Steel '69 Crate Camaro

[Schonyenko2]

I think it's always best to overkill a vin removal, and the reinstallation. If we need to do this process, we take pictures, and have a member of the sheriffs department, or highway patrol there to witness it. That way there's never a question.

[Mark_C]

Again in the case of this crate body or whatever you want to call it, you are not swapping a VIN from one car to another. You can not remove the VIN and hidden VIN stamps from an existing vehicle and then try to use it as a "repair part", as it was once part of a motor vehicle. The "crate body" is not a "motor vehicle" nor was it part of an existing motor vehicle, never was, never will be until you affix your VIN to it, at which point it's no longer a repair part. Think of it as an extensive quarter panel, or floor panel. When you purchase this component (or components) you have to remove and replace (not remove and relocate) the VIN to facilitate the "repair". Granted this is probably pushing the envelope of the federal code quoted above, because the code could never have anticipated that someone would manufacture a replacement body for a car. If it really bothers the Feds they will amend the code to prevent this by specifying that you can not replace more than some percentage of a vehicles original body parts at one time before the car must be scrapped. That would prevent issues with the people who replaced parts 20 years ago due to rust or body damage, and now need to replace other parts to keep their cars running. But somehow I don't think they will change the code at all.

People seem to get their knickers in a twist over this subject because there seems to be some beleif that people are going to run out and built a 100 percent repro vehicle out of this crate body. I don't think that was ever the intention of Dynacorn, and they probably got screwed by the spin that Hot Rod Magazine put on the story when it was published.

How is using this single part any different than someone buying goodmark (or whoever's) quaters, trunk pan, inner and outer wheelwells, one peice floors, firewall parts, Dash panel, cowl panel etc. etc etc. (or worse cutting up another car to get those "original" peices) and welding them up in their garage. As soon as they get to the cowl panel, and dash panel they either have to cut out the hidden VINs and drill out the dash rivets to transfer them to the new "repair pieces", or they transfer their VIN plate and just go get a set of alphanumeric 5/16" (or so) stamp the old numbers into the new sheetmetal. Is it because it seems to be so easy to do, as opposed to piecing it together with individual peices?

How many people have replaced their dash panel because of rust at the base of the glass, 60, 70 percent of Camaro owners? I doubt more that 20 (the number, not a percentage) of them have taken pictures of the VIN transfer, or had any kind of law enforcement present when they did it.

[JTH74]

I visited CARS 3 weeks ago and spent a whole day there checking out there operation, and I was impressed! I asked all the relevant questions that may or may not pertain to this particular discussion, and I left feeling very confident that they are in no way going to try to pass these "crate camaros" off as a #'s matching Z/28 or anything else, when I asked the question on how it would be titled, Mr. Barber told me that it would be titled as a kit car or if you had a rusted out original car you could use the original title and VIN but it would be labeled as a re-body and there would be no part of the VIN # stamped under the heater on the firewall! CARS is going to do these cars in any stage you want from just a body to a complete turn key car, but they can't put on the "Camaro" emblem, they can drill the holes for you but can't install it. They had it worked out with Chevrolet to call it a Camaro but GM wanted $700 a car to put the name on it, so they decided against it to keep cost down for the consumer, and in my case I am faced with this, I have been negotiating with a guy for 6 months on a 100% #'s matching 69Z, tuxedo black, 62K miles(documented), only options are ZL-2 hood, and Rosewood pkg, needs paint and engine freshened, but its going to cost 25K to buy and then the other work, or buy one of the "crate camaros", do a pro-touring car, with a LS platform based engine, modern suspension technology, AC, 6-speed,good sound system and just lots of fun to drive, and I do really appreciate those out there that restore the #'s matching cars for the rest of us to appreciate, but if I can't drive it I would go nuts and who would want to drive a #'s matching JL-8 Z/28,COPO,Yenko,ZL-1, or Baldwin-Motion. The guys building these cars are all about the hobby, don't beat these guys up, they are producing an amazing product, and I would invite anyone that is close enough to check them out, its the people that buy these "crate camaros" and take them and do everything in there power to pass them off as #'s matching cars that are a threat to the hobby and the uninformed buyers pocketbook, just common crooks looking for a quick buck.

C.A.R.S.
www.classicautomotiverestoration.com
336-595-3900
8235 Nautical Point
Belews Creek, NC 27009
email: [email protected]

Contact these guys and they will clear up any questions or concerns you may have about these cars or drop by and see them if you are in the Winston-Salem, NC area.

[Mr. T]

[/ QUOTE ]its the people that buy these "crate camaros" and take them and do everything in there power to pass them off as #'s matching cars that are a threat to the hobby and the uninformed buyers pocketbook, just common crooks looking for a quick buck.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well if these 69 crate camaro's were never produced, then there wouldn't be a threat with people trying to pass them off as the real deal, a #'s matching car.

[Canucklehead]

Well lets put it this way, if these guys don't do it someone else eventually will, you can't stop that. At least we have some guys trying to do it right and are doing there best to suppy the market with a crediable alternative to an original and are also doing their best to keep these cars as to just what there meant for. I think we should try to support them and there efforts, it could be worse.

[Xplantdad]

Hey Murray..


Happy Birthday!

[Belair62]

Another cake on fire !