[cbmax]

NJBIGBLOCK,

At the end of the day, the year of manufacture on the block really doesn't matter. I say this because even if you prove your block is emissions exempt you still have to pass modern day safety requirements. What REALLY matters is the year in which you are able to title your car. Again NJ says that your Cobra (or any other kit car) will be titled as the year in which it was manufactured/completed. So this now becomes the date by which you have to abide by when getting your car on the road. Several years ago, people were getting there Cobras titled as '65's by using the services of certain companies that had the cars titled in different states with different (more lax) laws and than having the title transferred back to NJ. The companies that provided these services are no longer in business today as this was illegal.

A Cobra completed in 2007 will be titled as a 2007 reconstructed vehicle. Since your car will not pass 2007 safety requirements (eg. airbags, crash protection, DOT lights etc) you only have one other alternative in the state of NJ. You get what is called collector status registration. With this registration you are exempt from emissions (regardless of what year the engine block was manufactured) and most other modern day safety requirements. The car does have to meet certain minimum safety requirements and be otherwise roadworthy. The catch is that you will be limited to 3000 miles a year. Every two years you will go in for a new registration. They only thing the DMV will check for is a working odometer.

Although 3000 miles doesn't seem like a lot, it should actually be plenty when you think about season for actually driving this type of car, the number of sunny days and length of your average cruise.

So in summary, get what ever motor you like.

CB