Let's talk fuselage body shells

I thnik replacing the body and using the VIN of this car from that point on is not illegal at all. Right? I mean, no body will ever know.

The body on most Mopars have several VIN numbers, some hidden. You have the door tag, cowl tag, build tag. There is also a hidden VIN number number under the gasket on the driver's side of the trunk channel. In addition, starting in 1969, mopars have a partial VIN stamped on the transmission and engine. It probably would not be illegal to re-body a car, although some jurisdictions might require a "reconstructed" title. You would need to check that with your local jurisdiction. The car would not be a numbers matching vehicle after this type of rebuild and anyone who knows cars would be able to tell.

Dave
 
do you have a place to work on the car yourself? maybe you could buy a pristine car and use this one to practice your restoration skills?
 
If you want to "re-body" the car, changing the VIN plate and all (which is very illegal in some areas), then why not just get another car and start over? Not bothering with "changing the numbers" to match your existing documentation. For ultimate value, if that matters, you WANT a clean title, not a "reconstructed vehicle" sort of situation.

As for the "nobody will know" orientation, the reason there are so many VIN-related numbers on the cars was so that "chop shop" operations could be shut down. Where they'd steal the car for its parts (other than just the drivetrain), for resale.

In TX, removing a data plate from the body of a '60s Mustang (to paint under it, at a noted restoration shop) got the shop owner in trouble with the stolen car detail. One Mustang with the data plate and VIN removed, as it was a race-only vehicle, was confiscated and not returned. With no VIN, then ownership could not be confirmed. ONE BIG MESS! Lots of money spent, just for the shop to stay "clean". Lessons learned. Perhaps they didn't find what they might have been fishing for? Who knows. Sour grapes from a former employee? Anything's possible.

So, all of those "hidden numbers" on the body were a part of a concerted vehicle anti-theft movement by law enforcement, aided by the OEMs. From the later '60s and continuing into the '80s (and later).

So, getting a more solid parts car shell would be the only option, it seems. Where sections of metal could be transferred from rather than custom fabrication. Some of the floor pans and trunk floor can already be in repro (or reasonable facsimilie) from a few sources.

Check out the several threads in here on common rust areas of the Fuselage cars and how others have repaired them. Quite interesting!

Just some thoughts,
CBODYT67
 
i got a laugh at the find a polish guy-----a friend here (usa) had a polish national working at his shop--they had a rare early 50,s jaguar come in for a restoration----it was missing the complete right door----shop owner tony started a worldwide search to find the door--europe africa-south america/north america----and there was nothing----the pole also named tony said get me the metal panels--i can make the door-----from flat sheet stock he hammered out the whole thing---he cut the original door separating the inside from the outside and made the panels mirror images---2 months later it was done-----no one could tell the original from the tony----the car owner was ecstatic-----i didnt hear where they sourced the hinges and handles but it was complete---the shop owner tony has since died---the pole tony is out there somewhere probably telling someone how he could do it.....there are some old world crafts men out there.....
 
It is totally and completely illegal in all 50 states in the USA, Canada and the European Union to alter or transfer a VIN from one vehicle to another.
 
It is totally and completely illegal in all 50 states in the USA, Canada and the European Union to alter or transfer a VIN from one vehicle to another.

If I'm replacing the whole body and use the VIN of this body, I'm not transfering anything!?
 
If I'm replacing the whole body and use the VIN of this body, I'm not transfering anything!?
The tag on the dash must match the body stamp numbers and the title (cutting out those pieces is illegal)

If you get a new shell, you need to use that title, the one that matches the shell.


Alan
 
I would do that, sure. I would not cut out and stamp new vin numbers on "a new" body.
But the VIN on the Dash is a problem for sure.
 
???

I don’t completely understand.
If I buy another Body, with a different VIN, I could use this VIN instead of mine.
The new Body would need to come with a title of course.
But I agree, the VIN plate on the Dash is a problem. I would need to find a body (car) with a dash still inside.
 
With the "Attention to detail" we have all seen. Why not do the work yourself?
I did a lot of stuff myself alraedy and I will do a lot more until I'm done. But part of the process of learning new skills is also to accept if you find something to difficult to do yourself.
Well executed body work is one of these things. I could never do this to the standards I want to see myself.
 
There seems to be a bit of terminology differences, to me. If you are going to "replace the body" with another one, as you might replace a fender by itself, transferring the existing VIN to the replacement, then that's very illegal in many situations.

IF you get another body and "start over", that's "replacement" but not in the same orientation, to me. Using the VIN of the newly-purchased body as it is for the rebuild. NO transfer of existing numbers to the new vehicle.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67
 
Wow, my first thought is “Julian has gone crazy!”, then I took a look at the pictures. The fact of the matter is, this is a very challenging project for someone who has never replaced metal in a car before. I probably have 200 hours in my metal work and I still haven’t worked the Dutchman’s panel or the lower quarters and rockers yet. That’s another 200+ in my future.

Keep in mind, I basically got all the repair panels for free with the parts car. 90% of the quoted estimate will be labor. 20k euro will most likely turn into 30k+, obviously not an option.

There are some great suggestions here that you should consider, one of them is NOT trying to replace the body shell. Please, that is crazy talk.

The best solution is find a better car. Many are already over there, make some offers, maybe cash and trade for your project.

Big John suggests to find a better car and use all the restored parts from this one to make the new one perfect. That is a great idea, and one that I think about all the time.

Lastly, do the research, collect the panels and take one step at a time to do it yourself. Yes, it will take a year or more to complete and you will screw up here and there, but after some practice you will get it right.
 
Could you elaborate, please?

For starters,,besides the rear panel,, the front mounts for the stub frame are in different locations.. To change this would require some heavy welding..
Pretty sure you will find the seat bracing is different as the IMP seats are heavier..
Again, cutting and welding to change.. Time consuming..
 
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