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Lots of talk about re-bodied cars going around. Can somenone define re-body, where panel replacement ends and re-body begins? If one replaces the quarters, fenders, floor pans, trunk pan, hood and deck lid (all with GM original metal from donorcars) is this considered a re-body?
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The best definition of a rebody I have ever read comes from the 4th edition of SAAC World Registry of Cobras and GT40's (page 30). "Original/Rebodied A car having more than 50% of its original substructure or bodywork replaced, but not the main frame tubes or pieces carrying the serial stampings."
According to SAAC, an Air Car is a car built from scratch, starting out with no pieces carrying the original serial number stampings, and with no legitimate paperwork. An Air car has no claim to that VIN, either by legal ownership of major parts or paperwork.
A Reconstruction on the other hand, is a car that has been rebuilt substantially to original specifications (including replacement of main substructure or frame) but where some part of the original car existed prior to rebuild; also documentation paperwork exists (i.e. traceable bill of sale, title, registration, etc.).
If the ZL1 everyone is talking about were a Shelby, it would likely be considered an "Air Car" or a "Reconstruction" depending on the proof of VIN plate and paperwork.
These are definitions that would work well to adopt across the hobby in general. Hope that helps!
