I am afraid that Arnold and the legislature did us wrong on this one. Here is a quote from the bill AB 2683 as chartered and signed into law:

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Existing law exempted from those requirements, until
January 1, 2003, any motor vehicle manufactured prior to the 1974 model-year, and after that date, any motor vehicle that is 30 or more model-years old.
This bill would instead, commencing April 1, 2005, exempt from the smog check requirements, and the smog check compliance requirements, any motor vehicle manufactured prior to the 1976 model-year.
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So it appears that the rolling 30 year exemption is a goner. As I read it the law also adds some other requirements to even older vehicles to be checked for the proper type of gas cap and fuel leaks. THis could mean that even 50+ year cars like mine will have to go to a smog staion and have that checked, at a cost I am sure.

Here is a link to AB 2683. If anyone can see a diffferent interpretation please speak up.

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/...chaptered.html

I am depressed too. I guess Arnold did not pay attention to my letter.

Pat