Question On rebody? 1973 Z-28

[king_midas]

Only illegal if the car that is being destroyed is stolen. If you keep the titles for both cars, and document the swap, you're good to go.

Why everyone gets their panties in an bunch over this is beyond me. It's nothing different than a motor swap...

In Cali, they look at all numbers when inspecting a car, and if your eng # doesn't match, you have to prove where it came from, as they're on the lookout for theft.

This is no different.

[William]

There were at least two re-bodied cars sold at B-J last January, disclosed on their display info.

[MultiMopars]

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There were at least two re-bodied cars sold at B-J last January, disclosed on their display info.

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I don't think it is as big a deal throughout the hobby as it seems to be on these Internet forums based on what I see at some of the auctions where full disclosure has been made. basicly the people buying think if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and has the V.I.N. of a duck it is a duck.

Yes, a few years ago there was a 1970 Hemi Cuda hardtop at B-J that had burned in a warehouse fire and was rebodied. They disclosed it on the auction block ON SpeedVision and it sold for $600K pluse buyers fee. that was more than any other Cuda hardtop during that sale including the 71s.

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
There were at least two re-bodied cars sold at B-J last January, disclosed on their display info.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think it is as big a deal throughout the hobby as it seems to be on these Internet forums based on what I see at some of the auctions where full disclosure has been made. basicly the people buying think if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and has the V.I.N. of a duck it is a duck.

Yes, a few years ago there was a 1970 Hemi Cuda hardtop at B-J that had burned in a warehouse fire and was rebodied. They disclosed it on the auction block ON SpeedVision and it sold for $600K pluse buyers fee. that was more than any other Cuda hardtop during that sale including the 71s.

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I remember watching that auction, too. I was sitting around with a couple of buddies who investigate that particular crime and I saw their eyes bug out as they both looked at each other in disbelief at what they just heard from the announcers. They then had a race to see who could call the car in first and file the report.

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
There were at least two re-bodied cars sold at B-J last January, disclosed on their display info.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think it is as big a deal throughout the hobby as it seems to be on these Internet forums based on what I see at some of the auctions where full disclosure has been made. basicly the people buying think if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and has the V.I.N. of a duck it is a duck.

Yes, a few years ago there was a 1970 Hemi Cuda hardtop at B-J that had burned in a warehouse fire and was rebodied. They disclosed it on the auction block ON SpeedVision and it sold for $600K pluse buyers fee. that was more than any other Cuda hardtop during that sale including the 71s.

[/ QUOTE ]

I remember watching that auction, too. I was sitting around with a couple of buddies who investigate that particular crime and I saw their eyes bug out as they both looked at each other in disbelief at what they just heard from the announcers. They then had a race to see who could call the car in first and file the report.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I know an AZ. ex state trooper that used to investigate stolen cars as well that thought something should be done about that situation as well, but the bottom line is, that unless there is a stolen car or parts involved, there is nothing illegal about it.

Most people don't like to think about it but how many of our cars out there do you think may have stolen parts on them? When you buy parts for your car do you investigate where they came from? If you are buying a part that has a V.I.N. on it do you call the police to see if that V.I.N. was ever reported stolen? Food for thought.

[njsteve]

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Yeah, I know an AZ. ex state trooper that used to investigate stolen cars as well that thought something should be done about that situation as well, but the bottom line is, that unless there is a stolen car or parts involved, there is nothing illegal about it.

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It is still very much illegal, it is just not that often enforced if the car wasn't found to be stolen, as they have much more bigger fish to fry.

A lot of retired law enforcement car guys work for NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau). One thing I forgot to mention is that when those rebodied cars show up at auction, the NICB guys get the VIN number info and plug them into their database. Imagine your surprise when you buy that rebodied $600K hemicuda and try to insure it and your insurance company declines coverage, and then every other insurance company you call after that also declines coverage as the car has been redflagged as a rebody in the insurance crime database. OUCH!

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I know an AZ. ex state trooper that used to investigate stolen cars as well that thought something should be done about that situation as well, but the bottom line is, that unless there is a stolen car or parts involved, there is nothing illegal about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is still very much illegal, it is just not that often enforced if the car wasn't found to be stolen, as they have much more bigger fish to fry.

A lot of retired law enforcement car guys work for NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau). One thing I forgot to mention is that when those rebodied cars show up at auction, the NICB guys get the VIN number info and plug them into their database. Imagine your surprise when you buy that rebodied $600K hemicuda and try to insure it and your insurance company declines coverage, and then every other insurance company you call after that also declines coverage as the car has been redflagged as a rebody in the insurance crime database. OUCH!

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I don't believe that.

Did you read my post on page one of this thread? The Federal law is quite clear on this. Now if the V.I.N. showed up as an earlier reported STOLEN car, it would be a different story and the car would be confiscated as stolen property. An insurance company has no legal right to refuse insurance on a rebodied car. The insurance companies SELL totaled cars to wreck rebuilders all the time who graft two totaled cars togather and use ONE V.I.N. as has been going on for decades.

Think about this. In 1971 you had a 1969 Chevelle that was in a front end collision. The adjuster allowed for a used front clip. Fast foward 1 year. This same car is hit in the rear. The adjuster allows for a used rear clip. now you have a car made up from TWO different cars for the original THIRD car in this senerio that is using the V.I.N. from the original car. Do you think they are denying insurance coverage for this car then or NOW?

[Smokey]

Wow...and just think what happens in the street rod world!!! The feds could take 85% of the cars at the Street Rod Nats if they wanted to be pricks and do a sting.

[njsteve]

Don't the home-made street rods usually get some type of state-issued VIN plate for registration purposes?