So....What is YOUR opinion on VIN swaps ?
Exactly, and being the dynacorn bodies do NOT come with a vin sequence number on them, and DO come with a certificate of origin they are essentially seen as just a "part" to a car. A major part, but only a part none the less. Technically a dynacorn body is not a car, just a part.
The law is written to prevent taking vins and vin number stampings from one car and fraudulently putting them on another car. You know because of vehicle theft and chop shop issues. A dynacorn body is not concidered a car until everything is installed and it runs. This is like saying an aftermarket motorcycle frame is a motorcycle. Its not!! Its a part with a certificate of origin. Granted a major part, but only a part. Its not concidered a motorcycle until its assembled into one.
Using a dynacorn body and swapping the numbers into one isnt theft or even concidered deceit. Heres a what if for you. What if chrysler decided to manufacture these shells instead of dynacorn? They would also come without vin partials stamped on them and would be essentially a replacement part. So if chrysler themselves stamped out new replacement bodies to replace rusty ones would that then be ok?
Btw if i could hazard a guess, dynacorns next body shells will probably be 68-70 dodge chargers since AMD makes most of the pieces to build one already.
I am kinda curious as to what mr jimharvard thinks on this one since he is a lawyer.
well... first of all, let me say... THIS IS GETTING COMPLICATED... but i will try and simplify some legal concepts.
1. the dynacorn bodies. yes, these bodies appear to be a complete car but they are considered "just a part." the reason why is because the major auto companies WILL NOT allow ANYONE to produce a complete reproduction of a car they built (like a camaro) and sell that "car" as a "camaro." all auto companies have what's called "design patents" on each model produced. they have a legal right to "their design." HOWEVER, all the companies are allowing "reproduction" of "parts" of their vehicles through "licensing agreements." that is what the dynacorn bodies are - a "licensed reproduced part." the licensing agreements have various specifications and quality control requirements that must be met before the original manufacturer will say it is "an approved" and "officially licensed" reproduction part. you can buy ANY dynacorn body and build it. however, if you then want to "title", "insure" or "drive" that vehicle AFTER it is finished, you have to comply with the motor vehicle codes of the VARIOUS STATES.
2. vehicle registration and titles of the various states. as a brief review, i looked at the motor vehicle codes of Virginia, Kentucky, Washington State, Texas and Nevada. they are ALL different in their requirements for how to handle VIN numbers; how a car must be reconstructed; what the car will be classified as - "kit car", "handbuilt or homemade", "assembled and rebuilt vehicle", etc. when it comes to Nevada, THEIR department of motor vehcles website is VERY clear: "contact us first before you begin your project." further, the requirements in nevada for building, restoring, repairing cars are VERY detailed and complex! Texas has a very nice and complete Project Manual that you can download that includes everything Texas wants you to do in restoring/rebuilding car. at this point i have to repeat what i have said many times before here on FABO regarding fixing cars: you need to look at the requirements of the state you are living in and in which you wish to title, license, insure and drive the vehicle that you are rebuilding.
3. VIN numbers, a repaired car, a "re-bodied" car. a number of folks here on FABO understand the laws on why you cannot move an original VIN from one car to another car if your intent is to "deceive" someone over the originality of that VIN so i'm not going to go into that again. however, in reviewing the various motor vehicle state laws, in some states it appears that you can place a VIN from an existing car onto one or more of the categories of cars i cited in paragraph 2. IF you do so under the procedures and direction of the state officials. these same states also provide that to solve the registration problem, you may acquire a NEW VIN number issued by the state for the vehicle you have built/repaired/reconstructed. the entire body of law for how vehicles are registered, licensed and insured is governed by state statues. the concerns over whether a car is "repaired" or "re-bodied" is more confined to the area of civil litigation - law suits. all that is too complicated to go into here but the bottom line rule to avoid these problems is to DISCLOSE EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE TO A CAR - IN WRITING if you are going to sell the car. by doing so, the seller has provided all the information about the car and is not attempting to "deceive" a buyer. all the state vehicle sections i reviewed broke cars down into major component parts: the body, the frame, the engine and used these major component parts to define when a car was "no longer original." AND, if you are insuring a car that has had so many parts replaced that it could "reasonably" be considered a "re-bodied" car, you should disclose that to the insurance company for valuation purposes. an "original" 71 440 6 pack 4 speed Cuda is worth at least $75k for insurance purposes. that same car if being a "rebuilt re-bodied" car has a value of "maybe" $50k.
IN SUMMARY.... VIN numbers, rebuilding cars, titling cars, selling cars... all these issues should be approached by: "when in doubt, DON'T", "ask the state people first before spending a lot of time and money", "be honest" when selling a car. one can make up and be faced with an unlimited amount of "hypothetical" situations and concerns. car building and collecting is a fun hobby. it doesn't have to become overly complicated. just try to follow your state laws and if you don't know the answer to something, go to the DMV or a State Trouper Barracks. remember, if some state person ever sends you a letter or stops you regarding a concern they have over something you did on or with your car, you are in a much better position if you can say, "well i went to the DMV (State Police) on this date and they told me what i wanted to do was OK" or "i did this exactly the way i was instructed to do by _______ state official."
