Body in White vs. Full Restoration, Food for Thought Options

[GTPatrick]

Since there is another thread on new bodies in white for other cars by Tom T. , Mustang , Camaro , etc. ,. I thought that I'd put out some food for thought questions concerning the same subject .

Knowing what was said that if a body in white were used to rebuild/restore a car , say a real rust bucket 914 , it would have to be registered as a new car under another name . Right/wrong ?

If that were so , then when one restores a rust bucket 914 or 914-6 / Then at what point does the amount of new parts or rebuiling of old parts turn it into a building of a new car vs. a restoration ? 20% new parts , 50 % new parts , 75% new parts , 90% new parts or even 99% new parts ? Is there a real difference ?

But if someone were to use a new body in white and use the rest of an old rust bucket 914 parts aren't you coming at it from a slightly different angle but still keeping at a restoration level since say you are using 50% or whatever level old 914 amount of parts as you would have used in the previous paragraph ?

It seems to be just about semantics and how one interprets the reasoning ? What laws and other legalities determine what's a restoration is versus a whole new build ? What laws and other legalities determine what % amount of parts determines it a restoration versus a new build ? Does the law even make any legal determination as to what legally defines the meaning of new parts ,restoration or new build mean ?

It's kind of luck looking at a fence from one side or another of that fence with 2 or more people trying to determine or define what it is . Either way it is still a fence no matter what side you are standing on .

Does anyone have any thoughts on this ? Any real facts or information out there that is actually fact and not fiction ?


GTP (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[McMark]

I think if you're going to try and answer the age old, "Is it the same car?" question, you need to specify some parameters. If you're asking about legal status, there are some pretty clear laws on the subject, so it's fairly definitive. If you're asking about social status (what non-law people think) then you're going to hear a lot of different answers, and none are right and none are wrong. You have to decide how you feel about it and that's the 'right answer' for you.

As for me? I don't care how much of the original car is there or has been replaced. I only care if the work was done well. I also don't care about the specificity of the VIN number. If it's a good clean 914 (or whatever) that is solid and sound, I'm happy.

And in the case of a 914/6, I couldn't care less about the VIN as long as a conversion was built up using correct parts on a correct year chassis. I would value a conversion built on a 1971 chassis more than one built on a 1974 chassis.

But as always, what I care about is irrelevant beyond my own car. As long as you are happy with your car and the modifications you've made, I'm happy. It's about loving and driving your 914, not adhering to my brand of crazy.