Moving from MA to NH, impact on registering Cobra

[crazy---eights]

In order to register my Cobra in MA, I had to buy a crusher and take it off the road. Then MA would let me register the Cobra to be emissions exempt (their theory is I took a polluter off the road and that allowed me to put on back on). They wouldn't register the Cobra as a '65, but rather came up with a new VIN and called it a 2013 since that's when the original build was completed.

I'm not moving to NH and unsure how they will treat/classify the Cobra. It has a Coyote motor with no cats. Is it possible to get NH to view/register the car as a '65 so I don't have to worry about emissions?

Thanks in advance,
Chris

[Mastertech5]

Do a Google search such as replica vehicle registration in NH. I live in Mass and all the info on the state site came up for me here. I'm sure they don't have the same arcane rules up there.

[michael everson]

I have customers in NH. Its one of the easiest states to register. You shouldnt have any problems.
Mike

[DW66]

If John42 sees this post I know he has a couple of tricks to use at the DMV.

Dave.

[john42]

Hey... NH is crazy easy to register a new build in. However, you are coming from another state and already have a registration and title. That will be a different scenario then what I have gone through and have worked with a few others on registering a new build. New Hampshire registers these as a model/year of the car it replicates. For example mine (and other new builds) according to NH are 1965 Shelby Cobras. We can get 2 year antique plates and only have to do inspections every 2 years. The inspection consist of, does it have headlights? brake lights? Blinkers and a rear license plate light... that's it. No emission, smog, nothing.. They don't care. The also look over the car in a general make sure it isn't falling apart. Never once has anybody opened the hood to see what motor I have. They didn't ask and I didn't tell them.

For you coming from MA and already being registered as a 2013 and have a vin that is registered that way, it may be completely different for you. However, if you passed MA inspections then NH should be a total breeze. Personally, I'd make an attempt at playing dumb and trying to say nicely that MA misclassified it and it should be a 1965. Several have used my license plate as an "example" to the registry of what it should be. So far the people at the registry look up mine and just copy and paste it and call it done. Mine is "-SNAKE" That's a dash in the front. Another guy in my town has "+SNAKE". Another has "+SNAKE+" Lol.

[crazy---eights]

Thanks everyone for the input/advise.

john42 is correct, I already have a VIN when I registered the Cobra in MA. My concern has to do with emissions requirements. In MA I got around that by buying a pre 73 V8 car (aka a polluter) and having it taken off the road. MA would then allow me to put a car on the road without catalytic converters and other emissions hardware. But MA put 2013 on the title and if that carries over in NH I think they are going to emissions test the car (and it won't pass).

So it sounds like the best plan is to play dumb and see if they will call it a 1965. Hopefully pointing them to the -SNAKE example will help.

Thank you

[wrenchhead]

Have you managed to register the Cobra in NH? I'm going through this now. My Cobra is registered in MA as a 2018 replica. I'm hoping to re-title it in NH to 1965.

[john42]

My "-snake" plate is now retired. I've converted to antique plates. This allows me to be a 65 year old car and have far cheaper registration fees and I no longer need yearly inspections. New plate for reference is NH "32639" and I have a "Display Plate" of "SF 750"

image0(5).jpgIMG_3756.jpg

[jsingh]

Hey... NH is crazy easy to register a new build in. However, you are coming from another state and already have a registration and title. That will be a different scenario then what I have gone through and have worked with a few others on registering a new build. New Hampshire registers these as a model/year of the car it replicates. For example mine (and other new builds) according to NH are 1965 Shelby Cobras. We can get 2 year antique plates and only have to do inspections every 2 years. The inspection consist of, does it have headlights? brake lights? Blinkers and a rear license plate light... that's it. No emission, smog, nothing.. They don't care. The also look over the car in a general make sure it isn't falling apart. Never once has anybody opened the hood to see what motor I have. They didn't ask and I didn't tell them.

For you coming from MA and already being registered as a 2013 and have a vin that is registered that way, it may be completely different for you. However, if you passed MA inspections then NH should be a total breeze. Personally, I'd make an attempt at playing dumb and trying to say nicely that MA misclassified it and it should be a 1965. Several have used my license plate as an "example" to the registry of what it should be. So far the people at the registry look up mine and just copy and paste it and call it done. Mine is "-SNAKE" That's a dash in the front. Another guy in my town has "+SNAKE". Another has "+SNAKE+" Lol.

Does, NH care about wipers and windshield defroster?
I'm currently about 1.5-2yrs away from registering and if I know these are not needed, It'll free up some space on the firewall Aluminum panel.

[john42]

Does, NH care about wipers and windshield defroster?
I'm currently about 1.5-2yrs away from registering and if I know these are not needed, It'll free up some space on the firewall Aluminum panel.

Nope. Didn't care at all.

Mine checked, brakes and that nothing was obviously loose with wheels and steering. Checked lights, blinkers and handed me a sticker.

I do have a heater but I didn't do defroster holes. Just aimed it at my feet which helps extend the driving year but even I plug it up soon as it's warm as it allows a lot of hot air to flow in from the engine bay. If I were to do it again I would not put a heater in and opt for heated seats. I also have wipers... which are utterly useless.