Cobra Kit Registration - What Is It?

[vegan2]

I just purchased a used Cobra (ERA) and it was an interesting process when I re-registered it in Arizona. I was able to register it as a Historic Vehicle (25+ years old). I'm wondering what others have registered their kit Cobra as, e.g. kit car with the year built as the year of the car, Ford Cobra based on the fact that it's the same as the original - especially if original parts are used, or some other designation. Of course, each State DMV is different and probably has a different policy to follow.

The point is, what is a kit Cobra (as far as the state is concerned)? How many parts from an original Cobra would you have to have built in to call it real? What if the same parts were used, as is the case, does that qualify a kit Cobra to be registered as, for example, a 1965 Ford Cobra, a 1965 Shelby Cobra, etc.?

I think it's a cool thing to be able to register a kit Cobra as a 1965 car, of course, a long as you don't try to sell it as a real Cobra and that may be a problem or the problem.

I'd be interested in any insight in this area as I may have to re-visit my Historic Vehicle registration based on a recent related event.

[Johnnyquest]

In Texas replicas or "assembled cars" , titles are given for the year represented. I have a 2002 Factory Five but my title and insurance carrier see it as a 65 Roadster. Not a shelby, that may bring on legal issues, which I am not pursuing at this time. The nice part is no omissions, Texas looks at anything prior to 68 as ommission free or exempt only safety issues are required for our yearly inspection.

[PSB]

Depends on the state.

In Florida,
- a "Kit car" means a motor vehicle assembled with a kit supplied by a manufacturer to rebuild a wrecked or outdated motor vehicle with a new body kit.
- "Replica" means a complete new motor vehicle manufactured to look like an old vehicle


Pete

[Excaliber]

I heard that in England they accept a car as "original" or "real" if it contains a part of the FRAME from the "real" car. I would imagine this could lead to several "real" cars being "identical".

Can you imagine two, three or four "Cobras" all packing the same CSX number? It's happened to Dusenbergs, which are very old and very valuable cars. At some point in time, it could well happen with a Cobra.

Ernie

[vegan2]

Originally posted by PSB
Depends on the state.
In Florida,
- a "Kit car" means a motor vehicle assembled with a kit supplied by a manufacturer to rebuild a wrecked or outdated motor vehicle with a new body kit.
- "Replica" means a complete new motor vehicle manufactured to look like an old vehicle
Pete

Pete: So, how or kit cars and replicas registered in Florida - year built or the year they represent? And, how are they listed, e.g. as Cobras?

[PSB]

From the Florida DMV Manual:

Kit Motor Vehicles will be titled with the following information:
• The "YR (year)" of the motor vehicle will be the year the kit is assembled.
• The "Make" will be the make shown on the body kit Manufacturer's Certificate
of Origin or the bill of sale from the manufacturer, if applicable.
• The identification number will be the VIN (vehicle identification number) shown
on the body kit MCO or the bill of sale from the manufacturer, if applicable.
NOTE: If a VIN number was not assigned on the MCO by the manufacturer, an FLA
number must be assigned to the motor vehicle by a Florida DMV Compliance
Examiner/Inspector.
• The "Body" will be the body type shown on the body kit Manufacturer's
Certificate of Origin or the bill of sale from the manufacturer, if applicable.
• The word "Kit Car" will be shown on the face of the initial certificate of title and
subsequent titles shall carry that brand forward for the life of the motor vehicle.
• The kit will be titled as a used motor vehicle.


A. Replica vehicles are complete new vehicles, manufactured to look like old vehicles.
Replica vehicles are sometimes referred to as "Reproductions."
B. The manufacturer of the replica vehicle must have a manufacturer's license.
C. Replica vehicles will be titled with the following information:
• The "YR. (year)" will be the year the vehicle was manufactured.
• The "Make" will be the make shown on the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin.
• The "Identification Number" will be the VIN (vehicle identification number)
shown on the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin.
• The "Body" will be the body type shown on the Manufacturer's Certificate of
Origin.
• The letter "N" (new) will be printed on the certificate of title in the space
designated for the previous state.
• The word "Replica" will be shown on the face of the initial certificate of title and
subsequent titles shall carry that brand forward for the life of the vehicle.

[vegan2]

Originally posted by PSB
From the Florida DMV Manual:

WOW - no chance of registration is Florida based on the year the car was originally produced.

The post outlining the England method is interesting, in that what if you have a piece of a real Cobra, say the engine or a door or the windshield - would that actually be a Cobra is you built everything around what you do have that is real to match the original Cobra - from a registration point of view?

If you purchased a new car from Ford and the engine blow up and you replaced that engine with a 1965-427 engine, would the car still be an original based on the original year it was sold - in other words what level of parts replacement turns it into another car?

Say you had a real steel body 1932 Ford (fiberglass fenders), but the engine was from a newer car, what is the car registered as? Now, what if it's a fiberglass body with a newer engine made is 2003, but it looks exactly like a 1932 Ford?

[Bryan Wilson]

My car was built and originaly registered in England and under English regulations at the time of registration if a kit car uses a donor vehicle and a certain quantity of parts are used from the donor then the finished car takes on the title of the donor vehicle.
My Cobra replica was built in England in 1984 using a 1974 Jaguar donor vehicle.
It was imported into Australia in 1992 with the import papers stating that it is a Daimler Soverign.
The Australian registration sticker states it is a 1974 Jaguar Coup.
When at car shows every one asks how come the label says its a Jag?????
Kit car registration can get very complicated at times.

Regards,
Bryan

[saglio]

Does anyone know where to look for the stamped VIN number on the chassis of a Contemporary Cobra? Trying to get it registered.

Thanks,

Jeses

[Loadmaster]

I'm Active Duty Air Force, stationed in Oklahoma, legal resident of Alaska. I registered my Lone Star 427 in Alaska as a 1966 Ford after I obtained a title from Vintage Titles. Zero problems and only $70 for two years......

[Eljaro]

Saglio,
the number is stamped on the left side on the outside of the main round frame member between the two supports for the shock absorber and the rear of the upper A-arm.
You may have to take off some paint here to see the number properly.
Good luck
Stefan

[saglio]

Thanks Stefan.