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I think you are correct, one needs to get the right plates. My reading of that thread while going down the registration rabbit hole a while ago is those cobra folks got caught out when emissions was reimposed after they had titled in a way that previously worked, but now will not. The new procedure (detailed on this thread) does indeed have the owner fill out the form 852, which results in you getting either "street rod" or "custom" plates, both of which are exemption from emissions as per the latest texDMV "ASSEMBLED AND RECONSTRUCTED VEHICLE MANUAL". As per the manual: 1.5 ASE Safety Inspection for Assembled Vehicles An assembled motor vehicle, replica, custom vehicle, street rod, and kit car must pass an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) inspection by a Certified Master Automobile Technician to be eligible for title. This inspection is required in addition to the Texas Department of Public Safety vehicle safety and emissions (if applicable) inspection required under Transportation Code, Chapter 548. The inspection under Chapter 548 does not apply to a custom vehicle or street rod when the applicant is applying for Custom Vehicle or Street Rod license plates. If the forms are filled out correctly as per @hahuang65s checklist, the ASVE Title will also note what make and year you are replicating (mine does), also discussed as necessary in the Manual. (I don't think the cobra guys were titling it like this before the rule change). Most of the recent advice on those forums now is to get the current TexDMV manual, and follow it to the tee, this is what the instructions by @hahuang65 lays out nicely from my reading of the manual. There are also some Texas dune buggy groups on Facebook that Report registration successes doing the same.

I was surprised as well, the DMV and Tax office were all great. Back in my racing days with SCCA and CVAR, I frequented TWS, TMS, MSR Houston and Eagles Canyon. Eagles Canyon is about 65 miles from me now, still early days with the new car just enjoying getting to know the car for now, still in the break in miles!

. My 2025 420 Cup Has all the normal Cup goodies, SADEV, adjustable Bilsteins, Matt Carbon Dash, Cup style Tillett Seats, 6 point harnesses, watts linkage I added the SV, Lowered floors, track day roll cage, plumbed in fire extinguisher, silver Apollo wheels, map holder, clear lights I've toyed with the idea of a Caterham since I had fun vintage racing in C production with CVAR in the late 1990s/early 2000s. It was the time of "super seven challenge series", so there were always tons of 7s in our run group (I ran a Datsun at the time). I moved on to SCCA FE before moving on to other hobbies, but always had it in the back of my mind, finally pulled the trigger. I've been lurking on this board for longer than I can remember, and I've really benefited for everyone's collective wisdom. Still early days with the car, but so far it's what I was looking for and more.

Thanks to @hahuang65 my texas title and registration for my 420 Cup was successful. My experience in Dallas county 1. Went to the downtown Dallas Tax assessor office with my filled out form VTR-66, proof of insurance and drivers license. Was granted a 30 day permit and license plate, attached and started driving around town. 2. Scheduled my VIN inspection with North Texas Auto Theft Task Force of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department by texting the number on the website, was about a two week lag for the appointment which took place at HBL Towing & Recovery 2012 South I-45 Hutchins TX. The police officers were all quite interested in the car, they took down the VIN, Engine and transmission SNs and gave me my completed VTR-68A form which is the also the form you use to get your custom license plate. Why you technically don't need this form, I decided it was just another opportunity to drive the car with my temporary plate and wanted to try to make things go as smoothly as possible. 3. Filled out the Master tech VTR-82 form, then got the inspection done at Christian Bros Auto off HWY 75 near Forest Lane, only charged me 100 bucks. Really easy two work with (others Master Tech's I called, from Pep boys to dedicated race prep shop, wanted nothing to do it). Got the Master Tech to sign each box on the form, and took a picture of his Master Tech "diploma" showing everything current. Went to the Quick Stop truck stop in Hutchins, got the SV fat boy weighed and issued a certificate showing 1340Lbs with 3/4 tank of gas. All the truckers came by to chat. As recommended, to prepare for my trip to the DMV, I made sure to organize all my paperwork as per the Texas ASVE manual checklist, all in a binder with tabs. I even put on some nicer clothes, then went to the south dallas DMV on Wheatland Rd without an appointment at 1pm on a Friday. Waited about an hour, then was assigned a worker at a window. This part became slightly stressful, as I sat in silence and watched the DMV employee scour through my paperwork and type/search on her computer monitor for 15 minutes, then go look in her file cabinet, then disappear into a supervisor's office, come back, look through more paperwork, typed more on the computer, then disappear again to a different office for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. After about 35-40 minutes of this, all the time she was comparing my neatly organized paperwork to what seem to be a photocopy of a sample application, she compared what I had done compared to what I was supposed to do. At the end of the process, she smiled and told me they only get about one of these a month, she was sorry for the delay, then printed out the paperwork described above, gave me the letter saying I was approved. She organized my paperwork in the order of the DMV checklist that she also attached (which is slightly different that the order in the ASVE manual), stapled everything together, and sent me on my way. Although it was now close to closing time, there was a tax office right down the street, so I hightailed it there, got there half an hour before they closed, and they welcomed to me, gave me a number and I got assigned to someone 1/2 hour before closing time. 20 mins later I had my paper (custom) plate, my temp title application, and they told me I should get them both in about two weeks. Two weeks go by, I get my permanent license plates in, I'm feeling good. However, no title comes in. I call that week, explain that I never received my title, and the personal phone tells me my title application has been rejected-not feeling good. I was told that someone would call me in the next two weeks to explain why I was rejected as they can't see that. They also gave me the person's number and said I could call if I don't hear in two weeks. My patience got the better of me, I called right away left a message, someone from the "rejected title's office" emailed me and told me I was rejected because I had a non-conforming VIN number. I was asked to email a picture of the Vin, which I did both on the chassis and the plate, and was told I would get my title in a few weeks. A week and a half later, I received my title for a 2025 ASVE 57 Lotus replica. All in all, I really can't say anything bad about DMV anymore, everyone was super helpful, professional, and really interested in just helping me. Definitely hiccups along the way, like my MSO getting lost in the mail, my new credit card getting denied five minutes before the tax office closed, but in the end it all worked out. Thanks again to @hahuang65.

That is so helpful, thanks for taking the time. I'm hoping to replicate this in Dallas County soon, so great timing. I'll report back