HOW DO YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT "REBODYING A CAR"

71RRADDICT · Post by **71RRADDICT** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 5:15 pm

....OK LET HERE FROM THE BOARD....WHAT DO YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT THIS ?

....LIKE THE CAR THAT`S ON THE BOARD NOW IS IT BETTER TO HAVE LET IT GO TO THE CRUSHER OR LET IT BE AROUND FOR US FANATICS TO ENJOY..............SO YOU CAN TELL MY OPINION

Post by **Eric** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:13 pm

I have no problem with taking parts off the car to put on another....to make a clone. I DO have a problem with switching the VINs to another car. IMHO, someone who does that is dishonest and looking to make $$ at someone elses expense.

72 RR fan · Post by **72 RR fan** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:49 pm

"Rebodying" or swapping VIN numbers from car to car is no substitute for restoration. It's not the same car. I see several reasons why people want to do it, but nah. Plus the car can be siezed if it's proven to be VIN fraud.

DixieSatellite · Post by **DixieSatellite** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:44 am

Hi,

Just to offer a different angle ......first, I disagree with swapping VINs for the purpose of reselling the car and profiting from the sale. You can't trust people will tend to do the right thing, generally, so it makes sense to be on your guard.

As far as the rebodying thing goes...my first car was a 1970 Holden Monaro 186S 4-speed (I was in Australia at the time). I remember these coming out in 1968 (HK model) when I was 5, so I decided my first car would be a 186S when I got my license in 1982.

(Not my car, obviously, but an EXACT copy of mine).

Fast forward to July 1983 when I picked up a beautiful rust-free low milage 4-speed car (metallic turquoise) and 6 weeks later in a magnificent display of non-existant driving skill, in which I managed to barrel roll the car and dent / crush every single external panel, as well bending the monocoque / chassis so the left door gap was about 1/2 wider than the right. Prior to me destroying it, the car was a cream-puff with all the correct options etc. complete with low-mileage sport inline-6 ( which was OK as I was a student and couldn't afford a V8 anyway). The plan was to pick up a tired HG roller and transfer everything into the car - immaculate interior / tranny / engine / etc. etc. That would have also involved transferring the data plate, as I planned to keep the car and there was no intent to sell. IF I had sold, I would certainly have revealed the car's history.

But the rebody did not happen and I ended selling the car for parts, as 1/ they were not worth more than $5000 in #1 condition at the time and 2/ school got in the way. This is the only instance in which I would support a rebody, and of course, revealing this to the buyer in the event the car was later sold.

Just my 2c.

Ian B.

Smellslike1974 · Post by **Smellslike1974** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:17 am

To me Its just plain laziness and very greedy.Someone wants to restore a car,but they want a certain one,and when there's too much work involved they cheat by swapping vin's and bodies.There's no way these people can have the same feeling as we do when they finish a car.Sure your restoring a car,but not the one that is coded on the vin.The amount of satisfaction I don't think can me the same.For instance,If I was looking for another Satellite with a Sundance package,and managed to find one,but It was In such bad shape I decided I would buy a regular better condition satellite,swap the vin,rebuild it,paint it and decal it like a Sundance,I would not be able to live with myself knowing that credit Is being giving to me for have such a car,but Its not even real.
And when Its for business,that's super wrong.You ask for a certain car,pay the big dollars for that car and people cheat by giving you a fake car.That would definitely come back to haunt the new owner If he ever tries selling It.

moparmodeler · Post by **moparmodeler** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 4:20 pm

A cars vin is like a persons social security number. Is it right to take a dead persons number for your own? or just use some one else's because there's is better. Would you be willing to give your number to someone else because the look better then you.

Vin numbers and data plates stay with the original car. Swapping parts, building clones and tribute cars is cool, but the original vin should not change, so that everyone knows the truth of a car.

RS23-71 · Post by **RS23-71** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:49 pm

moparmodeler wrote:A cars vin is like a persons social security number. Is it right to take a dead persons number for your own? or just use some one else's because there's is better. Would you be willing to give your number to someone else because the look better then you.

Vin numbers and data plates stay with the original car. Swapping parts, building clones and tribute cars is cool, but the original vin should not change, so that everyone knows the truth of a car.

Don't think it can be said much better then this quote above.

Alaskan_TA · Post by **Alaskan_TA** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:41 pm

Moving VIN numbers from one car to another is a felony.

No rusty junk pile in the world is worth going to prison over.

fourforty6pac · Post by **fourforty6pac** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:55 pm

It's just plain WRONG, period... The sad thing is that it is done more often then you think. It's not a difficult thing to do if you have some knowledge and a little more skill. The body is the tough part, this is where the knowledge part come in to play. You have to find all the hidden vin's. I wouldn't worry too much about the one on the radiator support, these could have been replaced when the car was just a baby. And every one knows about the one on the package tray, that wouldn't take a whole lot of effort to switch. But that's not it. There are more, but I'm not telling. So, you have your body done, all that's left is to make your drive train numbers matching. Just mill off the old numbers and re stamp the new ones, just make sure the date codes are correct. Then you make a bogus copy of a broadcast sheet and send it out to get your fender tags, I don't know if this is still possible but I did get a fender tag made like this way back in the 80's ( No, it wasn't a bogus build sheet). Now you think your in the clear but don't be too sure. Did you miss anything? Maybe you didn't realize someone might have recorded the vin when the car was in the bone yard or for sale on ebag or what ever. The motivation for this would be profit. You can turn a pile of twisted rusty junk into a bull$hit high dollar muscle car or you can turn that satty into a runner and make 1/3 less at the most. Even after spending just as much. So , let's say that you did a perfect job and made a but load on it. Then after a year or so you get a visit from the state police. It is illegal to switch vins even if you disclose the fact. Just don't do it.

Post by **Eric** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:26 pm

This is the main reason I started collecting VIN/fender tag/broadcast sheet info several years ago....

fourforty6pac wrote: Now you think your in the clear but don't be too sure. Did you miss anything? Maybe you didn't realize someone might have recorded the vin when the car was in the bone yard or for sale on ebag or what ever.

bandman · Post by **bandman** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:10 pm

Back in my youth (19 years ago) I put the dash of my 72 Road runner into a rust free 71 satelite. I was too stupid and ignorant to know any better.... I just saw it as an easy way to get a nice dash into my project. I am quite embarrassed about it, but I figure honesty is the best policy. I sold the car 5 years later to a friend that was looking for an inexpensive car. My buddy knew the history of my project and there was no disception (or greed because I lost money). Two years later he was messing with the wiring, and melted the car down to a junk pile, can you say "fire!"(Karma??). I have no problem admitting my ignorance...I also know that not many people operate at the, "gee I didn't know that" level that I didn't back as a teenager.

Now I would like to draw your attention to this ebay listing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Plymouth ... 240%3A1318

Is my ignorance and stupidity on the same level as this guy? Maybe, maybe not.

I will leave it to your discrection.

Dennis

PS yes I know I am stupid, but I learn fairly fast.

fourforty6pac · Post by **fourforty6pac** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:02 pm

Your right bandman, the guy is an idiot. I didn't have to read the whole description to come to that conclusion. And he thinks he has a gold mine to boot. It looks like he has a lot invested.

fourforty6pac · Post by **fourforty6pac** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 8:15 pm

Eric wrote:This is the main reason I started collecting VIN/fender tag/broadcast sheet info several years ago....

fourforty6pac wrote: Now you think your in the clear but don't be too sure. Did you miss anything? Maybe you didn't realize someone might have recorded the vin when the car was in the bone yard or for sale on ebag or what ever.

Thanks for your effort, Eric. This is the kind of thing that will make it harder for the ripoffs in the future.

71RRADDICT · Post by **71RRADDICT** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:35 am

DID I PICK A NICE TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT

...SO WHAT I GATHER FROM THE BOARD IS THAT IF IT`S NOT THE REAL DEAL THAN YOU DON`T HAVE S**T.....A TRIBUTE OR CLONE CAR IS STILL JUST A SATELLITE OR JUST YOUR BASIC RUNNER....BUT I`M STILL VERY INTERESTED IN THE V-CODE CAR SO WHAT YOUR ALL SAYING IS TO SPEND THE TIME TO REDO THE ORIGINAL BODY....AND WHAT DO YOU PERFER AS USING FOR PANELS.....USED OR REPRODUCTIONS

I`D REALLY LIKE TO DO THIS CAR AND IT IS POSSIABLE ......SO DO YOU SAY GO FOR IT OR RUN LIKE HELL......

Post by **Eric** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:12 pm

Most of us like basic Satellites too. I don't agree with rebodying any car whether it's a hemi or a 318 car.
I personally would stay away from that car. No matter what approach you'd take in restoring it, there will always be suspicion about it with anyone in the hobby who watches these things.

Road Runner Nest

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