Chunkstyle
New member
hi guys --
can anyone please explain, in general, how "special construction" or "assembled vehicle" titles work? i'm sure they're probably different in different states, but am interested in the general process. i live in michigan, which currently has no smog testing.
from what i've seen, it seems like a lot of old sterling-family cars are titled as old vw's, which seems to be by far the simplest/cheapest way to go. someday, i'd like to end up with one with a home-fabbed tube frame (mustang II front end, custom vw-torsion rear), which would probably shoot the vw-ness of the car, since the vin plate is on the trans tunnel, which i'd be scrapping . i don't know how far you can modify a car before the government considers it something different than the title says. i'd imagine no one would know until you get in a wreck or something, or get stopped by an officer with eagle-eyes for details, but i'd hate to get sued over an accident or something, or have an insurance claim voided because the car was modded too much. how much is too much?
any idea whether such a frame swap would wreck the titling?
with assembled titles, i assume the DMV cranks out a vin number plate or sticker or something that they affix to the car after it's inspected for roadworthiness. do they take pics of the car & record details of its construction & keep them on file, so that they know exactly which body / frame / etc. originally went with that vin? would swapping out major parts of the car void the assembled title?
as an example, say i found one of those hideous excalibers with an assembled title -- preferably with an older model year to ease any potential emissions issues down the road. then i decided to change the body for a sterling, and upgrade the frame while i was at it. after all -- people swap out lots of things on their cars all the time -- wheels, engines, suspension parts, body panels, etc. (plus, i'd be doing society a civic service by getting one more excaliber off the road! ) any idea how that'd work, legality-wise?
basically, i'm wondering if an existing, older assembled title is like carte blance to do whatever you want to modify a car.
a while back, there was a guy on craigslist looking to buy a car with a kit car title, just for the title. i figure he was pondering the same stuff i am.
i just am unsure if it might actually be playing with fire, legally.
thanks!
drew j.
can anyone please explain, in general, how "special construction" or "assembled vehicle" titles work? i'm sure they're probably different in different states, but am interested in the general process. i live in michigan, which currently has no smog testing.
from what i've seen, it seems like a lot of old sterling-family cars are titled as old vw's, which seems to be by far the simplest/cheapest way to go. someday, i'd like to end up with one with a home-fabbed tube frame (mustang II front end, custom vw-torsion rear), which would probably shoot the vw-ness of the car, since the vin plate is on the trans tunnel, which i'd be scrapping . i don't know how far you can modify a car before the government considers it something different than the title says. i'd imagine no one would know until you get in a wreck or something, or get stopped by an officer with eagle-eyes for details, but i'd hate to get sued over an accident or something, or have an insurance claim voided because the car was modded too much. how much is too much?
any idea whether such a frame swap would wreck the titling?
with assembled titles, i assume the DMV cranks out a vin number plate or sticker or something that they affix to the car after it's inspected for roadworthiness. do they take pics of the car & record details of its construction & keep them on file, so that they know exactly which body / frame / etc. originally went with that vin? would swapping out major parts of the car void the assembled title?
as an example, say i found one of those hideous excalibers with an assembled title -- preferably with an older model year to ease any potential emissions issues down the road. then i decided to change the body for a sterling, and upgrade the frame while i was at it. after all -- people swap out lots of things on their cars all the time -- wheels, engines, suspension parts, body panels, etc. (plus, i'd be doing society a civic service by getting one more excaliber off the road! ) any idea how that'd work, legality-wise?
basically, i'm wondering if an existing, older assembled title is like carte blance to do whatever you want to modify a car.
a while back, there was a guy on craigslist looking to buy a car with a kit car title, just for the title. i figure he was pondering the same stuff i am.
i just am unsure if it might actually be playing with fire, legally.
thanks!
drew j.
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