Need help locating VIN on kit car and other possible advice
Posted by bossy_assistant@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 10 comments
Located in NC if that helps.
We inherited an old Mercedes style fiberglass body that sits on top of a Mustang frame from the 60s or 70s, but unfortunately that original owner passed away and didn't have paperwork for it and it's been sitting in our garage for years. We are looking to make this kit car legal in NC so we can restore it but we cannot track down the VIN on this car to do the paperwork. We also don't have a bill of sale, title or anything with the original owners name tied to it which is what the DMV needs to issue a new VIB/ Title so I think it's gonna be a legal situation we might not even be able to get this car on the road.
Has anyone been through something like this before and can share tips?
UnbelievableDingo@reddit
As a tech who's worked on kit cars and customs.
Good lord avoid this vehicle.
I don't have the energy to describe the 47 reasons why this is a terrible vehicle to own...
Please just sell this with a bill of sale and consider yourself winning at life.
bossy_assistant@reddit (OP)
How would you go about finding someone to give you an estimate on the worth? Can we sell it without having it in our names?
trucknorris84@reddit
Can always sell it with no title. Bill of sale only.
Catatafish@reddit
Were gonna need more pics, OP. You'll likely have to scour the entire frame for any signs of a VIN.
wearymicrobe@reddit
The vin will be behind the front seats in the center of the car near a plate that needs to be removed to access the shifter adjustment rods on a VW beetle if it is on a pan. It's normally cover by carpet and a glue on this kit.
If this is a custom chassis car, which is very rare then you would need a mso and other paperwork but normally the vin by law is on a plate under the dash or on the firewall.
Catatafish@reddit
This isn't a beetle kit.
bossy_assistant@reddit (OP)
It's not on the dash and not on the firewall, we will check out the front seats. Do you have any more details about this specific kit? Anything that might be online? We don't even know what it's called.
Ghost17088@reddit
There is a distinct possibility it doesn’t have a VIN.
rdm55@reddit
https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/title-registration/special-cases/Pages/bonded-vehicles.aspx
Just get a bonded title.
Threewisemonkey@reddit
Felonious solution - swap the vin from a wrecked car that wouldn’t require state inspections and weld the vin number onto the firewall. Register as that wrecked car and act like you built this on that frame.
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/title/reconstructed