Titling a Unique Cobra in Georgia

[Mr Jody]

If the dealer you are buying from never got it titled, then he should have the MSO (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin) that was issued by Unique. I would think he would have this since without a title, this would be his only document to show his legal ownership, other than perhaps a bill of sale. Until sold to someone in the general public, it will not have a title. Unique may have a copy of the MSO, but not a title. A vehicle will only have one MSO in its lifetime, while it may have several titles, corresponding to the number of owners. As with all vehicles, the MSO is like the birth certificate. The title is like the adoption papers.

Concerning emissions, even though built in ’94, it may be that the MSO (or bill of sale) identifies this as a 1965 model, which I would think would make it emissions exempt. In some states, vehicles over a certain age don’t require that you have a title from the previous owner, only a bill of sale. Someone from Georgia, or their DMV, could tell you if that applies there. Even if the VIN is of a different format (or number of characters) from the standard, I would think that obtaining a VIN from the Georgia DMV would be only a technicality if it is indeed identified as a ’65 model since I don’t believe many if any cars had the 17 digit VIN back then. Check with the DMV to see what documentation they would require for a ’65.

See what documentation the current owner/dealer has, and how it is identified. He should have something on paper to show that he has legal control of it.