Titled as "Special Constructed"

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

You need to reach out to the Special title division in Harrisburg and explain the need for a "dated" title modification. Not difficult to do, but might be a bit time consuming as they are short staffed. 717-412-5300 start calling at 5 minutes to 8am, which is when they open. Title will still be branded as a "specialty construction" but will include the year it was originally titled.


Bill S.

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Thanks Mr Mustang for your quick response! So I pretty much had my car sold to a guy from Virginia but he backed out because his DMV in VA didn’t know the model year 1965/or manufacturer, or lack of info that was originally printed on my PA tittle. It only states "special construction" and date titled/date issued in 2017. He told me that because of this, the car would need a normal inspection(emissions) and wouldn’t be exempt from anything! I was just wondering if my tittle could be changed and by reading your post above it looks like it maybe can be! My next question would be should the tittle include anything else? The certificate of origin originally said 1965 Roadster! I just would like it to read what most states would make it easily transferable and no hassle and be exempt from inspections! Thanks in advance!

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Zeke

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Thanks Mr Mustang for your quick response! So I pretty much had my car sold to a guy from Virginia but he backed out because the his DMV in VA didn’t know the year/manufacturer of lack of info that was originally printed on my PA tittle. It only states special construction and titled in 2017. He told me that because of this, the car would need a normal inspection and wouldn’t be exempt from anything! I was just wondering if my tittle could be changed and by reading your post above it looks like it can be! My next question would be should the tittle include anything else? Just the year 1965? The certificate of origin originally said 1965 Roadster! I just would like it to read what most states would make it easily transferable and no hassle with inspections! Thanks in advance!

The year that PA will fill in will be the year it was submitted for titling, in this case, 2017. You cannot legally change the title in PA to read 1965.

Does your VIN start with "SW" ?


Bill S.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

The year that PA will fill in will be the year it was submitted for titling, in this case, 2017. You cannot legally change the title in PA to read 1965.

Does your VIN start with "SW" ?


Bill S.

yes, VIN starts with SW. I don't understand why they wouldn't allow this? PA allowed it to be exempt titled this way. Why not word it for other states to do the same? It is a 1965 replica. Not sure on how I am going to sell this car titled this way. New owner will have to reconfigure the whole car just to make it street legal. Anyhow thanks again for your help.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Zeke

yes, VIN starts with SW. I don't understand why they wouldn't allow this? PA allowed it to be exempt titled this way. Why not word it for other states to do the same? It is a 1965 replica. Not sure on how I am going to sell this car titled this way. New owner will have to reconfigure the whole car just to make it street legal. Anyhow thanks again for your help.

PA issued a VIN for a "special construction" automobile, it went through an enhanced inspection, once that paperwork was submitted, a "special construction" title was issued. At that time, any "special construction" title, whether it was for a Cobra, motorcycle, truck, etc and so forth was done without a year in that box. This was thought to be correct, but after a few years, and other states rejecting the title as invalid, PA specialty title office added the year it was originally titled as the year for the title. This is the process today, and will remain the process. So for you to want the year to be "XXXX", vs what the rules and regulations of the state are, just is not reasonable in the eyes of the law. You want to attempt to reinvent the wheel with the PA DMV, by all means, have at it. Just keep in mind, in the mean time, you'll need to have the title amended to read "2017" if you expect another state to take the title "at face value".

Bill S.

PS: PA DMV used to issue a letter explaining the process to other states, early on, those states took the letter and issued their titles per their own rules and regulations. Unfortunately, and this is from a recent transaction between a PA "specialty constructed" Cobra replica (ERA if it matters) and a sale into Tennessee, where the title had to be reissued as I stated above. In other words, Tennessee rejected the blank year, and the letter from the PA DMV explaining it, thus forcing the same as what I described above as well.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Zeke

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Thanks Mr Mustang for your quick response! So I pretty much had my car sold to a guy from Virginia but he backed out because his DMV in VA didn’t know the model year 1965/or manufacturer, or lack of info that was originally printed on my PA tittle. It only states "special construction" and date titled/date issued in 2017. He told me that because of this, the car would need a normal inspection(emissions) and wouldn’t be exempt from anything! I was just wondering if my tittle could be changed and by reading your post above it looks like it maybe can be! My next question would be should the tittle include anything else? The certificate of origin originally said 1965 Roadster! I just would like it to read what most states would make it easily transferable and no hassle and be exempt from inspections! Thanks in advance!

....and yes it has a "SW" vin#