Smart cars finally roll past hurdles.

SANTA ANA, Calif. - Sometimes big headaches come in small packages. That's what a California company called Zap (ZP) has discovered in trying to import the tiny, European-made Smart car. Only now, after a three years of working to get the cars to meet U.S. safety and environmental regulations - and battling with giant DaimlerChrysler - is there a respectable batch of cars to dole out to dealers. More than 100 cars have been shipped to sales lots. The remainder, about 250, fill a yard in an industrial area of this Orange County enclave. Here, the cars await their turn to be outfitted with myriad environmental and safety items - from stronger bumpers to better interior padding - to make them legal for sale in the USA.