[Rainer]

Just checked out the Dynacorn website (the company that manufactures reproduction 69 Camaro convertible bodies and supposedly soon-to-be Chevelle convertible bodies). In the discussions I've seen, there is mention that these new bodies would be assigned a state-issued VIN like any other "kit" car. What surprises me is that Dynacorn suggests that you can take a VIN from a donor car and put it on one of their bodies. Straight from their website:

A Vehicle or Vessel Identification Number (VIN) is issued by a manufacturer or State Licensing authority. There are three ways for a vehicle to obtain a number.

1) An existing VIN on a vehicle that is titled in your name can be transferred to a repair part (as instructed by your State authority).
2) A number may be issued by your State to ID a custom built vehicle when it passes a safety and number verification inspection.
3) A licensed manufacturer issued a VIN when the vehicle (or vessel) is made and ready for delivery. This can only be issued when a "turn key" (completed) car, truck, boat or aircraft has been manufactured.

I know we've beaten the "VIN-swapping" issue to death here lately, but this really floored me. Now whether its actually legal or not may be another story...

 

[Randy Mosier]

"...as instructed by your state authority."

I think that pretty much covers the bases in this case. If state law allows for this, the swapping of the VIN from one body to another for this particular purpose, then it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Skeeveman]

They could of probably worded it better, but I would say it's legit.

Basically they're saying that if you legally own say a 69 camaro, that is rotted "beyone repair", quarters, pillars, firewall, ect, a replacement body shell is needed. Essensially it will be the same car, because of the frame it is on is technically the origonal car, you just have more NEW sheetmetal then most, lol.

 

[Davec43]

Car that the vin came from must be titled in your name... If you had a 138 non-restorable car and whatever non ss you could legally swap these vins as long as both cars were titled in your name? Am I reading this right?

 

[gigem]

I guess the value of totally rotted out crap just went up! Start looking for rust piles now!!!

 

[dennymac]

We Jeepers have been doing this for years. You buy a fiberglass body and take the old rotted steel POS off. Take the VIN plate off and put it on the new fiberglass body. Legal everywhere. Best of luck to all of you guys.

 

[gchandler]

Having seen the repop bodies up close, I can assure you that there is zero chance of someone that is not "fresh off the turnip truck" mistaking a repop body for an oniginal.

 

[Dean]

We Jeepers have been doing this for years. You buy a fiberglass body and take the old rotted steel POS off. Take the VIN plate off and put it on the new fiberglass body. Legal everywhere. Best of luck to all of you guys.

In reality it's not "Legal everywhere", it's technically illegal in most all states to even remove a VIN tag.

I agree with Randy, the "as instructed by your state authority" is the answer so better check with them first.

 

[Davec43]

Technically illegal like jaywalking? Has anyone ever been charged for swapping vins? As immoral as it is

 

[Dean]

Technically illegal like jaywalking? Has anyone ever been charged for swapping vins? As immoral as it is

Sure many people have gone to prison when they changed VIN plates, I saw a show on Court TV about it just the other day.

they can't answer for themselves from their cell.

 

[EddieC67ss]

I'm sure the company wouldn't make the statement if they hadn't researched first.

 

[LeoP]

I'm sure the company wouldn't make the statement if they hadn't researched first.

Or at least ran it past their legal dept.

 

[DaleM]

Sure they can claim anything they want and, as noted previously, pay attention to the item in parentheses ' (as instructed by your State authority)' and check items 2 and 3.

FWIW, isn't this the same outfit and got a 'cease and desist' order from GM because they weren't authorized reproductions and were being sold as such? Where was their legal dept. then?

Another, FWIW, the National Insurance Crime Bureau keeps on top of a lot of items dealing with VINs and even the VIN rivets are illegal to possess in many (if not all) states by a private citizen.

 

[67 vette guy]

There is a considerable article (with 112 photos) about the bodies in the January 06 Chevy Rumble rag. In fact Year One puts one together. GM and Dyncorn worked out their problems and GM has now given Dyncorn the OK.
You can order your new Camaro body with factory tubs and more. Like mentioned above, by looking at the pictures and the write up, it will be easy to spot the new body.

 

[John69SSChevelle]

Changing, removing or defacing a V.I.N. is a FELONY in Arizona and probably most states!! Definitely make sure you check out your states vehicle code before you even think about doing it!!

 

[cobra2411]

You can do it in PA, but what you end up with is a salvage title. There's also alot of paperwork to go through to be legal. So you can rebody that rusted out SS396, but there is no doubt that it's rebodied.

IMO it's wrong to take a rust free body and use the vin tag from a rusted out body and pass it off as original, never touched. No one will question that a fiberglass jeep body is not original. Also what is the resale on a glass body jeep vs a steel body that's in good shape.

In the classic car word a 138 vin can add tens of thousands of dollars to say a 135 vin. If you have a rotted out 138 vin car and a good 135 vin car, take all the usable parts (except the vin and TT) and upgrade the 135 car. This way you're not fooling people. Swaping vin's and TT just to make money is fraud and illegal reguardless of if it's illegal to swap the vin's. Deception = fraud = illegal.

David