Todd,
Good memory! Basketball, no, but yes, I am vertically challenged, in a positive direction...
Basically, the state of IL wants to be sure: 1) they get sales tax on every possible item; 2) they aren't legitimizing stolen parts; and 3) the thing is safe to drive. They also want to be sure the car in their records is the same one the inspectors come out to inspect.
With my car, #'s 1 & 2 were pretty easy, as it was a new roller with a motor built by an established business. I had an MSO for the car and a receipt for the motor, listing the engine block number. I sent the DMV copies of all that stuff, with a check for the sales tax and a separate check for the title and registration fees. They also wanted photos of the car from the side and back. They probably also wanted evidence of insurance. The big problem, as I recall, was that the one guy who took care of all the "special construction" registrations quit and another guy took over the job and had no idea where to start...or at least that was the story at the time.
I do recall reading somewhere (maybe here?) that other Cobra owners had differing experiences with their DMV offices, but again, that was 3-1/2 years ago. Seems to me that someone reported taking his car to the Woodstock office and walking out with plates. The local office should have a list of documentation items required by the folks in Springfield.
I have a list of names of people who may or may not still be with the DMV: Bob Walters at (217) 558-4077; Bill Hubbs at (217) 557-0717; and Rick, apparently the inspector who came from Peoria to inspect my car at (309) 694-7961. Sorry but I can't remember who was who. Bob may have been the guy who left the office and Bill may have been the new guy (?).
After the MVD found all my lost paperwork, I received a letter from their office which basically said all the paperwork was in order and the Secretary of State Police would contact me to make an appointment to inspect my car. The letter gave the phone number (815) 987-7560 for the Illinois Secretary of State Department of Police to call if I had any further questions. I think I had my car inspected within a week or two once I received notification from Springfield that all was in order. I wasn't home when the inspectors showed up. By the time my wife called me and I told her where to find the keys, they were finished with the inspection, although, again, this was a new car from a proven manufacturer. Anyway, if you go to the local DMV office and ask them for the list of documents to register a "special construction" vehicle of "kit car", they should be able to point you in the right direction.
Whatever you do, DON'T TRY TO REGISTER YOUR CAR USING ANY METHOD OTHER THAN THE OFFICIAL STATE PROCEDURE!!! There was a lot of trouble with bogus registrations, at least in California, several years ago and it isn't worth the heartburn, especially considering how simple it is to do it the correct way when everything goes right. Yeah, the sales tax is a big hit, but if you try to weasel around that and wreck the car, I imagine the insurance company could flat refuse to pay any claims if they could demonstrate that you had been less that truthful during the registration process.
Also, whatever you do, don't listen to anyone who introduces himself as "Wolfie"...
Good luck, and please update this thread to let us know how you made out when you get through the registration process.
Lowell
Linear Mode
