Hot from SEMA......... SEMA Model Custom Vehicle Legislation Signed into Law in Tennessee A version of SEMA model legislation to create a vehicle registration and titling classification for custom vehicles (including kit cars and replicas) was approved by the Tennessee State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Phil Bredesen. The new law defines a custom-built car as a vehicle that is built for private use and is not constructed by a licensed manufacturer or remanufacturer. Under the law, kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model year designation as the production vehicle it most closely resembles. In signing the bill into law Governor Bredesen said, I view this as a responsible, proactive way for enthusiasts to register their vehicles in a safe and controlled manner. Congratulations to all of you for contributing to this successful effort! This is the kind of stuff SEMA does for all of us. If you aren't on their email list, get on it!!!! www.sema.org
So does this mean that my neighbor's Street Beast can now be titled as a '34? That's the only thing that keeps him from fooling everyone... Seriously good news. Glad to see it pass. JH
I have mixed feelings about this. Soon there will be alot more 32 fords than ever built.Of the 30,000 built,only 34,000 have been found.It also makes the State a good place to wash a title on a replica car. Maybe if the put an R in the year? 32R Ford? Anyway that's my 2 cents worth. I took my all steel roadster to a show the other day and people kept asking if it was a kit car!! "Yeah,I got the optional rust holes....
I guess it's a good thing.... Like Harrison said, there's gonna be a bunch of "imposters" out there. Now, if we could just get a YOM tag law here
And the one just to the east! NC needs to be sensible. Unfortunately their motivation is monetary.........................
If someone gets fooled because of this law they aren't ready to buy a car anyway. I've actually been asked if my '38 was a 'kit car' on a couple of occasions. I thanked them for asking & confirmed that it was, in fact, a kit. I know what it is & isn't. Beyond that, who cares? As for the YOM... we have that don't we? I've been running a '38 Tennessee tag for two years now without any problems. I never registered it but was told I could. I'm real punk rock like that ya' know. JH
I think its an excellent idea and I wish more states would pick this up. Hopefully the snow flake starts this avalanche!
yeah, Jimmy, you're a real rebel YOM legal? News to me......and this county's clerk too Of course, that doesn't really surprise me when the local law enforcement representatives will stop a 40 Ford with antique tags(at 4am, on the way to the Nats) and tell him they're expired(WTF? TN antique tags are PERMANENT) True story. So the law now says I can get a title for a homebuilt car that matches the "closest year it resembles" GOOD for ME---now the rusty pile of metal I bought a 26 Chevy truck title for can now be titled as a 28/29 Ford RPU (hey, that's what it most closely resembles ) My thousand-dollar-pile-of-parts JUST went up in value I'm gonna be RICH, bee-otch!
I am glad to see Tennesse pass that. Michigan is also working on a bill. My take on this is there will be less bragging by the people who build these fiberglass wannabe cars. I get so sick of seeing a 32 Ford for sale, fiberglass, with a real 32 Ford title. BULLSHIT! Don
ive been doing the same thing here in TN. all i did was show the dmv what tag i was running they jotted the number down and that was it. and it is the correct tag for my county and a super low numbered one at that!!
Virginia passed the same law last year. I'm actually titling a '33 Ford kit right now as a '33. They do require a lot of documentation before they issue a VIN however (certificate of construction, statement of origin, bill of sale, photos, etc). That plus here in Virginia a DMV agent has to attach the VIN to the car before you can register for plates. I'm not complaining though.....it's great to finally get around the emissions test.
I have a current "antique" tag in the trunk. Figured I could dig it out & play (?) dumb if I ever got pulled over for the old tag. JH
Is there a huge difference when a real 32 ford has a 2004 etc chassis, v8 engine, 40 gallons of bondo etc etc, what is the real difference here, some rusty sheet metal?
The Jalopy Journal
