I think this might help with the DMV if their stuck on what the Federal law states.
There has been a law since 2015 put in place governing kit cars from NHTSA per link from SEMA. I think the Texas DMV missed this.
H.R. 22, SEC.24405
Go to the following link.
https://www.sema.org/replica
What's weird is that rep. Gene Green of Texas was one of the people who put the "Low volume Motor Vehicle Manufatures Act of 2015" into law/highway bill.
Texas DMV is actually going against federal law by banning Goblins and other kit cars from Texas registration.
Unless I'm reading incorrectly.