Superbird Wing not accepted by DMV

[montana bird]

That sucks you will have to send the superbird to me  . I have never seen demensions on the superbird wing I have looked all over the internet any body else have them? I have some demensions on the daytona wing that I had found somewhere but that will not help.

[A383Wing]

the Nascar wings (which I have on my car) had only 3 mounting studs on the vertical supports and in place of the 4th stud, there was a cable that ran up one support, then across the horizontal wing, then down the other side support and connected at the bottom of each wing brace in the trunk.

At the top of the vertical pieces on the outside next to the wing bolt, it was hogged out to make the cable turn to go through the wing. I filled mine in

(I also should have taken pics, but I didn't)

[tyly]

  When I registered my car in here Finland, I have lot of pictures and fackts to my car. Wing is big broblem, but much bigger is front bumber, in here, in the car must be front bumber? Then I  show partnumberlist, where reads the little black rubber is bumber.
Also I must take red side lights off, orange front side lights can be there.

I get the car to registeration

[resq302]

It has to yield below a specific impact energy level, but also (once separated) must not present a debris hazard.

In that sentence, they contradict themselves right there!  It has to yield (break away) but also not present a debris hazard.  If something breaks away, it is now presenting a debris hazard.

[A383Wing]

that's why the mandated cable in Nascar....to keep all pieces from flying away

[WINGIN IT]

I think it would be easier to convince the DMV that with it's current configuration it's not a present hazard.
Seriously, under what scenario can someone get hit by the wing when attached to the car?
Wouldn't they hit the sides or the back of the car and not the wing??
I don't believe it sticks out past the end of the car, right?

How about attaching brightly colored flags on the beam running across , sort of like we do here when something is sticking out too far from a vehicle.
That way people see it and can avoid hitting it ( if such a scenario exists). Kinda like a warning sign.

[451-74Charger]

Better still ask that they provide at least 1 incident where a pedestrian has been injured or decapitated by a wing on a Superbird in over 40 years. I bet they have NONE

[swissmopar]

Better still ask that they provide at least 1 incident where a pedestrian has been injured or decapitated by a wing on a Superbird in over 40 years. I bet they have NONE

Thank you for your moral support but this will not solve my problems. The Swiss DMV/government sets up the regulations and any wing which is more then 8cm=3.2inch above the metal has to fullfill the above mentioned rules. As I said earlier they do not care if it is an original factory correct item on a very original Superbird - rules are rules ... they do not discuss with me, they just want to have their rules fullfilled. At least they accept the nose as a sort of bumper (see Finland - mentioned in an earlier post). Next week I have an appointment with the test center I will give a follow-up.

[terrible one]

Seriously, under what scenario can someone get hit by the wing when attached to the car?
Wouldn't they hit the sides or the back of the car and not the wing??
I don't believe it sticks out past the end of the car, right?

My thoughts exactly since reading this thread. If a pedestrian is in a position where they will get hit with the wing, then they've got to be walking ON the car or something   It's just an impossible scenario. Ridiculous.

[resq302]

Ok, hypothetical question..... if you go for the test and something gets damaged on your car, are THEY going to pay to have it fixed or replaced??

[daveco]

Sorry to hear of you dilemma Karl, and I hope my humor is understood as it is intended. I certainly to not wish to contribute to the aggravation.

I work in aviation, building specialized equipment mounts for helicopters. "Pull Tests" (as we call them) are a regular thing and can go smoothly or miserably, not due to technical facts, but instead depending on the personality of the designated inspector.
I'm sure the testing center will be able to share a lot of horror stories
From what I gather, Swiss DMV conducts their business not unlike the U.S. F.A.A. and trying to squeeze any leeway out of them regarding interpretation of the regulations would be futile. Hopefully they wont set the hoops on fire prior to requesting that you jump through them

[learical1]

Karl, is this a recent change to the Swiss DMV rules?  In other words, were there any SuperBirds already in Switzerland when this rule went into effect?  Were those SuperBirds converted to meet the new rule, or were they 'grandfathered' in?  If those earlier 'Birds were allowed to remain without meeting the new regulation, you may be able to request an exemption, based on the other SuperBirds and the age and collector status of your car.  Otherwise,
A.  never drive the car     or
B. register it in France, Germany or Italy and hope that you never get caught by the Swiss   .

[WINGIN IT]

I understand your issue is based on regulations, and not the practical logistics of the situation.
I suggest the tried and true method - bribery. Whether it be monetary / free rides for life / favorite snack foods or whatever.
Yes I am serious, as this seems to be why this regulation was set up in the first place... ridiculous...

Keep us posted man, good luck 

[WINGIN IT]

Maybe these guys can help. At the very least they probably have some experience and may be able to give you some insights:

http://www.autozulassung.ch/Registering_an_imported_vehicle_from_the_USA_in_Switzerland.htm

From their home page:

"We specialize in for Homologations, Modifications, Import Technical Inspections, Registration of EU-Import Autos, Canada und USA Import vehicles. "

"In principal, you can import any car into Switzerland from USA, Canada and Europe etc"

[Topher]

Your car is actually a piece of art. Do they require painting or sculpture collectors to deface their property due to an incoherant regulation? Like others here, I'd like to hear one proven story of someone litterally losing their head due to one of these cars.

[440mop]

Is it the whole wing assembly that needs to break away? If it is just the horizontal component that needs to comply it may be possible to replace the Allen screws with a lower shear value material like wooden doweling or aluminium tube.
John

[daveco]

Sounds like anything that sticks out more than 3.2" has to break away. It's kinda like hood ornament reg's run amok

[swissmopar]

Karl, is this a recent change to the Swiss DMV rules?  In other words, were there any SuperBirds already in Switzerland when this rule went into effect?  Were those SuperBirds converted to meet the new rule, or were they 'grandfathered' in?  If those earlier 'Birds were allowed to remain without meeting the new regulation, you may be able to request an exemption, based on the other SuperBirds and the age and collector status of your car.  Otherwise,
A.  never drive the car     or
B. register it in France, Germany or Italy and hope that you never get caught by the Swiss   .

As I figured out there were two Superbirds imported to Switzerland. One in the mid 70's (Alpine White) it belonged to one of the Mopar specialists in Zurich, I spoke to him, he could not get the car registered with the wing, he was caught three times by the police, the third time they wanted to take away his driver's license, he sold the car to a museum in Germany, the car is now in Liechtenstein, but never on the street. A second car (Tor Red) came also end of 70/beginning of 80's to Switzerland, the car could not be registered with the wing, never seen the car on the street since the mid 80's.
Naive as I am - I thought that times have also changed in Switzerland but I relize that the clock is ticking very slowly here...

Answer to A.: What ever happens I will drive the car - at least three times ...
Answer to B.: Possibility, but if you live in Switzerland and you are a citizen in Switzerland (like me) you are not allowed to drive a car with a forgein plate, except you have a prove that you live in that forgein country ...

Be sure we are creative - we will find a way to drive this car legally - but thank you to ALL of you for your contributions - very much appreciated!!! (at this moment my mood...)

[Nassau1969]

It sounds like your going to get stopped by the Police either way when you figure how to make it legall or not, has any one tried to contact your local government on the issue and do some historical deal for these cars. If you put some flimsy bolt in there and hit a hard bump or a fast speed it may fly off and kill someone. There logic is worse.

[pettybird]

I really would source a fiberglass wing.  Lighten it, put a cable in it, put plastic bolts in it, and get it tested.  You could even get it done by molding it in carbon fiber--then it would weigh under three kilos.  Obviously you'd keep the original wing on the side for when you might sell the car. 

[Ghoste]

I think that might be the wisest decision too.

[hitail]

Are there any F40 Ferrari's or Lamborghini's registered and on the road?
If so you should be able to use these as examples of cars with "wings" that exceed the height limit.

Hitail

[Old Moparz]

that's why the mandated cable in Nascar....to keep all pieces from flying away

I wonder if Dave or anyone else who has a stockpile of documentation has anything in writing from when NASCAR mandated this? Not that NASCAR rules can equal or better what DMV wants, but it might be one more thing in favor of allowing the wing to stay.

If you still can't get it registered, I'll trade you a standard Road Runner that only has the air grabber hood, no wing.   

[Semaphore]

MAKE ONE OUT OF PAPER

[nascarxx29]

that's why the mandated cable in Nascar....to keep all pieces from flying away

I wonder if Dave or anyone else who has a stockpile of documentation has anything in writing from when NASCAR mandated this? Not that NASCAR rules can equal or better what DMV wants, but it might be one more thing in favor of allowing the wing to stay.

If you still can't get it registered, I'll trade you a standard Road Runner that only has the air grabber hood, no wing.   

There isnt a full engineering diagram in the superbird fleet manual of the wing .It has each piece .I did download Nitro metal 70 Nascar rulebook .Have to look and seen what was mentioned about the wing if anything outlined