So, how did this work out? I just picked up my Z from the shop two days ago. It was last registered in 1994. I went to the DMV yesterday to register it, but they were paving the parking lot, so they were closed. Nice.
On the way home, you guessed it, I got pulled over. The helpful officer told me that the car had, in fact, not been registered since 1994, and had never been non-op'ed, so I will have to pay 14 years in back registration fees. That doesn't sound good. He also told me that if he hadn't believed my story he would have impounded the car on the spot.
I have heard the 5-year thing from someone else as well. Has anyone ever actually been through that with the California DMV?
Thanks in advance for any advice.