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Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:22 am

Okay so I am looking at picking up this '69 body . The owner says he has a title for it. Now I also have a title for my car too. Obviously the pan vin and body vin will not match. What do I do about registering/putting this car in my name and making it all right? I'm located in Michigan if this changes anything.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:32 am

The title normally goes with the pan.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:48 am

So this means I just keep the pan title in my name? What happens when someone looks at the vin on the dash and it does not match? Just not sure what exactly to do here

Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:02 am

A '69 should not have a VIN tag on the dash. If your car has the dash tag, install it on the new body.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:13 am

I read that this was illegal. Just want to make it right

Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:27 am

Get a definitive answer, contact your DMV office.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:31 am

This is a great topic- I'm interested in the answer myself.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 10:26 am

Q-Dog wrote: A '69 should not have a VIN tag on the dash. If your car has the dash tag, install it on the new body.
A 1969 U.S. spec. beetle will have a VIN tag at the bottom left side of the windshield post where it meets the windshield, and a sticker on the left side door jamb. If the tag has been removed proceed cautiously when attempting to register the car.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 11:01 am

If you want to be legal about it contact your dmv in most instances you would just need paperwork for both and they will issue a title reflecting it has a changed body asking a question like this on a forum all you are going to get is answers of what others have gotten away with. not necessarily what is legal.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 12:36 pm

wbrown45 wrote: Q-Dog wrote: A '69 should not have a VIN tag on the dash. If your car has the dash tag, install it on the new body.
A 1969 U.S. spec. beetle will have a VIN tag at the bottom left side of the windshield post where it meets the windshield, and a sticker on the left side door jamb. If the tag has been removed proceed cautiously when attempting to register the car.

As fas as I remember, the dash VIN started in 1970. There is none on my 1969.

1969

1970

Sat Sep 06, 2014 2:39 pm

The door jamb sticker is also a 1970 model addition. None on 1969 Beetles.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 3:06 pm

Here in CA, it would be a nightmare to try and do it the legal way (OUR DMV SUCKS). I know quite a few people that have done body swaps out here and they usually just remove any VIN number tags or stickers that are on the body and do the swap. When you think about it, how police or other official can tell the difference between different year VWs. However, you may have a hard time getting rid of the old body if you take it to a scrap yard, since they usually want a VIN. Then you could use the VIN from the donor vehicle to scrap the body.

So I guess it would be determined on how the DMV will work with you. Call them on the phone and see how much trouble it would be. If not much, do it the legal way. If it appears that it a nightmare, do it the way I suggested. If there was ever an issue down the road, just act dumb and say you bought the car that way.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 5:28 pm

wbrown45 wrote: Q-Dog wrote: A '69 should not have a VIN tag on the dash. If your car has the dash tag, install it on the new body.
A 1969 U.S. spec. beetle will have a VIN tag at the bottom left side of the windshield post where it meets the windshield, and a sticker on the left side door jamb. If the tag has been removed proceed cautiously when attempting to register the car. '
My '69 must have been an after Jan. 1969 model because it had the dash tag. Interesting stuff!

Sat Sep 06, 2014 6:13 pm

Sorry to derail this thread a bit more. This document confirms VIN tag on the dash started Jan 1, 1969.

So we may be able to say about half of 1969 models have the dash tag and about half don't.

Sat Sep 06, 2014 7:21 pm

Thanks, that really is good to know! :)

Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:00 pm

This question comes up all the time. It is also something that has been done a million times. The donor body is technically just spare parts, if your title matches the pan, then you can put any body on it and register is as the year of the pan. You can put a dune buggy, a Porsche 356, a Gazelle, a Puma or any other body and it'll legally be what ever the pan and title says it is. As for whether or not you want to transfer the extra VIN tag from the dash or spare tire area is really up to you. It's not necessary because of the VIN on the pan is the one that matters. If you call the DMV and ask for advice, they will most likely tell you any VIN swapping/tampering is illegal. They will tell you that because on most every other vehicle this applies. If you really want to have the secondary VIN tags, and feel that just swapping the tags is morally wrong, then just cut out the section of the windshield or trunk area and graft the spare body parts around it.

Honestly you are over-thinking this. Use the new donor body, remove the old VIN off the donor, and replace it with the VIN that matches the pan of the original car, use rivets like VW did, do it neatly and nobody, even Sherlock Holmes, most likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

-jeffrey

Sat Sep 06, 2014 8:49 pm

well since the op posted about Michigan's regs for this procedure here is a copy and paste from the michigan dmv website

MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE
Assembled Vehicles

Some owners want to know how they can title and register an assembled vehicle. An assembled vehicle is:
1. One built (assembled) from new or used materials and parts by someone not recognized as a manufacturer (usually an individual). Example: homemade vehicle.
2. One altered or modified to the extent that it no longer reflects its original manufacturer configuration. Example: a Volkswagen made into a dune buggy.
3. One which has had its body replaced with that from another vehicle. Example: pickup truck has its cab replaced.
4. One assembled from a kit (often called "kit cars"), even if a Manufacturers Certificate of Origin is provided.

Procedure to title an assembled vehicle:
1. You will need ownership documents for all vehicles or major component parts used in assembling the vehicle. This includes:

Titles
Assigned ownership documents (example: Release of Abandoned Vehicle notice from police department)
Original bills of sale

The following parts must be accounted for in the ownership documents presented:

Motor Vehicle Engine, Transmission, Body Parts (doors, front and rear clips), Frame including axles.
Motorcycle Engine, Frame, Front end assembly including the fork, Wheels, Seat
Titled Trailer or Trailer Coach Running Gear (frame axle and wheels)
2. You will also be asked to complete a certification statement summarizing the building of the vehicle. It should include:

A description of the vehicle and its parts,
Who assembled the vehicle,
When and where it was assembled or reconstructed,
Any special information about the vehicle to assist the investigator.
3. A Vehicle Number/On-Road Equipment Inspection (form TR-54) completed by a MI police officer must be submitted. The inspection will verify the vehicle has all equipment required for on-road registration.

4. All assembled vehicles require a state-assigned vehicle identification number (VIN). There is a $10 fee for this.

5. When you apply for your assembled vehicle title, tax is due on all parts unless paid at time of purchase.

6. A license plate cannot be sold until the Department's Regulatory Monitoring Division places the assigned VIN sticker on the vehicle and releases the new title to the owner. The Regulatory Monitoring Division will contact you for an appointment, usually at a local State Police Post or Secretary of State branch office. A 30-day or 60-day permit may be purchased if you need to register the vehicle before the Regulatory Monitoring Division places the new VIN sticker on the vehicle.

or as stated by so many others you can probably get away doing it the not legal way and have no problems lots of people have been getting away with it in many states but that does not mean it is legal.