[sspano01]

Just as a follow up to this story.
I have completed the process in NYS at have my plates and my cobra is now 100% legal for driving!

A few small issues at the DMV which were

1) Make sure the name that you put on the form that fill out for NYS when applying for a VIN number matches exactly the name on your insurance card. For example, my application said STEVEN M. SPANO --> insurance card said STEVE SPANO.

This was easily fixed with a 5 minute call to insurance company and they faxed updated cards right to the DMV

2) When I recieved my VIN# from the state, Tom Noonan faxed me the approval form so I didnt have to wait for the original in the mail. The DMV office said that they would not accept the faxed copy. I was nice and smiled and thanfully the lady at the DMV said she would call Tom to verify. She reached Tom and he said it was fine and he checked my numbers to authorize her. I think I got lucky here...

I also had to get a standard NYS inspection process. This was very simple.
I had it done along with front end alignment.

THe shop that did the inspection checked a few minor things on the Cobra. Basically to make sure that the lights and blinkers worked. Note they did not check or ask for reverse light. I did not have a reverse light on the Cobra at the time either.

The NYS custom assigned VIN# was 'manually entered' into the computer system (which presumably talks to some NYS database) and the VIN number was accepted as a custom VIN and bypassed all emissions checks/etc. Note this could also be related to the engine which was from 1968 and I made sure that they knew this when I had my VIN assigned.

So...I got my plates and have put about 80 miles on my Cobra. A few small issues related to ignition timing above 3000 rpm and maybe a small clearance issue with the driveshaft. But nothing major and it is quite fun so far!!