New York Registration

[starwolf56]

Had my NY inspection in Utica this Monday...all went well. I had been expecting it to be a hassle but it was not. In and out in less than a half hour. The inspector was very complimentary of the cobra. NY has this silly padded sun visor requirement; but I fabricated some for the inspection. Need to put the tinted plastic ones back on so I can see out the windshield. Inspector asked if trans was new or out of another car...mine is new and I had the receipt. It would seem that things get sticky if you use parts other than new here in NY. Inspector faxed paper work to Albany so at this point just waiting on Albany to send me the last piece of documentation. Then off to the DMV... eight weeks from the start so far.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by starwolf56

Had my NY inspection in Utica this Monday...all went well. I had been expecting it to be a hassle but it was not. In and out in less than a half hour. The inspector was very complimentary of the cobra. NY has this silly padded sun visor requirement; but I fabricated some for the inspection. Need to put the tinted plastic ones back on so I can see out the windshield. Inspector asked if trans was new or out of another car...mine is new and I had the receipt. It would seem that things get sticky if you use parts other than new here in NY. Inspector faxed paper work to Albany so at this point just waiting on Albany to send me the last piece of documentation. Then off to the DMV... eight weeks from the start so far.

If you don't have the visors on the car they don't need to be padded.

[starwolf56]

MMM... When I called Albany and questioned them about the padded sun visor requirement on their list of "required for approval" ; I was told that the car had to have them. I was chatting with the inspector about NY registration issues; he brought up the padded sun visor issue and stated that it did not make much sense but the car needed them for the inspection. I myself would not take issue with such a small requirement anyway. I was more concerned about the receipt requirements. I have a cancelled check and the MSO(took a year to get it but that's another story) but I never got a receipt from Classic Roadsters. Just glad that part is over.

[1795]

looking forward to seeing you on the road. Good luck and let us know when it is all over.

[CBattaglia]

Originally Posted by starwolf56

MMM... When I called Albany and questioned them about the padded sun visor requirement on their list of "required for approval" ; I was told that the car had to have them. I was chatting with the inspector about NY registration issues; he brought up the padded sun visor issue and stated that it did not make much sense but the car needed them for the inspection. I myself would not take issue with such a small requirement anyway. I was more concerned about the receipt requirements. I have a cancelled check and the MSO(took a year to get it but that's another story) but I never got a receipt from Classic Roadsters. Just glad that part is over.

I cut a slit in a giant piece of foam I had, shoved the visors in. The inspector laughed. Said well it meets the requirement. They are kind to the factory built cars.

[Jim Kellogg]

Glad to see that you will soon be on the road!!! My experience also has been that if you are prepared (car and documentation) the NY DMV inspectors have been very helpful. Now to wait for the paperwork to come back from Albany....

[starwolf56]

Received the last document from Albany today.....I have the regular state inspection scheduled this week...getting there!

[blown871]

awesome.

[starwolf56]

Ready for the road...state inspection was interesting... the vin number assigned by the state came up as not valid on the inspectors computer screen. After talking to two people in Albany; someone called back and said hit the out of state button on the option screen...it went thru. Something to do with changes being made with the required "custom" car designation. Mine is a 2014 custom; emission exempt..

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by starwolf56

Ready for the road...state inspection was interesting... the vin number assigned by the state came up as not valid on the inspectors computer screen. After talking to two people in Albany; someone called back and said hit the out of state button on the option screen...it went thru. Something to do with changes being made with the required "custom" car designation. Mine is a 2014 custom; emission exempt..

New York went with the "low bidder" on the new inspection computer system and "Specon/home" cars were not programmed. There are a couple of "work arounds" that Albany will advise an inspector of if they call in. The first car we took for inspection under the new vendor the computer insisted that we plug the OBD in! Entering the vehicle weight as 8501# eliminates the issue. NYS got what they paid for.......................

[starwolf56]

Sounds about right....my inspector said that next inspection might be the same issue but was told by the folks in Albany that it may take a year or two to fix the problems. Anyway glad that's over... drove for gas today..

[airboat1]

Jumping in some time later here hopefully you folks can shed some light on what I'm up against. Just purchased an Everett-Morrison built in 2005, it has a Florida title and I have all the build receipts and manufacturer info. This EM is not a sacrificial car everything was fabricated by EM shipped to the builder and assembled. the only thing he bought elsewhere was the engine a rebuilt 351 Windsor.

I went to the DMV today and they handed me an instruction sheet for registering a homemade vehicle. They want me to bring it somewhere to get weighed, contact the Vehicle Technical Services Department. They in turn will direct me to the division of Field Investigation. Following this I must cart it to a special approved examination site and then take it to a vehicle safety inspection station. Following all this I then can apply for a registration.

Is this what everyone has to do to register a Cobra kit car? Unbelievable.

Steve

[Jim Kellogg]

Sad to say, but this is the process we have had to follow in NY for many years. It really isn't that hard - just takes time and patience.

The tech guys will be basically be looking for stolen parts during their inspection, so make sure you have some documentation for the engine and trans. Also be sure to use the correct engine s/n# - vin# in your application. It would be helpful to take a photo of the s/n on the engine block and trans to have just in case. They WILL check those numbers during the inspection.

Good luck. Ask away with any specific questions. Lots of guys here have been through this process!
Jim Kellogg

[airboat1]

Jim, Thanks I'm going back to the Syracuse DMV again tomorrow, a supervisor there said she will contact the office handling registering of kit cars to determine what is required. Even she was challenging the overwhelming DMV instructions and felt calling directly she could be of more help. I'll try to get everything in order as everyone always does when going to the DMV.
The title shows a 2005 Everett Morrison while the insurance certificate is made out as a 1966 Shelby Cobra. How is yours registered and titled and insured?
I read some of the difficulties others have experienced in NYS. Why is it such a difficult process, We are not building a car from scratch using our own design, we are assembling a proven design. My car has been on the road for 11 years, it only has 1990 miles on it but it's as safe as any other vehicle I ever driven.
Steve

[1795]

As Jim Kellog said, it is the process. Unless you get lucky and they accept the title from another state as is, you have to go through the process. There are many cobra replicas registered in NY, so nothing to worry about. Just make sure that you dod not drive it to any of the inspections; they will not like that. Find somebody with a car trailer. Good luck. It is probably not a busy time of year for registering a special build car, so you might get through it rather quickly.

[Jim Kellogg]

My Superformance ended up being titled and insured as a "2005 Custom". This was the year I went through the DMV process to title and register my Superformance MKIII (I drove it on dealer plates for awhile). The car was actually manufactured in 2000 as stated on the MSO, and I purchased it in 2001, but NY gives it the year that it is actually titled in NYS.

The "Custom" designation makes your car exempt from emissions testing for your annual state inspection. And it helps to have a friend at the repair shop where you get your inspections done, because starting the second year of annual inspections, they will probably have to call their DMV provider to get help to enter the proper codes to allow the machine to inspect your car.

Once again, not "user friendly" - and a little patience goes a long way!!!

I had to sell my Superformance last year, but gained a lot of knowledge over the almost 15 years of owning and driving my Cobra. Maybe some day...

Enjoy your Cobra, and stay safe
Jim

[airboat1]

Thanks to you all I'll keep you posted, sounds like there's hope after all.

Steve

[snapier]

I too had the same problem. I purchased a Superformance from Minnesota with 2002 title. And live near Moravia, NY. After all the paperwork and Syracuse DMV inspectors.
After about 3 weeks I received paper work in the mail that I could register my Superformane as a 2002 Custom and when I went in to get it inspected it was put in at 8500 lbs to fool the computer. As a Custom it is exempt form emissions. Once you get it inspected just keep taking it back to the same inspector with the paper work that thy will give you. I have had my Superformance inspected for 3 years now and have not had a issue. I have even taken it to a different inspection station and once I showed the paperwork from the last inspection they knew what to do.
Good luck...

[airboat1]

Well since my last post I discovered the NYS DMV will require that I request a VIN before I can request the technical field inspection. The Florida title VIN is a Everett Morrison kit number which is unacceptable in NY. They did say they are going to register my EM as a 2005. To apply for a VIN I will need proof of purchase of all major parts, this is no problem since I have the builders receipts except for the engine which was built in a custom shop from parts. The DMV wants the shop's engine bill of sale and I must identify the engine block number, the engine builder said he can provide the proof of purchase but has no record of the engine number tag. I have looked all over the 351W engine using a bore scope, camera, mirror etc. I gone on line for info on number location but cannot find a number anywhere. I've looked everywhere with no luck unless it's behind a motor mount I'm stumped. Has anyone had trouble locating there number?
Steve

[Mark IV]

Depending upon the year of the block there may be no "engine number" as Ford did not VIN all engines until 1969.

What type/year block is it? We can provide help as where to look.