Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 08:57:52 -0800
Reply-To: Stacy <vwcrewman@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stacy <vwcrewman@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Turbo diesel 5-speed DOKA Made Legal/ Beetle Mexicano
In-Reply-To: <ff.625bf38.2ec34510@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Actually my 2001 mexican had had the pan replaced with a 68 swing axle and
they put the 2001 pan halves and running gear and then re-assembled
it,registered it as 68 .No # changes and it really is a 68 pan.They only
problem is that the Mexican beetle has the #'s stamped in the body by the
gas tank.Not on a plate but in to the sheet metal.So I do not know what
would happen if a sharp officer knew what a 68 looked like and went searhing
for #'s.
One thing is for sure these people who are selling cars and advertising
that it is one year and registered as another are as smart as Osama Bin
laden running down Pennsylvania Ave shouting I hate "W".It is just not
legal to have different numbers on 1 car.
My brother almost had to walk home 1 night because his pan swapped 62
V.I.N. didn't match his pink,I wouldn't chance that
unless you consider yourself luckier than most.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of George Goff
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 2:19 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Turbo diesel 5-speed DOKA Made Legal/ Beetle Mexicano
In a message dated 11/9/04 9:46:21 AM, dart330@HOTMAIL.COM writes:
<< 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 >>
The old tunnel which had the kosher VIN was SUPPOSED to be installed in the
new Mexican Beetle. I've seen a website showing the process as performed in
someone's backyard down there, but, apparently, not all the tunnel
installers
went to all that trouble in order to produce an inferior car. The only
Mexican
Beetle I have seen firsthand, simply had the original chassis numbers
removed
and the new numbers stamped on the tunnel. Also, the alteration was obvious
with coarse grind marks where the original numbers had been and the new
numbers
stamped pell mell in a rude manner.
The real question is: what contorted logic allows for swapping a rusty
chassis spine to be considered to be within even the spirit of our laws
regulating
importation?
George
