SAAC Forum

That's a great story! Score one for us Shelby guys!

I wasn't driving in 1968, so your memories of the CHP using sniffers is more accurate than my perception. Thanks for the clarification.

As far as I have been able to research, the CA Department of Consumer Affairs (the name shown on your red EXEMPT sticker) was formed in 1970. That's about the time I remember seeing those (blue not red) stickers on older cars. I'm not arguing that those blue or red NOX SYSTEM stickers weren't used as early as 1966, but I'd have to say they probably didn't have "Department of Consumer Affairs" printed on them.

Can't say for 100% certain that I recall any EXEMPT stickers in 1974. But I definitely remember on my car, and those of my friends in 1974, we had to put the stupid NOX devices on our cars, then we drove down and got a very similar PASSED official (blue) sticker on the windshield, and then went home and promptly removed the NOX device and reset the timing until next time.

A friend of mine who had a 427 Cobra, back in the day, got nailed by one of those stations for loud exhaust.  The fix-it ticket needed a way to get fixed without having to actually change the exhaust system at all.

So, he went and got his girl friend's new-ish car and went back on a different day to the pop-up check station. The new car didn't have any trouble getting a passing sticker, so when he got home, he heated up and pulled off the sticker and put it on the windshield of his Cobra. 

Somehow, that sticker worked its magic and some officer signed off on the ticket.

After that, the Cobra got waved past any CHP check station...so long as my friend had the clutch in and the revs down to an idle.

Those sneaky CHP guys! 

Also interesting in the doc that cob4ra posted about Cobras and Shelbys being exempt must have had something to do with small-volume manufacturer regs, and certainly not because the cars were emissions clean.

CA didn't have many smog rules until the PCV requirement in 1966.

I believe the red EXEMPT sticker was from 1974-ish, and was a result of needing to have an aftermarket NOX system (which basically retarded the sh*t out of the timing) installed or not.

AFAIK, CA did not have those red stickers in 1966.

I definitely do recall the CHP's pop-up vehicle safety and muffler check stations. I don't recall if they actually tested emissions or not, but they were on the look out for missing smog equipment and loud mufflers.   Several times, I made a hasty u-turn in the middle of the block to avoid them.

Just to further corroborate:  I located a 1964 yearbook from Culver City High School, and found the same photo of the white 289 Cobra on Culver Motors' showroom.

Yes, in other words: Fantasy TV.

Happy to help, Rich.  I've owned a few 1960s Ponchos over the years.
Van

I think it refers to the fender-top decals.  If you look at the car from the side, the tires/wheels are eyes, and the fender decals are the eyebrows.

Of course, there are more changes between '69 and 70 than just those decals. Different grille/headlight design, side marker lights and tail lights, for instance.

I can't post a photo now, but will after the server full issue is resolved.   Or you can just do a Google search of 1970 GTO Judges.

Thanks for another great job, Steve!   Not sure what I can add to that.
Van

Vern, are you on this thread?   Can you add anything to the questions about the Pershing address?

How much for the ceiling fans? Those look sweet.

Thanks. Any idea where he lived in the Marina?  And for what years? 

He lived in Bel Air in the '80s, and up until his death.

From about 1982-88 (or maybe longer) he had the Chrysler Shelby Performance Center in Santa Fe Springs, then in '88-89 added the Shelby Autos assembly lines (CSX and Dakota) in Whittier.   I was at both places a lot.  (I worked for him at the Whittier location.)  He had an office at both facilities.  After the Whittier production stopped, I'm pretty sure he moved his main office to the Gardena facility.

A pix of the paper item that Vern had for sale a while ago...