Question for those with 1965 Plates

[bobinyelm]

For those of you using 1965 Texas plates for your cars, a question arose-

Some cars are titled 1965 model year, and can most certainly use 1965 plates, regardless of actual build date, since they are titled as '65s.

It was pointed out that my MSO says "1965 Relpica" and therefore may NOT be eligible to use 1965 plates since it is not a "true" 1965 vehicle (according to TXDOT an antique car may use the plates as of its "YEAR OF MANUFACTURE").

I hesitate to ask the folks down at the local Tax Assessors' Office since they could be wrong, then stick with their ruling if they point out that my car was not MANUFACTURED in 1965, but only resembles cars that were.

How many out there have '65 plates on "1965 Replica" cars, and does the model year on the registration and title on these vehicles say "1965 Replica" or "2010" (or the year it was actually built or registered)?

For reference (and another question), my car was actually completed as a rolling chassis and bought by me in 2008, with the MSO saying "1965 Replica," but an issue date of 3/13/2008. Since I just completed it, would that make it a 2008, or a 2010 if they list a "modern" year on the title?

I would imagine for tax purposes, I would have to pay sales tax on the rolling chassis price I paid in 2008, as opposed to a "depreciated" price since the car is now 2 years old, or the current list price of the rolling chassis (which is higher than when I bought mine)?

OK, so I am pushing it here on the tax thing!

I guess we're just fortunate that Texas does not impose an annual excise tax, whereby the annual registration is predicated upon the retail market price of the car. When I lived in WA state, some people were paying $2000-$3000 to register their cars every year (owners of luxury motor homes were paying 10X that), and in CT even more (as cars were taxed as personal property annually at up to 10% or so).

Also (last question, promise), were any of you asked for receipts and proof of tax paid on the major components (engine, transmission)? I never received one on the used 1968 engine block and heads that were used to build my engine.

Bob