<VV> Hidden VINs

[Bill Elliott]

Most of the rest of the world has very specific rules about car 
identity, recognizing that car bodies are just another replaceable part 
and a car's "identity" isn't tied to a specific aspect of the car... 
that it must be considered as a whole.

Here in the US (because of basically zero tolerance laws) we are left 
with the absurd situation where replacing every body panel separately 
(whether with new or used parts) to restore a car is considered 
perfectly appropriate and legal but using the whole body from another 
car (with the exact same end result) isn't. There is no valid argument 
to be made that the procedure and not the end result should determine 
"legality"....

What the "true" identity is really a philosophical discussion.... one 
where a "zero tolerance" view is quickly reduced to absurdity with 
practical examples...

In the big picture, having zero tolerance laws is likely a good idea 
because it places tighter controls on those who would alter car 
identities for fraudulent purposes (which would include tax evasion, 
theft, etc...), but we shouldn't confuse the legal limitations with 
practical (or even moral) realities... many of the world's highest 
dollar cars carry virtually none of their original bodywork and in some 
case even their chassis...

Bill

Dave Keillor wrote:

>Smitty makes a good point and I have a similar situation.  When I media blasted the bottom of my completely disassembled '65 coupe, no way could I find the hidden VIN.  I bought the car used in 1966 and it had been hit in the front and repaired.  I couldn't find evidence of either frame rail being replaced, but who knows.  All I know is that anyone looking for the hidden VIN isn't likely to find it.  So, I guess I can re-VIN it anyway I want. 
>
>Dave Keillor
> 
>-----Original Message-----
>From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Smitty Smith
>Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 10:19 AM
>To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>Subject: <VV> Hidden VINs
>
>Smitty Says:  Some of you are coming on pretty strong about the idea of re-VINing a car by changing the plate and title because the hidden number doesn't match.  I won't argue the legality of that but here is something else to consider.  How about the thousands and thousands of cars that have suffered collision damage and got front end clips.  Perfectly legal back in the day when "salvage" titles and "reconstructed" titles didn't exist.  Does the title match the hidden VIN anymore?
>Not that I can imagine a body shop replacing such an item even when the cars were new, but I have seen stacks of NOS front frame assemblys on pallets.  No numbers on them and it would be illegal to put them on.  
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