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Originally Posted by elmariachi
You DO NOT NEED A VTR-68-A. The MSO is the original virgin title and bears the VIN #, so your efforts with law enforcement and TXDPS/DMW are not only not needed, they are a waste.
Step one is to get your insurance from an agent dealing in these cars (like Robin at Midwest Classic) and make sure the insurance matches the MSO (1965 Cobra). Then go get it SAFETY inspected only, no emission required. Tell the inspector to enter it into the state computer just like the insurance (1965 Cobra) and they will. Then take the insurance, inspection receipt and MSO to the county tax assessor office where you buy your normal car tags. They'll do the rest. Now more than likely, your car will end up being titled as a 2010 Assembled Vehicle (ASVE) with the notation "1965 Cobra Replica" shown on the title face. If you get lucky you might find an old school title clerk to title it as a 1965, but doubtful as TXDMV has a mandate to stop that practice.
There is also the debate about sales tax, as you purchases a roller kit car and historically the State assumed you paid incremental sales tax on all the parts, and as such does not collect sales tax on the completed car. You may or may not be asked to pay sales tax.
P.S. You can either buy new normal Texas plates or supply a set of vintage 1965 plates (available from various collectors online and Craigslist) and surrender those at the time of registration. As long as they are authentic and not assigned to any other car in Texas, they can be assigned to your Cobra.
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This is "pretty close" to what I did a few months ago down here in Johnson County. I have asked lots of different people about exactly what the people at the Sub-Courthouse did or required during the registration process. I have yet to find two people that had exactly the same experience.
I built my car from a Factory Five Racing Kit. I used some parts from a 1989 Ford Mustang that I purchased at a car auction and lots of other parts from a variety of sources.
In my case I obtained insurance as described above and had the car listed on the insurance card as a 1965 Factory Five Cobra Roadster.
I then went to a standard Texas State Inspection Station and had the car inspected. They issued my Inspection Certificate and also provided a "GREEN SHEET" which is what the people at the Sub-Courthouse will want when you register it. The Green Sheet listed my car just like it was listed on the insurance card. I wasn't required to pass emissions, even though my car is EFI. Remember, the insurance card says 1965.
I then took my Insurance Card, MCO from Factory Five, Inspection Green Sheet and documentation of ownership on my donor parts to the Johnson County Sub-Courthouse. I was required to pay sales tax on the cost of the out of state kit purchase only along with all the other title/registration fees. At one point the woman said that I was going to have to provide a photo of the car, but then later seemed to forget about it as we continued to have a friendly chat. (I didn't have a photo with me.)
They issued me a title and listed my car on the title as a 1965 Factory Five Replica Roadster, which happens to be how the car was listed on the Factory Five MCO.
The people at the sub-courthouse can really make it very difficult to get your car titled and registered, so be prepared to do some tactful and respectful negotiating if things aren't going exactly how you want. For example, maybe they are attempting to charge you sales tax, but are registering it as a 1965. If that was the case you might want to just pay the sales tax and get out of there with your 1965 title. If you make them start looking stuff up, they may require other stuff that could be a pain or decide to register your car as a 2010 Assembled Vehicle, so pick your battles wisely!
Good luck and let us know how it goes for you!