Texas Title, Registration and Emissions Questions

[elmariachi]

This question is for those who have direct experience:

I live in Houston/Harris Cty and am looking at building a kit or possibly buying a finished roller, either of which will be powered by my recently-acquired, now-being-rebuilt '66 side oiler. I have had some less-than-productive conversations with a couple of State agencies in Austin about titling, registration and emissions. For those of you in Houston and/or DFW:

1. Are these kit cars with old FE engines in fact subject to the emissions requirements and if so, how are you getting around them?

2. Are your cars titled as later model assembled vehicles or actual '60's era Cobras?

The State is telling me that in the case of a kit, it will be titled as a 2008 Assembled Vehicle, and be subject to 2008 emissions. In the case of the roller, it will be titled as the year shown on the roller title, and should a title not exist, it too will be registered as a 2008. In both cases it will be subject to 2008 emissions. And should I take the later route of offering up no title and representing it as "scratch-built," I then have to fill out 4 State forms, have it safety inspected, submit pencil tracings of relevant engine serial #s, and even have it weighed. All just to get a 2008 title.

The State's position regarding emissions:

Kit Kars
Vehicles have to meet the emissions standards for the year the vehicle is assembled. Vehicle manufacturers have to certify that their vehicles meet EPA emissions standards. A lot of kit car manufacturers also comply with this requirement. If you purchase one of these kit cars, follow the instructions on assembly, including the emissions components. You should be able to pass an emissions test just like any other new car.

And regarding the older engine:

Just as the EPA does not allow an individual to reverse engineer a vehicle to defeat emission standards, they do not allow an individual to build a brand new "old" vehicle to bypass emissions standards. It is possible if you actually use old parts (like a 1965 engine, or complete 60s frame and powertrain) that the vehicle will be registered as that model year (replica), but this is a TxDOT issue. However it is registered, is how DPS inspection stations will test it.

Problem with that is, TXDOT said that a newly-assembled car with a 1966 engine would still be titled as a 2008.

Having been in the car business in Texas previously, I know all about titling and registering cars, but this is absolute BS. So any recent or relevant experience appreciated, and feel free to PM or email me offline if you have creative advice.

Thanks,

Jim