[XOTech]

Peloton,
The F50 does not require Show & Display in order to be imported. It is allowed because there was an equivalent U.S. car for the car. Specifically, only the 1995 F50 can be imported. Since there is no 1996 or 1997 F50 that was originally imported to the U.S. the European 1996 & 97 cars cannot be imported. I have had several '95s done for buyers here in the US. I assure you there is more than one Euro F50 here in the states. My guess would be somewhere around 8-10 cars. The next time I speak to one of my contacts that has access to that type of information, I will ask him.

Faisal,
Despite the fact that an Amerispec car "complies" with the US specs (aka: converted) They do not fully comply with DOT nor EPA. As found by a review of what Amerispec actually did to the cars (read: next to nothing). As a result, all 7 original Amerispec cars were asked to file for S&D exemption. The requirement to retest them for EPA certification has not yet been sorted out, such is the case with Gerd Petrik's car regardless of his Florida residence status. There is a 49 state EPA certification and a California certification. California being the most strict and difficult to pass. Thankfully, the McLaren is not only a wonderful car but also quite clean and with some work, it can pass California EPA Certification.

The CLK GTR was pursued for conversion elgibility but has since been ruled as not possible. The car did not pass certification. Despite the fact that the CLK GTR was considered for the Show & Display exemption, NO cars have been approved for imporation. There are 3 cars currently here in the states. One of which is Petrik's car. Despite the money spent to pass the car, it did not. In order to pass the car for the EPA requirements, the engine must be removed and replaced by a (I believe) SL500 motor (similar V-12). The car would then be able to pass EPA, but has lost all of the appeal that makes the car what it is. The EPA deemed that such action was too extensive and impossible to regulate. In other words, the probablity that the owner would reinstall the original engine was likely and therefore not acceptable.

The cars that remain are here on temporary Visa's only. They remain here only on museum visas or racing only certificates. Both such permissions are temporary.