VW Buggy VIN?

[Sloppy]

I recently purchased a 1959 VW fiberglass buggy. The previous owners title and registration called it a 1959 VW. It's VIN I found was located on the center pan right behind the emergency brake. The VIN was 2403636. That is what the previous owners VIN was, and that what is now on my title and registration.

Today I was working on it, I found some papers from owner who owned the buggy BEFORE the guy I bought it from. Well those papers listed the VIN as a 1966 VW beetle with a VIN of DRF 104477. I inspected further and found a small rectangular plate welded near the clutch pedal along the left wall by my foot. The plate had DRF 104477.

How are the previous two owners VIN's different, and what VIN should I use? What do I even call the fiberglass buggy for insurance purposes?

[AMAC1680]

I can't help you with the vin but others here far more knowledgeable than I will.

What I do know is don't tell the insurance co that it's a "dune buggy". That almost always turns out bad.

AMAC
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www.SEGS4VETS.org

[vponder]

That tag you found is more than likely a VIN issued when the buggy was first built and put on the road. My neighbor has a Manx body when we were taking it off the old chassie we found a tag under the right front fender that was screwed in the fiberglass, it was from the DMV in PA it had a short number on it.

[Glenn]

[Dale M.]

Technically by Calif DMV it is not a 1959 VW it is a SPCN or SPecial CoNstruction by interpretation of California DMV code... And the 1966 title is what it probably should be registered under and that was when buggy was actually built as kit car...

Only DMV can clarify the dilemma you have.... BUT if you question it with wrong DMV clerk you will open up a whole can of worms to get proper title... IT would be my guess that if previous owner had it register with the VW VIN for quite a few years (10 I believe) the Calif DMV title and VIN may have dropped out of the computer and may not be valid....

IF you misrepresent the buggy which is actually a "kit car" by definition not a VW beetle to your insurance as others have said you might lose your coverage in case of a incident becasue you misrepresented the vehicle to them and they will base their rejection of claim and cancellation of your insurance because you intentionally committed fraud by misrepresentation..

Dale
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“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[Wolfgangdieter]

I'd think the one stamped by VW on the tunnel behind brake handle which matches current title is one to go with. The one welded on by a PO is bogus. Your chassis was most likely shortened. Perhaps the front came from a different year than the rear section. I too would avoid dune buggy and go with kit car. Since in Calif you can apply for the Special Construction but aren't there only 500 issued per year?
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CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy

[HeidelbergJohn4.0]

In a way it is similar to what I have with my Fire Aero, though being a bike based kit car, I actually have two titles. I have the valid title to the Honda V45, however I also have a valid title which corresponds to the Special construction VIN assigned to the completed vehicle. Missouri would only title it as a special construction vehicle, however VA and Maryland titled it as a motorcycle on the valid OEM VIN. both states just rolled their eyes on the special construction and said basically, you don't want to go there.

I'd go with whatever you have the up to date title and registration on and be honest with the insurance company regardless of how it's titled if you put it on the road.
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71 LWB Manx style dunebuggy
71 Beetle
71 Volksrod
Machette Speedster
2012 Passat TDI SE (sadly sitting in a buyback parking lot somewhere waiting for it's heart to be ripped out.)

[Dale M.]

[AMAC1680]