In registering a vehicle is the car always described by the vin? If you take a Camaro and convert it into Firebird.. or VW into dune buggy... Is it always titled as to what the origin on the vin was? Or does it change to reflect the current appearance of the car? I'm planning on changing a Vega into an Astre.
-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Monday 2nd of June 2014 10:05:11 PM
Jon H said
Jun 2, 2014
Give DMV a call. the number used to be 651-296-6911.
Lost in the 60s said
Jun 3, 2014
VIN identifies the make and model. If you try to change that, you will most likely end up with a state assigned VIN and may have to register it as the current year, which can result in needing to meet current emissions specs.
It's a tricky game. I would put the Astre facades on and leave it as a clone.
bowtie said
Jun 3, 2014
I believe it follows the chassis, convert it and let it ride. The concerns would be if you were stopped by the popo and their vehicle info on screen shows one, but the emblem shows another. If you didn't have any emblems, they wouldn't know the difference. At the point of sale, it might get a little sticky, but it's a niche market type thing, so the buyer would be aware of what they're getting.
DMV really is just concerned with the roadway tax part of it. Mis-identification of the vehicle is way low on the list.
Tony Hoffer said
Jun 3, 2014
OK.. Just curious.. I would think law enforcement would want a Porsche kit car listed as such and not a 74 Volkswagon..
John D said
Jun 4, 2014
My guess is it might be like a trailer kit... "Certificate of Origin". regardless of what you hang off of it, the "core" of the vehicle has an SN/VIN and that's what the legal registry refers to.
In your case, it would legally be a Vega, but is wearing Astre skin.
Chris R said
Jun 4, 2014
Jamie Munter has a similiar situation with a 72 C10, SWB pickup. Previous owners used a nicer cab when they fixed up the truck but that cab was actually from a C20, LWB, 9000 GVW heavy duty truck. The cab is where the vin is and I believe he only has the title for the SWB and the provious owners didnt keep the title with the replacement cab.
In registering a vehicle is the car always described by the vin? If you take a Camaro and convert it into Firebird.. or VW into dune buggy... Is it always titled as to what the origin on the vin was? Or does it change to reflect the current appearance of the car?
I'm planning on changing a Vega into an Astre.
-- Edited by Tony Hoffer on Monday 2nd of June 2014 10:05:11 PM
It's a tricky game. I would put the Astre facades on and leave it as a clone.
DMV really is just concerned with the roadway tax part of it. Mis-identification of the vehicle is way low on the list.
In your case, it would legally be a Vega, but is wearing Astre skin.
Jamie Munter has a similiar situation with a 72 C10, SWB pickup. Previous owners used a nicer cab when they fixed up the truck but that cab was actually from a C20, LWB, 9000 GVW heavy duty truck. The cab is where the vin is and I believe he only has the title for the SWB and the provious owners didnt keep the title with the replacement cab.