[snakehunter]

The short answer is Ohio, 1965 Shelby Cobra 427. Vin number is CSX4158. It is salvaged branded due to the flood history.


The long answer: The car was originally titled as such in Georgia, and when we brought the car into Ohio, they verified the csx vin number and issued the title that matched the GA evidence. GA is apparently a year of appearance state, and the car was legally titled/registered there by the previous owner.

However when we had the salvage inspection (which we passed with flying colors BTW) the Highway Patrolman smugly announced, "you know that's a fake cobra, right?" He had Googled kit cars and was full of mistaken assumptions about them and Shelby in general. At one point he said it wasn't authentic because, "there's no Shelby signature on the dash". He then said it was a fake because it didn't have an SFM vin like Shelby Mustangs. I kid you not.

We spent hours with him and his superior, and it was clear later that he had left out significant parts of the story to his boss. The supervisor thought we were there for a newly built kit inspection, not a salvage inspection, and wanted to title it as a 2012. We set him straight, but the damage was done. In the end their consolation was an offer to title it as a 2000 model year "1965 Cobra replica" with a modern 17 digit vin.

They failed to recognize the legal title issued by another state, and the legal title initially issued by Ohio as well. The title bureau even agreed with our stance, but the Highway Patrol trumps their authority.

After spending 2 years rebuilding this car, I'm not going to accept an ugly modern vin tag riveted to the frame, due to a mistake on the state's part. Had we not met this particular trooper, there wouldn't have even been an issue.

In the end, I've decided to retain the 1965 title that Ohio originally gave me, and not accept the "modern" title. I feel this is best for the integrity of the car. When I receive a copy of the MSO from Shelby we may appeal it again, as they will have irrefutable proof it is a Shelby, and not a "fake".

With this title however any future owner can register it in their state as he or she sees fit. But if the new owner is an Ohioan, he'll need to accept the modern vin tag prior to registering for road use.

Hopefully you can understand my choice. I followed the advice of numerous folks not to alter the car this way and hope I've done the right thing. The year in particular isn't important - 1965 or 2000 both have merit. But to call the car a 2012 model is false, and to call it anything other than CSX4158 is false in my mind as well. It would be like erasing a whole period of the car's history.