QUOTE(mepstein @ Apr 4 2017, 07:51 AM) 
QUOTE(rick 918-S @ Apr 4 2017, 07:34 AM)
QUOTE(RFoulds @ Apr 3 2017, 06:49 PM)
I got banned from the 914 Forum on Facebook for stating this, so I am prepared to be flamed.
This car is not an example of "VIN Swapping" Yes VIN swapping is illegal. In vintage cars, this is considered by builders to be a "re-bodied car"
the majority of cars that win at Pebble beach are re-bodied cars. in vintage restoration shops, if you OWN both cars, and you want the tags from the rusty shitty car moved to the restored chassis, it is considered ethical and legal. DMV does not care as long as there are not two cars with the same VIN, and neither was stolen. the rusty tub should now have the other VIN and be crushed.
Randy Ema, who builds Pebble beach winning Dusenbergs for Jay Leno, says often: bring me the VIN, registration and the pictures, and I will build you an original Dusenberg.
Had this car been properly documented as a rebodied car, and had the builder used the correct year tub as a donor, and been alert to the differences in early versus later cars, this probably wouldnt have been such an isssue.
I was just at a car show on Friday, where an original Maserati Mille Miglia was on display, valued at $1.4 million. the entire body and engine are non-original.
It fascinates me to see cars that are recreated by hand from a vin # and somehow that is ok but a guy can't take a rusted hulk not worthy of repair, purchase shell, re-body the car and have it somehow called less than legal.
It also interests me to see cars that have rusted well beyond the point of safe repairs using large sections from other cars and that is somehow accepted as an original car. Where is the line when repairing a rusted hulk using a donor car as a platform for repairing a more valuable car? Not saying I agree or disagree. Just always wondered.
In the collision business clipping was always considered not legal and not safe. ( half of one car and half of another) I never did that but know of a shop that did it all the time.
Also in the collision business the vin. number is often supplied on the bill of sale from the salvage yard so there is no doubt the parts are not from a stolen car. Does that happen when a rusted hulk is restored using a donor car?
The car in question here clearly was not done to a standard that would be acceptable to the restoration crowd. But what if it was? What if it was a 10 point restoration using a body in white donor like the Camaros and Mustangs and MGB's? Interesting these are accepted and legal.
Money and a name change. It's not vin swapping, it's a rebody
My wife didn't have a boob job, she had body augmention.
At one time, Porsche had several 914 bare bodies in white. If you could prove the car was totaled and the car would be destroyed, they would sell you one and even stamp your VIN number in the proper places. As I recollect the cost was $10,000.00
Many of the Packards, Pierce Arrows , Duesenbergs etc were too Politically Incorrect to drive as the Depression left more and more people starving and out of work. They were very large and heavy duty. Many of them were bought by farmers, their custom coachwork removed and scrapped. They were then used as farm trucks. So the magnificent winner at Pebble Beach Concours might be a figment of someone fertile imagination. The Cowl, engine, radiator and front running boards, may look like the originals or even be restored originals, but the passenger compartments are based loosely on sketchy information available.
Ir
