Registration in New Mexico

[SantaFe66]

I have a Cardiac Cobra that was built in Washington using a kit from Canada. Cardiac has been out of business for quite a while. The car has never been registered, even in Washington State and now I've got it in New Mexico and ready to register. It has no number stamped anywhere I could find and no number plate from Cardiac.

Does anyone know the process to follow for registration here and whether I need a frame number or not? It has a built '68 390 FE in it now.

Where could I get a blank number plate to install in the vehicle assuming it is required?

Thanks.

Paul

[tpiini]

Well, the good news is that you're in Santa Fe so that you can walk right into the state MVD office there to get whatever you need.

I plan or registering my Hurricane there in a few months. I called them first and they mailed me a check list of what's needed. They were specific that you needed an MSO for the body & frame, along with documentation on the origin of the engine & transmission. They also told me that there had to be a manufacturers I.D. plate on the frame somewhere. Hurricane rivets two on, but when you see them you'll swear that you could make them yourself.

I'd make a trip to the state HQ (without the car, for sure) to run the scenario by them so you don't end up with some hotshot impounding it on you.

Good luck,
Tom

[SantaFe66]

Thanks Tom,

I'll have to look through the pile of papers I got from the previous owner that had my car built, but I'm pretty sure there is no MSO. I looked the frame and body over thoroughly and found no number anywhere.

So, you imply that I might be able to make up an ID plate myself but with no MSO would it be acceptable? I could also stamp numbers into the frame and say "There's the only number I have seen" and will they have to accept it? The Mfg of my car is long gone and, since it was built in Canada (I don't think I want to tell MVD that. No idea what they'll do with that info.) there is no trail for the car. There might be another Cardiac owner on Club Cobra so, if so, could you tell me if there is a number on your frame?

This is shaping up to be a real drill and New Mexico MVD in Santa Fe is famous for being dictatorial. I would probably be better off going to another town in New Mexico or Arizona to get it titled and registered than trying it here.

When I called them they said I would have to title it as of the year it was completed. That would make it a 2006 Cobra!!! I'm sure they're going to tax me the max.

I'll try going to MVD HQ in Santa Fe and talk to a clerk to see what they require.

Paul

[tpiini]

Hmmm... I think you got wrong info on the title year. Of course, maybe not, due to the lack of an MSO. My MSO from Hurricane lists it as a replica of a 1965 and New Mexico will title it as a 1965. I wonder if you can possibly find a former owner of Cardiac and gather some info there???

[SantaFe66]

I'm trying to track down one Cardiac owner on CC but his emails come back invalid to I might be out of luck there. I went into MVD a year ago and they told me I would have to register it as a 2005 then because I didn't have an MSO but they said it was the same for all homemade or replica vehicles that had not been titled elsewhere. They don't make you comply with emissions rules if the engine is old, which is the case with mine.

Their description of "Homemade" is a vehicle made from scrap or other matls, shop built parts (incl chassis) and/or parts from other vehicles but may have a prefab body. A "Replica" is one made from a pre-fab chassis and body kit purchased from a manufacturer. For titling and registration purposes, "Replica" is just a term and doesn't nec. mean the kit was designed to resemble a specific historic model or classic body style.

They specifically state on their form that the year in which the vehicle becomes fully assembled and inspected determines the year. I think that is only for those vehicles that haven't been registered elsewhere yet (mine).

It's going to be a 2006 1965 Cobra 427 S/C. How stupid is that? New Mexico hasn't caught up to the rest of the states that figured this out long ago.

Paul