Each state has it's own laws when it comes to fraud. They are not all the same. When bidding on a car at an auction, the buyer signs a Buyers Agreement which has a disclaimer in it holding the auction company harmless from any fraudulent actions (description) by the seller. The state that has the auction in it sets the laws.

In essence it's Caveat Emptor . . . let the buyer beware.

The only "fraud" crime that is federal is switching VIN numbers.

Well, maybe. ZL1s #9 and #27 both sold at auction and were disclosed as re-bodies.

This re-bodied COPO sold at B-J AZ 2020.

Some states have laws that allow a rebody and as long as those laws are followed, it is perfectly legal to do so under Federal law. Whole bunch of forms have to be filled out along with a number of vehicle inspections.

In the case you show, was it the intent of the restorer to defraud a buyer (illegal) or was it his intent to preserve a rare vehicle (legal).

'

William's example sold @ BJ AZ 2020 is VIN 124379N657805 which sold new @ Belmont Chev' Toronto so originally ordered by Belmont's Lance Hill who's also a sYc Member.
Looks like the registry here needs updating to include the Rebody situation also there's been a few past threads w/ no mention of it, here's one...
https://yenko.net/forum/showthread.p...09#post1366009
:beers:
~ Pete


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The rebody goes back to the 2007 restoration. They weren't tracked then as they are now so subsequent owners may not have known.

At the time of the restoration/rebody, as long as the state in which the restoration was done and was made aware of the rebody and had laws that allowed a rebody and the restorer followed all laws - nothing illegal. Not even sure the owner was required to divulge the rebody when selling. That may have been part of the law or it may not have. Again, some states allow rebodies while others do not. And those that do, don't all have the same rules.

rebodies are noted on the confidential side of the registry spreadsheet. If anyone has questions about specific cars they can enquire. There are also notes about suspected rebodies, non-original components, etc. We try to avoid disputes, but are here to assist when members ask about specific cars. As is the case with the car in this thread - great members who have access to huge data bases are more than willing to help.

In states that allow rebodies you are not allowed to just move the VIN from one car to another. That is illegal. You must fill out all the forms and have the car inspected by a state authorized rep - could be from the DMV, could be a local police officer with more forms. I believe the inspection is done twice - once as the car sits with the donor body beside it and once when the rebody is finished. The donor car's VIN is then removed from DMV records and the actual VIN is destroyed. The donor car no longer exists as far as the state DMV is concerned.

Anyone know the states that do and do not allow
a legal rebody’s?

You would have to look at each state's title laws. For instance, Oklahoma issues 8 different kinds of titles for motor vehicles. One of the 8 is for rebody:

1. Original title for any motor vehicle which is not a remanufactured, salvage, unrecovered-theft, rebuilt, rebodied or junked vehicle;
2. Salvage title for any motor vehicle which is a salvage vehicle or is specified as a salvage vehicle or the equivalent thereof on a certificate of title from another state;
3. Rebuilt title for any motor vehicle which is a rebuilt vehicle;
4. Junked title for any motor vehicle which is a junked vehicle or is specified as a junked vehicle or the equivalent thereof on a certificate of title from another state;
5. Classic title for any motor vehicle, except a junked vehicle, which is twenty-five (25) model years or older;
6. Remanufactured title for any vehicle which is a remanufactured vehicle;
7. Unrecovered-theft title for any motor vehicle which has been stolen and not recovered; and
8. Rebodied title for any motor vehicle which is a rebodied vehicle.

https://casetext.com/statute/oklahom...onuse-or-theft