I don't think you want to try and fraud the state because that's simply what it is. Not qualifying is one thing but purposely providing falsified documents would likely not end well. Submit the application, if it gets denied, spend the money on the hood.

Doubt it. It's fraud, and they probably don't take too kindly to people trying to abuse the new system after the old one was trashed so bad.

Even if they deny for the hood, can't you maybe just find someone who can lend you one? lay it on, take a picture then remove it. No need to even bolt it on, I doubt they will care about perfect fitment.

This would be ideal. I found one that "needs paint" for $70 in central jersey (but that's a 2 hour trip).

I have a cowl hood on my 84. All that matters is the car must be 25 years old

You may have gotten your Historic plates while having a cowl hood, but this is NOT correct information. According to the MVC the car MUST BE STOCK IN APPEARANCE.

I don't recall who it was, it may have been yourself, but didn't someone get denied for having a stock 77 TA front clip, that was original to the car because it was claimed by them to be not stock? All because it had a shaker hood?

FWIW, my brother took the bra off his beat to hell Fiero, snapped the photos and got the plates. When I did my 84 TA, I had a hood half in primer. Went to trenton (back before they expanded it) and got the plates was in and out of the building in less than 30 min.

I think the point is they have changed or tightened up the rules in the past year or so. what flew 5 years ago might not anymore.

I don;t think you can even get them in Trenton anymore. that is where I got mine.

I'm doing it through the mail no matter what. I don't think they give a damn about paint or wheels. Regardless I will call and double check; if it's an issue I'll primer the car so it's one color.
They seem to be concerned about factory appearance as far as body panels go. No aftermarket style grilles, mirrors, additional body parts, or especially missing parts.

Now, I'd like to just go buy a 2" or 2.5" cowl hood (whatever came stock on some of them; since the vin won't distinguish the exact model anyway) but I have some doubts about it clearing with a victor jr and spray plate. With a large air cleaner, no plate and the victor jr I might be able to fit a 4" hood but that would be very tight. Even with a shorter air cleaner I can't see it fitting with the addition of the spray plate.

I guess to play it on the safe side I take the carb, air cleaner and hood pins off and get a stock hood to snap a few pictures.

I have a 73 and when I went for my plates the car had a standard front end and the dumbass woman said it was "wrong".

My point was that you are trying to say that all that matters is 25 years old, when this is simply not correct. I did not want someone to go through with a car without stock appearance and then get denied, and wonder why.

Wow. I am glad I got mine 3 years ago.

This is from the NJ MVC Historic (QQ) registration application :)

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Vehicles/SP-121.pdf

I underlined that surprising sentence :D

You can have different wheels but that's about it. As far as outside appearance it needs to look 100% stock.

When did they put that sentence in? I got my plates three years ago.

I think that was me actually... A 78 but yeah I was denied because of the shaker hood and a bunch of other stupid little things including tires and the roof. In the end DO NOT GO TO FLEMINGTON. I got my plates no problem in Somerville. Brought the same pictures and I was all set. It is A LOT harder now though. It used to be anyone really could go in, but I also know a lot of people who just pulled pictures off the internet and gave them that.