Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2004 11:22:55 -0600
Reply-To: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: Turbo diesel 5-speed DOKA Made Legal
In-Reply-To: <BAY17-F5PIje6n0ssrA0000e93c@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
Nathan:
Yes, you are right . I THINK it was Beetlemex. They still sell air
cooled parts from a website. They did the conversions IN Mexico. I guess
the Feds figured the resulting vehicle was no worse for safety (DOT) or
emissions (EPA) than the 68-79 vehicle which donated the title and frame.
AND these were passenger vehicles. The DoKa is a commercial vehicle, and
subject to more import duty.
Also, the key to getting caught is the VIN itself. The feds can actually
monitor these numbers at some stage from the states vehicle registration
lists. The number will send up a red flag to the feds at some point. And
someone mentioned that there is no windshield VIN plate. (This will be a
big problem if ANY law enforcement officer EVER looks at it.)
So, I'd stand by my original idea. If you want to register it legally
and not worry about looking over your shoulder and considering the
possibiliy of confiscation, federal fines and FEDERAL criminal
prosecution, it has to have the frame changed. Register with the title
and numbers from the donor Vanagon which you REPAIRED with these parts.
(It CAN be done.)
Al Brase
Dart 330 wrote:
> Wasn't there a company in the SW US that was importing new Mexican
> Beetles,
> changing the VIN and registering them as 1960s models?
>
> Sure they swapped in the old frame, but it was in no way the car they
> claimed it to be. I never heard of them getting into trouble with the
> law.
>
> Seems that if the chassis VIN doesn't have all the letters and numbers
> then
> there really isn't any way to trace if you pull a VIN plate out of a
> junkyard and apply for a lost title. Sure this is not legal, but that
> doesn't matter as long as you don't get caught.
>
> When I purchased my first bus, a 74 in Dodge City, KS, it had a
> "non-highway
> title". Basically it was junked and not legal to drive. In order to get a
> new legal title I had to have a State Trooper come to my house take the
> "non-highway title" and compare it to the VIN plate on the dash. After he
> decided they were the exact same he signed a form and my bus was
> completely
> legal in the state of Kansas. No safety inspection, no questions,
> nothing. I
> later moved to Missouri and had no problem transfereing the title. Had I
> gotten the title from a junkyard or a wrecked bus and pulled the VIN
> plate
> off no one would ever know.
>
> If you live in a state where they are very annal about cars (the NE and
> California), you probably shouldn't try this kind of thing. I have never
> lived in a place with emissions testing or where they wouldn't pass you
> because your turn signal lenses were not DOT approved. I think where you
> live greatly influences if you would get caught.
>
> Nathan
>
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