MeanRex7

I think I've read that 95 and before are, and 96 and after are illegal (to be driven and such)
Whats Ameritech, and what all do they do to legalize them for driving.

Any other interesting things about having them legal in the US?

MeanRex7

anyone?

faisalkhan

Well, to be legal, they have to conform to Federal safety and emissions laws. McLarens were never designed to be in compliance with these. However, they do meet or exceed several of the standards.

Anyone importing these cars has to make the case that the cars do conform to the standards in effect at the time of manufacture, and if they don't conform in some areas, then they have to be modified and brought in compliance.

Amerispec brought the cars in and made the case that they were brought in as incomplete. Then they said that they completed the assembly of the cars, making them subject to kit car or home-assembled car standards (which are less stringent). Amerispec is registered as a manufacturer and is assigned its own series of VIN numbers, so these cars have an AmeriSpec VIN number as well as a McLaren one. In addition, enough modifications were done to the exhaust to enable the cars to pass EPA regulations, although not all states test for these, so different cars had different amounts of work done, if any. A lot of these "certifications" are paperwork only eg. certification that the lights conform to DOT spec. so and so.

Some modifications that did alter the car significantly were done in a manner so that they could be undone easily. For instance, mini bumpers were added, but these could be removed within 10 minutes. One of the passenger seats was also removed, but it was a simple matter of replacing and securing the seat cushions to bring the McLaren back to its original configuration. So, with these "modifications" AmeriSpec sold these cars as "kit cars" built by AmeriSpec. Of course, most of the buyers immediately reverted the cars back to their original factory configuration. Some did keep the modified exhaust systems, though.

Eventually, NHTSA recognized that some cars are truly special and it is impossible to convert them to Federal Safety Standards without altering the car completely or incurring huge expenses. And that they were being brought into the country under a variety of guises and existing here under dubious pretenses. So, to regulate this grey area, they created a Show and Display category. You have to petition NHTSA to get a special car approved under this category, and once you are given this approval, you don't have to modify the car to meet Federal Safety Standards. You do have to still meet EPA standards, though. And you are only allowed to drive a maximum of 2,500 miles per year under this category.

Note that cars that are more than 25 years old are exempt from EPA standards also. They can be brought in relatively easily. The Show and Display category is for modern supercars like the Porsche 959, Bugatti EB110, etc. And some modern cars have been turned down this category. Check the NHTSA website. It is a very selective program. All of AmeriSpec's cars are grandfathered in under this category, however, and are now legally here under Show and Display status.

In 1996, OBDII became a mandatory EPA requirement. McLarens don't have OBDII. Therefore, 1996 and later McLarens are not eligible for the show and display exemption. They are typically only brought into the US under a temporary tourist exemption or as racecars (these travel under 90-day permits called racing carnets). But once the cars clear customs under these classifications, owners do things like drive them on dealer plates, etc. There's all kinds of tricks--it's up to the owners what risks they want to take, and how much they are willing to spend.

As you probably know, at least one has been confiscated by customs. Xotech, any updates on that one? Last I heard, it was on a pallet in a warehouse, breathing the same air as animal skins, firearms, drugs, industrial machinery bound for Iraq and N. Korea, etc. etc.!

farbod

wierd

gerd

I don't know who your source is for stating that Amerispec (Richard Fritz) brought the cars in "incomplete". Fritz recevied a VIN identifier from SAE and became a "manufacturer" under the DOT WMI listings. Neither Fritz nor AMerispe/Tech is listed as a mnaufacturer in CT, as required by state law. Supposidly the cars were converted in a free trade zone. I don't buy any of this.
the EPA certifcates for the Amerispec McLarens - 7 plus Lenos - did not go to Fritz. They went to JK Technologies. And I don't beleive that JK has ever had a working chassis dyno as required of an ICI so the few cars that were used for the cert test were done in Ann Arbor At the time, Fritz was not registered as a RI or ICI which he should have been. The manufacture status created by this outfit is a farce, IMHO. And I suspect someone you and I know at DOT helped, IMHO
The only car that I aware of that was "altered" was one of Lauren's. But the pictures are misleading. Raised suspension to meet bumper heights? Square headlights? I don't think so. In the R&T article, the TX owner stated that he and his wife traveled to CT to pick up his car and then they drove it back to TX. How could they do this if the two passenger seats had been removed per DOT standards which Fritzie says he met?

farbod

who me

gerd

None of the Amerispec cars are grandfathered under S&D. Lauren applied within the six month grace period but has not completed the process. Leno's car has been approved under S&D but the EPA cert is wrong, IMHO. Leno's car, 015, is a 1994. The cert it came in on is to JK for 1995s.

farbod

realy

MeanRex7

Read his post again
One of the passenger seats was also removed, but it was a simple matter of replacing and securing the seat cushions to bring the McLaren back to its original configuration.

pennyho

Does anyone know any web site that sell the mclaren f1 road car die cast model?

faisalkhan

search google and ebay.

faisalkhan

Gerd,
you seem to know a fair amount of inside info. I was wondering if you know of a McLaren in Egypt?

I have heard that one is coming out of Egypt to the US. That's all I know right now, but I thought you might have more info.

This is a complete guess, but I know Harrods sponsored one for a while. I also know that Mohammed Al-Fayed (father of Dodi--Princess Diana's companion at the time of her tragic accident) owns Harrods. Could it be that car?

Maybe he did personally own the car, but he is based in England, so why would the car be in Egypt? Unless he kept it at some relative's house or at a summer retreat or something?
Rgds,
Faisal.

Peloton25

Well, the Harrods car was an F1 GTR, so wouldn't that rule it out as a possibility being that there are no provisions from our government to allow import of any F1 GTRs?

The Harrod's sponsored car was GTR #06R btw - and after Mach One Racing used it for the 1995 and 1996 GT Racing seasons, it was later raced in 1997 in the FIA GT series by a team named MVR. They used the car for two races that year - the season opener at Hockenheim and the following race at Silverstone. In both races, the car was far off the pace of the newer F1 GTR long tails and newer competitors. The car then failed to qualify at for the Helsinki race and the team ended up replacing it with a new Lotus Elise GT1 for the remainder of the season.

BTW: Great info in this thread so far. One comment on the Amerispec cars - the interior photo that I have shows covers over both passenger seats and I seem to recall the text of the R7T article confirming that the modifications turned the car into a single seater. It's quite possible that the cars were only modified to satisfy the regulators and then converted back prior to delivery to the customer. That could explain how Mr Beal and his wife were able to drive the car back home.

>8^)
ER

Here's a rare photo of GTR #06R wearing that MVR livery:

Attached Images

mclaren11.jpg (74.8 KB, 401 views)

Vt Fusion

I must say that is one of the nicest GTR's ive ever seen.

On topic. Seems strange that they would have to take one passenger seat out? has anyone found out why that is? doesn't make much sense to me.

I hope when i make my millions and get the chance to buy one that the same things do not imply in AUS.

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cujo_s13

I wouldn't get your hopes up. Except for older cars, all road-registered cars in Aus have to be right hand drive. The Mclaren, with the driver's seat in the middle, does not qualify.

I imagine you could race-rego it though, just don't get caught cruising down George St on a Friday night! :-)

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Caleb
91 Silvia Ks