Date:         Tue, 9 Nov 2004 08:33:24 -0600
Reply-To:     Dart 330 <dart330@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dart 330 <dart330@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Turbo diesel 5-speed DOKA Made Legal
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

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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