Looking to purchase a Cobra

[decooney]

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

You are correct to say that the VIN is assigned by a vehicle manufacturer. We aren't one. We sell parts. The chassis is assigned an ERA number which also goes on our MSO. The MSO refers to an assembly of parts only. The MSO will typically be confiscated by the DMV when you register your kit.

When you register the finished kit in your state, they assign an official 13-digit number which goes into the national database. The ERA chassis number is then completely irrelevant to anyone except those who desire some reference to other ERAs.

Hi Bob,
FYI: This 13-digit format is not true in all cases and all states and inspection areas. Some inspectors choose to use our parts VIN number from your ERA chassis, and titled as SPCNS in the great old state of CA, or a.k.a. known as a Special Construction. I've seen it done more than a few times, and I can show you first hand. The VIN on my title and registration and paperwork is my ERA chassis number, as assigned by CA Highway Patrol. They are the ones who chose to do this - and thankfully so. After going round and round with our local patrol offices on it, on two different cars, the CHP here in my area wanted to keep it that way in case anything were to get stolen, it was a bit safer and easier to indentify the car. I've also seen it done this way here on other brand Cobras and custom built cars. Yes, under this program they do assign a tag with big rivots that could easliy be removed - but we proudly keep it there with our ERA number on it. I had to show and prove the VIN was in more than three places on the car/chassis. Out here when I went through it a few times, your ERA frame # stamp, brass front tag on x-brace, and your silver metal tag on body - installed by us is taken into consideration when they are all there in combination. And, when there is proof what they told me is they would rather go by the chassis number, not tags rivoted on to the fiberglass body by the person building the car. This is one of the main reasons they make us go through all this process here, to help identify special construction cars and what parts they are built with and to make sure the car is not stolen. They assigned a new VIN tag in addition (being the 4th) to the chassis number tag provided by ERA, and what is stamped in the frame - and the tag they provided reads ERA XXX as the VIN. FYI. It sounds like they handle it differently in some states, and there would have to be a lot of very expensive corrections to do if they've changed the approach once again from a national vs. local state standoint.