Goal with building my kit car was to take as much time as
necessary to do everything right; had a garage for first
time and lots of tools. I also spent a lot of time looking
at how others had done their cars, using www.ffcars.com as
a guide to my work and because the assembly manual was
brief. There are many more technical/construction details
discussed in the ffcars.com
WEBsite and my WEBpages on theVAmusclecar.com.
However, not mentioned in my theVAmusclecar.com WEBpages
was the work needed to [ Maybe do bold font or underline ]
title the car. I had checked the rules before ordering the
kit. VA has a special hobby class for replica kit cars.
Can be titled as -the car it replicates- but limited to
<= 5000 miles per year. The kit was delivered with a
“certificate of origin” that just says - 1965 coupe
replica -, with no mention to Shelby & Cobra, because of
trademark issues. It is not a title. A 1965 car has almost
no emissions requirements :)
Application for title as a hobby class replica car (so it
can be titled as a 1965 Replica) required a notarized
statement by me as to how car was built and receipts for
all major parts such as engine, trans, rear axle, car kit
itself, and tires; and also photographs of the car. Car
value was based on these receipts and I sent DMV my CC #
in order to pay car sales tax after they determined the value.
Application paperwork included reference to Code of Virginia
and relevant paragraphs (www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/
reconstructed.html) that allow for a replica car title.
(another builder did less and DMV wanted car titled as 2015
w/ air bags, etc.) All documents were sent to Richmond DMV;
cannot be done locally.
After about 60 days I was told car would be titled as 1965
and a DMV agent would deliver the title and install the
VIN #. This was a Major milestone. The DMV agent was armed;
they also investigate stolen cars and parts.
The last last step was to get VA safety & emissions (paper
work that says waived because 1965 car) inspection; but one
needs tags first in order to get to inspection station. I
found that DMV can issue a one day tag for this kind of
problem; on-line application and print tag (and must have
insurance).
Was a long journey, but was worth the effort. If I built a
second car, would be done the same way with little, if
any changes. ~George
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