Thread: Street legal?

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Another thought came to mind just a few minutes ago when I was looking at some tailights: Can you make a bucket legal? I know it varies state-to-state, but what would it involve in general? Will Florida even allow it?

Buckets can be registered in Florida. Hopefuly, Don (Itoldyouso) will drop by and give you some info. He's our resident Florida swamp dweller and T-bucket expert.

http://www3.hsmv.state.fl.us/Intrane.../BTR/83045.pdf

Don't know what you need for Florida, but I ran into a couple from Florida last year at the Coonass-Redneck Nationals in Louisiana who had driven their bucket to the event towing a small trailer. So they must be street legal.

I am sure "Itoldyouso" can answer your questions as he is the build process right now.

Uh-oh.....what if we're talking kit cars?

Florida is a cinch to do a T bucket in....our laws are pretty liberal. No fender, hood, etc laws to trouble you.

The one thing that can be a problem is getting the initial title. I have never gone the reconstructed route, but my buddy Pete did. He had to provide receipts for every component, especially the big ones (engine, trans, frame, etc)
Unfortunately, Pete passed away about 5 years ago, so I can't find out what all he had to do beyond that.

I think some counties have smog tests, but we in Lee County don't so far.

As I said, I just buy an old clean title and turn my car into that one. So far I have never had a problem doing that. I suspect you will have no trouble, just look at all the cars that are on the road down here like you want to build.

Good luck,

Don

With a kit car, the manufacturer should give you a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin. That should suffice for a title. If a supplier won't give you an MSO, don't buy from him.

Notice that there are two "shoulds" in my response. Check directly with the DMV in Florida for sure.

Total Performance will give you a Manufacturers Certificate of Manufacture/Origin if you buy at least most of their kit - body, frame, suspension, etc.

Originally Posted by Irelands child

Total Performance will give you a Manufacturers Certificate of Manufacture/Origin if you buy at least most of their kit - body, frame, suspension, etc.

they will give you a MSO if you buy any of there kits, body parts or frame parts seperate, no MSO.

First of all, yes, T-buckets are legal.

I was in the local tag agency last week renewing the plates on all my vehicles. Since my coupe is done and I am about to embark on a roadster project, I asked the girl helping me for whatever info she had. She printed out application instructions for "Replica Motor Vehicle" (form TL-48), "Motor Vehicle Assembled With a Motor Vehicle Kit" (form TL-41), and "Motor Vehicle, Mobile Home, Motorcycle, or Trailer Assembled From Parts" (form TL-43). I assume that using a fiberglass body puts us into either the replica or kit category. If you're using an original steel body and don't have a title with it, you would be "assembling from parts". There are lots of details in the instructions (too much to go into here) and a checklist with each one. If you go to your local tag agency and ask for these forms they should be able to print them out for you.

As for bodies... I bought mine from Dave Koorey Street Rods. They're made right here in Florida and come with a reinforced floor already installed for about the same price as Total Performance or Speedway gets for one without. Dave is a really nice person to deal with and if you're willing to drive to his shop (near Clearwater) or catch him at the Daytona swap meets, you can save a chunk of change on shipping. He supplies a receipt with the body, of course, and that's what you need according to these instructions.

Hope this helps.

Jim