Is it illegal to sell a replica car?

Replica fans rejoice! After five years of red tape, a new rule handed down from the U.S. Department of Transportation will make it legal to sell turn-key replica cars in the United States. The final rule was signed by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Deputy Administrator James Owens last week.

Is a replica car a kit car?

When it comes to replicas — also known as kit cars — it’s important to understand that this is not technically a classic car. Instead, you’re receiving a vehicle that required assembled. You might be recreating a classic car, but it’s not the same as a genuine vintage vehicle.

How do you tell if a car is a replica?

Do Your Research Review the key details for the specific model you’re looking at. Get familiar with the motor, transmission, and suspension used in that vintage vehicle. You should even know what they look like so when you pop the hood, you’ll be able to tell if it’s a replica.

How many kit cars are sold each year?

Low-volume vehicle manufacturers (under 5,000 worldwide production) may take advantage of the law and sell up to 325 turnkey replica cars a year in the United States.

Is it worth buying a kit car?

If you spent a lot of money buying components for a kit car that you one day plan on selling, you should be ready for a loss when you eventually sell it. Since kit cars are not cars that are bought and built for sale and profit, but for personal usage, that shouldn’t be a problem. It’s just so you keep it in mind.

How many replicas of cars can you make?

The final regulations allow small manufacturers, who build less than 5,000 vehicles annually, to annually produce up to 325 licensed replicas of vehicles that are at least 25 years old without having to meet costly crash testing and other modern safety standards and sell them with a federally registered VIN.

Can you legally road-register a replica of a Porsche?

Thanks to a process called “Individual Vehicle Approval,” it’s possible to road-register cars that would likely be met with exasperated spluttering if you were to try the same thing in Germany, Japan, or most states in the US. Take, for example, the Icon 917K, a street-legal replica of one of Porsche’s most famous racing cars.

Are replicas of classic cars now easier to build?

The Nationa Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA) has finally put the stipulations of a law passed in 2015 into effect that will make it easier to build and buy new replicas of classic cars. Superformance sells a variety of classic sports car replicas. (Superformance)

Can I register a street-legal replica of a Le Mans car?

Take, for example, the Icon 917K, a street-legal replica of one of Porsche’s most famous racing cars. Yes, the UK will let you register a road-going replica of the car that dominated Le Mans (and the rest of sports car racing) from 1970 until the oil crisis kicked in.