Obviously no one read the last line of my first response.....check your states laws, or ask your dmv about having it marked special interest only, or some crap like that. As for Bill, I just read Californias laws regarding antique, special interest, and custom vehicles. Their laws are nearly identical to Oregon.....Bring in the paper work for the various parts used, whether title, or bills of sale, and go through the process. CHP doesn't require an owner to remove the nose of their 53-56 trucks to search for the frame stamped vin, since it is hidden underneath the inner fenders (if it's on the right frame rail) or the radiator saddle (if it's on the forward most crossmember).

 

I wouldn't throw it away as it would make good wall/garage art. But I would be scared to put thousands of dollars into a truck using a "bought" title to get it on the road.

Having said that, if I put an aftermarket frame under my truck, how would the missing VIN hamper my legality? If I went out (I've wanted to do this at the Supernationals and make a Overhaulin' type show out of it) and pieced together a truck out of aftermarket and swapmeet parts, how would I title it to drive everyday?

 

In Oregon, you would have it titled as an assembled vehicle. The problem is if you wanted a titled 1950 (example) Ford, you wouldn't get it. The title would read 2012 ASMB (or similar). If your new frame did not come with a VIN, they would assign one to it and it would be placed on the frame.

 

Would that mean your newly assembled vehicle would have to conform to 2012 safety and emission standards? That's usually the number one reason why guys try to stay from the assembled vehicle brand.

 

Exactly right! It would be considered a newly manufactured vehicle and meet all the safety and emission requirements of a new vehicle. However most states have some exemptions for low volume/owner built one of a kind vehicles. Otherwise you would have to build several copies and subject them to the same destructive crash testing and engineering certifications that major manufacturers cars must pass.
In CA from what I have read, they only issue a small fixed number of exempt titles a year and use a lottery system to determine which applicants will receive one, otherwise your vehicle will have to pass the same new vehicle emission standards, i.e. have OBD2 monitoring/reporting, catalytic converter, fuel fume scrubbing, fuel filler nozzle restricted to unleaded fuel, etc etc.. IMHO As other states get into trouble with fed air quality standards you will see more restrictions put in place. Like other political football areas, it is much less "difficult" to demonstrate that they are "doing something" about the problem by slapping restrictions on the few hobbyist builders than on industrial factories, we don't have lobbyists throwing large sums of money at the political campaigns.

 

I don't believe so, but haven't checked into it personally. Oregon does not have a safety inspection requirement on vehicles.

 

An assembled vehicle, in Oregon, is categorized as a vehicle built to resemble a specific year, make, and or model vehicle. It is built of new, or used parts. dmack91, you are mistaken. It is titled as the year it represents, but does say assembled in the branding window of the title. Axracer, they are not subject to modern rules, but the rules of "original equipment" at the time of manufacture. Oregon specifically differentiates between a salvage vehicle, assembled vehicle, street rod, and manufactured vehicle. A manufactured vehicle does have to meet modern standards.

 

They actually seem to be pretty progressive in recognizing the differences. Here is their webpage: Oregon DMV Titling & Registering Your Vehicle

But one correction, dmack's truck would be a Reconstructed vehicle, not an Assembled vehicle:

 

Yes, each state has it's own way of dealing with the titling of what we refer to as hot rods, kit cars, and homebuilts. I obviously have not researched every or any other states specifically, but was recalling some of the "worst case scenarios" examples that come up in the magazines, with CA one of the toughest. In states like CA and here in NC we have personal property tax laws where the tax basis on vehicles is tied to the value of the vehicle.
There is obviously a great deal of difference in the value of say a barn find unrestored original 1931 Model A and a Factory 5 kit car "1934 Ford" coupe.
The fed gov is always behind the scenes blackmailing the states to pass laws outlawing the licensing of older leaded gas and other non conforming vehicles so they can push their agenda of converting the country to biofuels.
If no one can license a vehicle that won't run on E75 who is going to complain if that's the only fuel you can buy?
The polititicos are being pushed by mega agribiz since they can make a great deal more money selling corn to make biofuel than they can as a food. Notice how many sweetened products are touting recently that they don't (any longer) contain corn syrup sweeteners? It's not because cane sugar is any better for you, it's because the price of corn has risen to the point where corn syrup is more expensive than cane sugar!

 

Here's one guy's experience with titles here in NC:

 

I don't understand why salvage or rebuilt is such a big deal on 30, 40, or 60-yr old vehicles. In NM and many other states they used to title insurance (theft) recovery vehicles as "salvage", even tho the damage didn't affect chassis or running gear a bit. Many times the damage was to the interior, hacked up dashboards and wiring from stealing the radio for instance. In other words the insurance company totalled it out for economic reasons, not mechanical ones.

On modern cars (2000+), there are tons of salvage title vehicles on CL here, and I wouldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole. They frequently have the airbags replaced with fakes, whole quarters grafted on from another car, etc. and not "right".

 

1973/79 F100/350: No such thing as an F100 only hood or door, the exterior sheet metal is ALL the same.

What "part numbers" did the guy check, since there are no part numbers marked on parts after 1956?

 

I dont think it was part numbers he checkd, it was the fact that the driver side door was replaced with a 77f100 as per the vin tag on the door and that didnt match the f150 76 frame number

 

1963/80: The Warranty Plate is located on the left door face below the latch, has the VIN, misc codes stamped on it.

People replaced damaged left doors with used doors. 99.9% of the time, they failed to install the original Warranty Plate on the replaced door.

What does this have to do with the DMV or police? Nothing. They go by the hidden frame VIN

The hidden frame VIN must match the VIN on the registration/title. No one gives a damn if the Warranty Plate VIN doesn't match.

Printed on some Warranty Plates: NOT FOR TITLE OR REGISTRATION PURPOSES

1976/80 Warranty Plate: 1st line VIN / Second line: W.B. - COLOR - MODEL - BODY - TRANS - AXLE / Third line: MAX GVW - YEAR - DSO

Warranty Plates used by dealers to ID what equipment vehicles came with, where the vehicle was ordered from, if it was a Domestic Special Order or not.

VIN "tag" - Riveted to the left corner of the dash, visable thru the windshield. Required for Passenger Cars beginning 1968, no truck has one until the 1980's.

 

Go back and read, NC requires BOTH the tag and frame to match