Rebodying a car

So, if you mismatch a car body on a different chassis, what is it?

If you put a Ford body on a Chevy chassis, is it a Ford or a Chevy?

Assume both halves have their respective VIN numbers.

What if you modify the body so that it almost no longer resembles a Ford?

Vin wise it is whatever it says on the dash, because you're not supposed to mess with those numbers

Thats one of those deals where the states want you to apply for an assigned VIN.

patgizz wrote: Vin wise it is whatever it says on the dash, because you're not supposed to mess with those numbers

Nope.

Older body- no VIN on dash.

Where is it? Im only familiar with what i've had. They've all been up high somewhere. Door jamb usually.

This car has a VIN on the firewall- a removeable tag, and it's not 17 digits.

In reply to SVreX:

Is it something that would obviously appear to be two different vehicles grafted together to even a casual car-guy/gal? If not, go with the vin on the body, if so you probably need to title it as a "homebuilt" or whatever GA uses for Locosts, hotrods, etc.

How legal do you need to be?

In my case, the Miata going under the Volvo P1800 is considered a "floor repair panel". The serial number on the Volvo A pillar and the tag that was in the engine compartment define the car. The Volvo is already registered in the wife-units name. I will insure the car with Hagerty as a Modified volvo when it is done.

I DO however have the Miata serial # stamped into the firewall, so maybe need to make that go away so as to avoid confusion?

IIRC, the Brits say that as long as you have two of the engine, the frame and the rear axle it's the same car. Change two of those and it's a new one. Something like that.

Nohome, I would definitely lose the Miata VIN. Keep it, but get it off the car. It will only cause pain and suffering.

My MG is still an MG, in the eyes of myself, the state and Hagerty. Yes, it has a different rear axle and a different engine.

We had a very similar discussion to this about the recent Miatas at MRLS event. It's Miatas only. Including Miatas with different engines. And Exocets and Catfishes. And (even though none showed up), Exocets and Catfishes with different engines. Build one of those in a clever manner and about the only Miata part would be the steering gear. But it still counts. The Fiat 124 Spider? Not welcome. I think it's because it's never actually BEEN a Miata, wheras all the other ones started that way in some form or another.

My vote is to use the VIN of whichever car the officer who just pulled you over thinks he's looking at.

I have nothing to contribute, so here is a picture of the Nascarlo:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wrote: My vote is to use the VIN of whichever car the officer who just pulled you over thinks he's looking at.

^This

Register it as whatever it looks like

dune buggy guys have gotten in trouble with this before having there tube frame buggies that are on a beetle pan and suspension registered as a beetle still.

Enquiring minds want to know.

Though, you don't have to tell me. I am sort of enjoying trying to figure the mystery based off the little info I do have.

Leave that part of the firewall intact to the rest of the body. Or if you're fabbing in that area remove tag and put back later.

I bought a car that had the firewall tags come in a baggie because the entire firewall was cut out by a moron

Just come up with a catchy portmanteau of the original names...

Are you planning on registering it?

This question pertains to me. Anyone have experience titling street rods in Indiana?

Say I have a 1931 Model A body. Bought with cash, no VIN, no title, no bill of sale. Say I also have a 90's something that will be donating its engine, trans, and suspension subframes. Scratch building the frame. Donor car has VIN and clean title in my name.

Could I just cut the VIN off the donor car and weld it the Model A's firewall? They look nothing alike so it could raise suspicion, but most of the important parts are from the donor. Consider it a "re-body". Or is there a process for applying for a brand new VIN with the proper year, make, and model of the Model A body?

That's a question for your state DMV. Old man hot rods (anything with a Model A body counts) are all like this, and there are special rules for old man hot rods in some states.

This is still a 1956 MGA despite the rebody, and our MVB has no problem with that.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Enquiring minds want to know. Though, you don't have to tell me. I am sort of enjoying trying to figure the mystery based off the little info I do have.

You have more info than anyone. :-P

n8 wrote: Just come up with a catchy portmanteau of the original names... Are you planning on registering it?

That's a good question- not sure.

It will be a Challenge car. But I have built so many Challenge abortions that have no afterlife, it leaves me a little frustrated.

There are no opportunities to race near where I live. So, any afterlife would have to be on the street. But this car is going to be radical enough that I am not sure I want to drive it on the street.

So, I am undecided.

Maybe it's afterlife will be to sell it to someone else for track use.

gearheadE30 wrote: I have nothing to contribute, so here is a picture of the Nascarlo:

I have no idea how these guys have not been arrested yet but every single time they do something like this its clearly illegal under California DMV rules. I cannot even do motor swaps on modern cars without paperwork. I want to do stupid things too.

In reply to wearymicrobe:

Isn't there some CA law that exempts vehicles older than '75 from some of the strictness?
I am assuming this is why the shell is a '71-ish Monte Carlo

I have done this twice. In my state the proper procedure is to apply for an assembled title. In my world, the Spit bodied GT6 is still a GT6 with its original title. My other rebodied vehicle will not be resold and I will deliver it to an auto shredder when I have used it up.

I put a 1952 Dodge truck body on a 1987 frame, VIN says 1952. However, I added turn signals out back and two tail lights, factory 1952s only had one running light. On its annual inspection I failed, "If you modify any of it, you have to modify all of it". I added two turn signals up front and seatbelts.

Pass.

YMMV.

I am betting the Roadkill guys have some sort of filming license that they don't talk about.