[njsteve]

Since there is no state-issued replacement VIN for the car which would allow you to title the car, you are risking everything if you buy a car without the original VIN tag.

Add in the fact that it was an alleged insurance claim car (theft recovery? fire? flood?) with no current VIN and you could well be restoring a car for it's original owner who, depending on whether he (or even the original insurance company) was fully paid for the original claim, may still have rights to the car.

I would not even take that car for free! In the event a prior owner popped up, the legal fees defending your "title" to the car would be astronomical.