Advice about Virginia needed

[Tom of VA]

I'm currently in the market for my first Cobra. I've already found some real nice pre-owned Superformance but have written them off because they were titled as 2001. From what I understand, I will have the best luck if I can find one titled as a 65-67. Some guys are telling me it doesn't matter what year the chassis is, as long as the engine block is dated pre-1980? I'm not real comfortable that a DMV teller is going to waive my emission requirements because of the engine age???

[JCoop]

Tom, New York DMV is currently on a witchunt with "improperly registered custom-built vehicles". More than 80 Cobras have been flagged, and who knows how many more Hot Rods, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if Virginia and other states following suit (if they haven't yet) in a hurry for additional revenue. I had to cough up another $67 in addition to the aggravation of inspection and paperwork. Read my thread about NY registration and you may have to go through the same process there. Quite frankly, most replicas registered as 60's cars, are illegally titled or registered according to the DMV laws.

[BFBurk]

I bought ERA#209 in Virginia in 1993. The vehicle came with an emissions exemption certificate for Virginia. It is titled as a 1989 but the emissions exemption called it a "kitcar built with a 1966 model year engine and is not required to be inspected in the Virginia Emission Inspection Program in order to be registered". This letter was from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Air Pollution Control. It seems Virginia goes by the engine year for emissions testing. I have a 1966 sideoiler in my ERA. I still own this same car. The question you are asking about a 1966 chassis and a 1989 chassis was the first question I had when I joined Clubcobra. My car is titled as a 1989 and that date can not be changed. The year the chassis is built is the year you are stuck with. My ERA was built and titled in VA. In Pennsylvania my car mechanic says it only has to have the pollution controls that a 1966 engine had to be inspected. Pennsylvania also has an emission exemption for cars that are driven less than 5000 miles.

[R U YELLA]

Tom, BFBurk is correct. You can get an Emission exemption letter from the EPA if the block is older than 25 years. If it is a current block, it will be inspected as such. The Capital Area Cobra Club (www.capitalareacobraclub.com) and SEMA are creating new legislation for this particular reason. I have been the one involved from the beginning so I do know all the in's & out's. It would be better in the long haul to find a car titled as a '65. After we get this legislation passed, it won't make a difference.

You should register on the CACC site or meet up with many members on Saturday mornings at the Vienna Inn.

Good luck
Ed

[Don]

Ed:

The EPA exemption letter for blocks 25 years and older, is this only for VA or is it a Federal Standard.? If a Federal standard any suggestions on the starting point in contacting the EPA.

CT currently has a standard for all Composites, CT term for replica/kit cars, w/o regard to the year of the engine block. For 2007, all newly registered kit cars will have a tighter emissions standard, the EPA waiver would help.

CT also uses the year first registered in CT as the year of the vehicle for Composites

Don

[R U YELLA]

Only VA. In VA if the vehicle is over 25 years old, it is considered an antique. You could register it as an antique and not have to get it inspected or pay personal property tax but if you did you couldn't use it as a daily driver and you will have other limitations. VA's code is poorly written and is not very clear. You could ask any DMV representatives the same question and you would probably not get the same answer from any of them. The new legislation will spell everything out and not leave any uncertainties.

[Robtechno]

Hi Ed, can I buy a Unique Cobra registered as a 1964 cobra FIA in a different state and register this car as a 1964 in VA as well. The car is built in 03 or 04
Thanks for the info. Best regards Rob

[Tom of VA]

Rob,
Mine was registered as a 1965 Cobra Conv in another state. The DMV changed it to a 1965 Ford and I was out the door. It seems like the individual DMV persons can make determination that don't always reflect the applications or old titles you submit. If you're ok with what they try to do you are done. If you get someone that tries to change things in a way you don't agree just tell them you forgot something and take all your papers and leave. If you don't agree easily someone may totally botch your title work.
Good Luck

PS: I guess I would be good either way since my engine is a 1966. If your engine is newer than 1980 with out 2003 emissions it will help you if they keep it 1964 on the Title.