[Cobra Chuck]

Originally posted by clayfoushee

Clay thanks for the info. I downloaded the registration form last night. It looked so simple and straightforward that I couldn't believe it was true. I am from California where we have all kind of crazy laws, requirements, regulations and at least three different agencies interpreting the rules and regs.

Once again thanks. By the way I think Maryland is a cool state, I have only worked (commuting) here since March but what I have seen the people are friendly and common sense. The state is pretty too.

Chuck

Chuck,

It's not difficult, but like a lot of places the rules aren't written down in any one place. With an existing title from any state, it takes one quick visit to exchange the title for an MD one and get plates.

There are two main categories of plates used for Cobras in Maryland, Historic and Street Rod. Neither requires annual safety or emissions inspections.

The Street Rod designation titles the car in the year it was built and put on the street, you make a one-time visit to an inspector where they determine the car is road-worthy, not required to be emissions compliant, and that's it. It doesn't require any special safety equipment, except the basics, lights, horn, turn signals, wipers, etc.

The Historic designation (car titled as year of reproduction, at least 20 years old) might be a little more complicated on a newly built car, but you must demonstrate that the car has key 1960-something parts (e.g. the engine). Many people have gotten by with just an MSO that says 1965, or showing decoding documentation and a photo of the casting numbers on the block. Mine's registered as a 65 Ford 2d. There is a mileage limitation, which I've never heard being checked by anyone, and technically you're only supposed to drive it on weekends, to parades, shows, to the repair shop, or a road test. Isn't every drive in a Cobra replica a road test?

The nice thing about it, is that if Historic doesn't work, you always have the Street Rod designation to fall back on.