Question for those with 1965 Plates

[bobinyelm]

For those of you using 1965 Texas plates for your cars, a question arose-

Some cars are titled 1965 model year, and can most certainly use 1965 plates, regardless of actual build date, since they are titled as '65s.

It was pointed out that my MSO says "1965 Relpica" and therefore may NOT be eligible to use 1965 plates since it is not a "true" 1965 vehicle (according to TXDOT an antique car may use the plates as of its "YEAR OF MANUFACTURE").

I hesitate to ask the folks down at the local Tax Assessors' Office since they could be wrong, then stick with their ruling if they point out that my car was not MANUFACTURED in 1965, but only resembles cars that were.

How many out there have '65 plates on "1965 Replica" cars, and does the model year on the registration and title on these vehicles say "1965 Replica" or "2010" (or the year it was actually built or registered)?

For reference (and another question), my car was actually completed as a rolling chassis and bought by me in 2008, with the MSO saying "1965 Replica," but an issue date of 3/13/2008. Since I just completed it, would that make it a 2008, or a 2010 if they list a "modern" year on the title?

I would imagine for tax purposes, I would have to pay sales tax on the rolling chassis price I paid in 2008, as opposed to a "depreciated" price since the car is now 2 years old, or the current list price of the rolling chassis (which is higher than when I bought mine)?

OK, so I am pushing it here on the tax thing!

I guess we're just fortunate that Texas does not impose an annual excise tax, whereby the annual registration is predicated upon the retail market price of the car. When I lived in WA state, some people were paying $2000-$3000 to register their cars every year (owners of luxury motor homes were paying 10X that), and in CT even more (as cars were taxed as personal property annually at up to 10% or so).

Also (last question, promise), were any of you asked for receipts and proof of tax paid on the major components (engine, transmission)? I never received one on the used 1968 engine block and heads that were used to build my engine.

Bob

[Stoney FFR]

Bob, did you try contacting BrianJ as I mentioned in the prior thread? As I remember he had some good contacts over in Ellis County and can probably get you "hooked up.." To use antique plates, your car will most likely need to be titled the same year as the plates. But then again, it really just comes down to what the people in your local sub-courthouse decide.

Anyone register a Cobra in Ellis County?

[bobinyelm]

Yes, I did speak w/ Brian, but he doesn't have 1965 plates on his car, so he didn't know the answer.

He has "Antique Automobile" plates on his, plus he got FF to change the MSO to read "1965," rather than "1965 Replilca" as his originally did (and mine still does).

Backdraft is not as cooperative as FF and will not alter the MSO.

He was very helpful, but on the points I asked, he couldn't say whether the State sees "1965" and "1965 Replica" as being the same.

Thanks-
Bob

[Stoney FFR]

Okay good deal.. Sorry I don't have any other points of contact down there...

[bobinyelm]

Thanks-

Actually, it's a "Texas-Wide" question, not just an Ellis County question, so hopefully someone else has had the same thing come up with regard to:

"1965 Replica" with 1965 License Plates

Bob

[elmariachi]

You can attach any year plate to any year car. I could put 1966 plates on my MBenz if I wanted to. The stipulation is that the plates be authentic (they WILL visually inspect them) and they cannot be presently registered to any other car. Tender them when you title and ask them to attach them to the registration and if they pass inspection you are done.

Jim

[jdean]

Jim is right. It is not complicated to be able to use vintage plates on your car. There is one additional simple form to sign, and they need to see the actual plates for inspection and to look them up to make sure no one else has them registered. No biggie.

[bobinyelm]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

You can attach any year plate to any year car. I could put 1966 plates on my MBenz if I wanted to.

Jim

Wow!

That's a revelation!

There are some strange stipulations at:
http://www.thebolthole.com/texas/antique.html
regarding YOM (Year of Manufacture) plates that misled me to believe if you use old plates, they must correspond to the year of manufacture of the vehicle concerned.

One of the 1965 plates I bought has some rust spots (I suspect it was a front plate that got some sand pits), but it's 100% readable. Do I need to "restore" and paint it before presenting it to the Tax Office?

If I do "restore" it (I read restoration is acceptable), how close does the white background need to be to the original color and lustre? The original color is not quite "white-white", but its closer to that than any of the off-white spray paints I've been able to find. It's also not glossy, but not quite semi-gloss or satin finish, either.

Are they super picky, or is there some reasonable latitude?

I know we're getting subjective here, but I figure some of you have been through this before!

I found some pairs of unused 1965 plates, but the cheapest ones went for well over $200-a bit rich for my blood after sinking the money in the car itself.

Bob

[elmariachi]

You MUST have both matching plates when you go to the tag office (because you are supposed to be running both plates, Texas law.) I have heard them to be picky where paint condition is concerned and I have heard they have rejected them for even light rust. Probably a good idea to repaint first.

With regard to year of manufacture, that's where the confusion is. The year on the plates is considered the date of plate issue, not YOM of the car. If you bought a new Cobra in Colorado in 1965 and brought it into Texas in 1969, you would have been given 1969 plates when you licensed it.

[bobinyelm]

Yes, my plates match numbers wise.

I guess I should repaint BOTH of them then, even though one is like new, so they will match in condition and exact shade with each other as well.

I hope that some brush marks in the numbers is acceptable, because I am not sure how to get the high spots (numbers and border) painted unless one had a hard rubber roller to apply the black paint.

Maybe I'll try some weak acid first to see if it will clean the one with rust spots up. The actual spots are tiny (like pin pricks), but the rust spread out to the size of the head of a pin each, most of which is only on the surface of the paint.

Is there a secret to rolling paint only onto the tops of the numbers?

Bob

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by bobinyelm

Is there a secret to rolling paint only onto the tops of the numbers? Bob

Ace had some nifty little foam rollers I used on set of plates a few years back and it worked great, but required the paint to be very thick so it wouldn't drip down off the top of the characters. So we poured some enamel paint into a bowl, let it sit out about 10 minutes and applied it.

[bobinyelm]

I'll give that a try. You're right-thick is better if applied like that.

Meanwhile I Googled and found this:
http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/111.cfm

But I think a roller would give a better 'look' if I can just hit the tops.

Someone even does it for a living:
http://tagdr.com/# (Not Cheap, I'll Bet)
I read the guy has a 15 week backlog and gets around $100/ea!
Or here: http://www.mojoartworks.com/ ("Only" $70/ea)

Here's a place that will make ANY plate you want from scratch for $80:
http://www.licenseplates.tv/

The Internet is MAGIC! I should have looked here earlier.

Bob

[Joe Wicked]

If I was restoring the plates, I would sand blast them down completely and fill any spots that need it. Spray the whole plate with the color you are using for the letters first with whatever paint you are using (Rustoleum is what I would probably use). When dry, tape over the letters taking time to trim it properly and ensure you have a good stick. Then paint the rest of the plate the plate color. When dry, remove the tape and you have your plate. A very light wet sand on the edge of the plate color next to the letters will help remove any ridge or line.

[Jim Jacobs]

I bought my plates from a guy in Garland who restores and sells them. If you'd like I can try to find his info.

Jim

[Stoney FFR]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

You can attach any year plate to any year car. I could put 1966 plates on my MBenz if I wanted to. The stipulation is that the plates be authentic (they WILL visually inspect them) and they cannot be presently registered to any other car. Tender them when you title and ask them to attach them to the registration and if they pass inspection you are done.

Jim

I have never heard of being able to put ANY year plate on ANY year vehicle. I'm not saying it's not true, but can someone show me something written that indicates that is the case? Here are a few links I found after a quick google search that seems to indicate otherwise, unless I'm just not reading things correct.

http://www.turnerplates.com/Texas%20YOM%20Law.html

http://www.txlicenseplates.com/registration.html

http://www.autotitleservices.com/Forms/vtr-850.pdf

Classic Plates Below:

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/txdotefor...vletConfig.xml

`Old' License Plates: If you own license plates that are the same year as the classic vehicle, you have the option of using old plates
instead of new Classic specialty plates if the plates pass examination. The old license plates must be examined at your local
County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office or a VTR Regional Office before submitting this application. The old license plates must be
original plates in good, readable condition and have the same color scheme as the original Texas license plates.

And Antique Vehicle Plate Info Below:

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/txdotefor...vletConfig.xml

ANTIQUE LICENSE PLATES
Qualifications for Antique License Plates are as follows:
(a) A passenger car, truck, or motorcycle in which the frame, body, and motor are 25 or more years old and
is used exclusively for exhibition, club activities, parades, and other functions of public interest. The
vehicle will in no case be used for regular transportation and will not carry any advertising. A vehicle in
route to and from a location for routine maintenance is allowed.
(b) Applicants that have license plates, which are the same year as the antique vehicle may use those
plates in lieu of Antique License Plates issued by the county. If the application is mailed, the applicant
must have the license plates examined at their local County Tax Office before submitting the
application. The license plates must be Texas plates, the same year as the year model of the antique
vehicle, be in good readable condition, and have the correct color scheme.

[bobinyelm]

Originally Posted by Jim Jacobs

I bought my plates from a guy in Garland who restores and sells them. If you'd like I can try to find his info.

Jim

Thanks, Jim.

I may try my hand at refinishing them myself, then if I mess them up, I may take you up on the offer of a restorer.

It's kind of like not asking for directions until you've been lost for 2 hours, or reading the instructions only after messing the thing up so badly you want to throw it in the lake.

In other words, it's a guy thing.

Bob