[1795]

Because even though individual states will allow you to title them as a 1965 or waive emissions based on the year of the engine, US customs views it as a car that was manufactured the year that it was built. Therefore, it needs to make emission and safety standards of that year. Our cars do not.

With the car in question here, in addition there is also that little trying to put one over on US Customs which usually does not go so well for you.

My first attempt at a cobra was with SPF 097. It originated in the US and ended up being sold to a person in Canada and when it crossed the border it was titled in Canada. The deal fell through and the the car was back up for sale. When I went to register the car in NY the the person at the DMV noticed the Ontario title and asked to see the import stamp. Contacted US Customs and they were not going to issue an import stamp. Deal was over, got my money back without any hassle and went about looking for other cars and that is how I ended up with my ERA.

Jim