registration rose a stink. What hung em was all of em wanted older year listing for taxes and there car had like 50 grand plus invested in it. They didn't care it was a carburated fire breathing monster they just wanted the tax value. The new kit cars fell in the same boat (like AC Cobras). I still don't understand all the details, but could you imagine what a full on buggy would cost with emissions and all the safety standards in place like seat belts, air bags, wipers, safety glass, and low speed bumpers? Be a Rubi with the goods right!
 
Interesting... What would be the issue with owning a title and some skins from a 67 Bronco and riveting the vin tag on the tube chassis. Would I just need to pass inspections for that vintage year? Any issues with putting a new style motor in it?

My good buddy back in MN daily drives this to work every day in the summer. He's got it licensed as a Street Rod so he can run open wheel, plus the title is for a 48' Willys. The only thing willy's on his is the front clip. I'd like to do something similar but with a narrowed bronco clip.

aimg.photobucket.com_albums_0603_HULK64_Gilbert_20Sep_202010_Randomsummer4040.jpg


aimg.photobucket.com_albums_0603_HULK64_Gilbert_20Sep_202010_Randomsummer4030.jpg
 
I'd think you could register it as a "home made vehicle" like a dune buggy or the like. It would have to have the lights, horn etc, to make it street legal but then I think you're golden. It would be a safety inspection only to be sure the lights etc work every year. I'd check with the DMV to be sure. I think riveting a vin tag on something like that would be illegal since it really isn't what the vin says it is. Not too sure about that though. There really isn't any problem with open wheels or anything like that here.
 
Being as it is so much more common for the car rodders to try this I'd pick one of their experienced brains. Thats the fuzzy logic I don't fully understand. I only know what I heard from several men in a local club were complaining about around three years ago when some "officials" were running around demanding to see titles vin plates and registration stuff. The engine rull of thumb has been around for years. Seems If you can or used to could run VW rails, why not Old school Bronco's. Hell their cooler!:beer:

I'd search out somebody from a large club like the Applecity Hotrodders and get some notes.
 
Post up what u find, I work with the grandson of a long time member who has several old rods. His name is Jerry Ray Fox, he's even a Nascar Hall of Famer. His Packard has more bells and wistles than a North Star Caddie, its just old school. I'll try to pick his brain.
 
Tag it get it inspected and run it, I have seen some really rough stuff ride legal I don't mean off road stuff either I mean junk! The whole lift regulations rule look at all the new diesel trucks riding around on 38's and up if they are legal than any crawler should be. imo
 
frankenyoter said:
I rolled like this for a while with my tail light and tag screwed to a 1x6 that was zip tied to the remants of the body.
I went to get an inspection with the bigger caged version and the Jiffy Lube guys said they couldn't. One of their many reasons was the fuel cell. I went down the road to a smaller station and got an inspection.
I have yet to be pulled over and even wave at local cops. I'm sure a Trooper would have a large time with it though.
I will be following the answers to this post, because I don't really know where you can bend the rules. I do know that you don't have to have a windshield but you do have to have working wipers...
Click to expand...


You only have to have working wipers if you have a windshield, but it isnt required to have a windshield.


6BangBronk said:
Heard same w/ wipers. Stupid NC handbook that can be so vague that it's intrepeted that way by most inspectors. On my vehicles, they'd just flop around without a windshield...:lol:
If you pass through Virginia you have to have front and rear bumpers at a minimum distance off the road. Can't remember exactly.
Does a vehicle require doors? Seen many without. I know there's a lift limit in NC something like 6" max from stock but that's debateable on so many lines. A VIN and active registration is a definate.
I would think if it passed an inspection at any place that is licensed to inspect that anything would be fightable in court. Especially with a lawyer.
I remember this topic came up a good while back. I think a good compiled list of do's and dont's ought to be a stickie...
Click to expand...


in the rule book it says that you can have more then 6" of lift is it is used offroad

Redneck92 said:
You don't have to have doors but at least two rear facing mirrors, ie rear view and driver or driver and passenger. Also I think the exh has to exit rear of the passenger compartment.
Click to expand...

exhaust does have to exit behind passenger compartment

WARRIORWELDING said:
anything with a certain vin has to acheive the emissions and safety standards for that year. And the engine swap must meet the original vin numbers (frame-dash plate) standards. Where it gets fuzzy, many local custom car builders where getting hung by building the old 50-60 ish what ever. Cars that have not been tagged or maybe lost tittled. Building and reserecting cars with all the goodies and going to the dmv asking for that old year registration rose a stink. What hung em was all of em wanted older year listing for taxes and there car had like 50 grand plus invested in it. They didn't care it was a carburated fire breathing monster they just wanted the tax value. The new kit cars fell in the same boat (like AC Cobras). I still don't understand all the details, but could you imagine what a full on buggy would cost with emissions and all the safety standards in place like seat belts, air bags, wipers, safety glass, and low speed bumpers? Be a Rubi with the goods right!
Click to expand...

technically if it is 35yrs old or older you do not have to have it inspected. But technically it is illegal to remove or modify a VIN tag.

As Drew was getting at, they have custom/replica/classic car titles again in NC, so you could get it titled as that. Im not sure on the details, but it would have to be inspected and probably bonded.

bbaxter51 said:
Interesting... What would be the issue with owning a title and some skins from a 67 Bronco and riveting the vin tag on the tube chassis. Would I just need to pass inspections for that vintage year? Any issues with putting a new style motor in it?
My good buddy back in MN daily drives this to work every day in the summer. He's got it licensed as a Street Rod so he can run open wheel, plus the title is for a 48' Willys. The only thing willy's on his is the front clip. I'd like to do something similar but with a narrowed bronco clip.
Click to expand...


theres no issue with the new motor. if it was titled that old, you would only need an initial inspection, unless the vehicle was already titled/registered in NC. If it comes from out of state you will haveto get it inspected & bonded before they will title it in NC
 
I'm very interested in more details of this. My current rig is a 79 CJ 5, what if I cut the firewall out of the tub with the vin tag on it and fabbed it to fit a tube chassis; my CJ is already licensed as a collector. Wonder if that would pass?

I like the dune buggy license idea, the bronc wouldn't see any highway time anyway. Just lazy Sunday driving.

What about steering, can I keep my full hydro or can I only do assist ?
 
My understanding is that full hydro is illegal because if anything fails you cant steer at all. If hydro assist fails you still have mechanical

This topic should be a sticky.
 
There are no laws against full hydraulic steering... Or beadlocks for that matter.

Your best bet would be to find someone selling a 35 year old vehicle that has been registered in NC and they have the title for and buying it for nothing--which isn't all that hard. Then registering it yourself and putting that vin on your vehicle. In the case of an EB, swapping over the glove box door. Since there will be no inspection, nothing else matters. As long as you're otherwise street legal which is up to the NC general statutes that are very vague and lenient on "offroad" vehicles.
 
Gonna try to remember what I can from my build.
Tires- as long it has DOT stamp for highway use your good (believe 54" is max limit at this time).
Headlamps- no more than 42" high at center beam.
Bumpers- theres no NC Statute requiring them, (nice to have thou)
Fenders- there's no NC Statute requiring fenders to cover a certain amount of the tire, look at dune buggies.
Window- not required, but if you have one its gotta have wipers.
Mirrors- one inside and atleast one outside.
Doors- no NC Statute requires them (again nice to have thou).
Steering- as long as its in good working order (wouldn't advice full hydro on street driven vehicle).
Brakes- must have two seperate means of applying brakes, i.e. regular and E brake.
Height- no more than 6" over manufacturers factory height measured at the frame. So go to a dealership (that sales your particular rig) find the tallest rig measure it at the frame and you can go 6" higher than that measurement. The "constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off road operation" part of GS 20-135.4 doesn't fly with inspectors, it may with your standard officer thou. Doesn't apply to rigs titled/registered as "Specially Constructed Vehicle" (i.e. Replica, Street Rod, Custom Built) since you would be the "manufacturer" per se.

Whole title/registering shananigins.
Get a frame w/ clean title, have title put in your name (or better yet a tub & frame).
Get tub w/ clean title, have title put in your name. Use existing engine & tranny from rig (already titled in your name). If every thing is titled in your name you will not need to have it bonded to get title for build.
Have DMV License & Theft bureau inspector come out before you dismantle rig to verify engine & tranny in it. Tell inspector your intentions of build.
Keep receipts of all major parts used, take progress pics from start to finish.
Fill out an MVR-55 "Affidavit for Custom/Replica Built Vehicle", have it notarized. When build is complete & road worthy have inspector to come back out for inspection. He'll verify VIN's from your tub & frame (already titled in your name), verify that you used engine/tranny from rig (titled in your name) he previously inspected. Inspector will then decide what to title it as. Tell inspector you built it to be a ???? (what ever you built it to be), per your MVR-55.
It should be titled as "Specially Constructed Vehicle", "Replica, Custom or Street Rod" as Model. Inspector will then apply for a NCS# that combines all of your titles into one. When NCS# returns inspector will attach one to door jamb & other to firewall (its just a sticker so be sure not to mess it up b/c they do not reissue them). Inspector will also give you an MVR-31 "Assignment of Special Vehicle Identification Number" & an LT-270 "Report of Examination of Vehicle". Then you take titles, MVR-55, LT-270 & MVR-31 to license plate office pay your fees & they send all paper work to Raleigh where the VEU goes over it & then ok's it for the Special Title Unit to issue your title. Any more questions, just ask.
 
THANKS for the details. Where if available can this procedure be found in a Gov't produced document? Sounds spot on but telling a less than educated LEO a difference of opinion usually goes over better with a trump card in hand.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
THANKS for the details. Where if available can this procedure be found in a Gov't produced document? Sounds spot on but telling a less than educated LEO a difference of opinion usually goes over better with a trump card in hand.
Click to expand...
Your trump card would be your vehicle registration, title or MVR-31 (Assignment of a Special Vehicle ID # from Commissioner of DMV) or if your not making a rig have the dealership verify height at frame via paper work and pics and keep it with ya.
 
Thats why my car is registered in SC - they dont give a damn here as long as it rolls
 
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