When is a car not the same car?

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:43 am

NafemanNathan wrote:What if it's replaced with another RS1600 shell?

Then it's still an RS1600..

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:45 am

So Vin numbers don't matter

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:46 pm

Yes, because the replacement RS1600 shell is still an RS1600 shell, with an RS1600 VIN.. if you swapped it for a non RS1600 shell, then it would be different..

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:55 pm

But if a standard 2 door Escort shell is exactly the same shell, then why does it matter what numbers belong to it. It can be re-painted, and genuine spoiler and trims added.

All that really matter when you come to sell it is whether it's all original all not. This would then indicate how well looked after it's been.

Basically as soon as you change the heart of it (the engine), for a different spec, whether it's an improvement or not, you are now changing the spec of the car, therefore it's now a different car.

If you are changing the shell, but essentially replacing like for like, whether the new shell originally looked different, if it ends up the same, what does it matter?... Apart from the fact it's no longer original.

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:59 pm

If the numbers aren't important, why do we have VIN's?

I don't think there is a 'correct' answer to Wurly's question, but there are clearly varied opinions.

Someone I know put an SR20 into an RX8 - (assuming he still has it) does he now own a Mazda or a Nissan? ..or is it now a Nazda?

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:09 pm

bb1boy wrote:If the numbers aren't important, why do we have VIN's?

Is that a seriously question?

bb1boy wrote:I don't think there is a 'correct' answer to Wurly's question, but there are clearly varied opinions.

Someone I know put an SR20 into an RX8 - (assuming he still has it) does he now own a Mazda or a Nissan? ..or is it now a Nazda?

This is why I don't like interracial cars... What the hell is it?

I'd suggest it's still a Mazda... He's replaced the engine (and whatever other ancillaries/drive), he hasn't replaced the rest of a Nissan. I guess it comes down to percentages.

If he dropped the shell of the Mazda on the Nissan it would still be a Nissan.

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:43 pm

NafemanNathan wrote:
bb1boy wrote:If the numbers aren't important, why do we have VIN's?
Is that a seriously question?

It's as serious a question as your statement below..

NafemanNathan wrote:But if a standard 2 door Escort shell is exactly the same shell, then why does it matter what numbers belong to it.

NafemanNathan wrote:I'd suggest it's still a Mazda... He's replaced the engine (and whatever other ancillaries/drive), he hasn't replaced the rest of a Nissan. I guess it comes down to percentages.

If he dropped the shell of the Mazda on the Nissan it would still be a Nissan.

^^ Agreed, because the VIN is attached to the chassis of the Nissan, not the shell of the Mazda.

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 1:56 pm

Forget about the VIN's!

They're to identify a vehicle and correspond with it matching engine when it comes off the process line!

If I cut the VIN plate off of my project lude and had it welded to the bottom bracket shell of my 4 year old son's Raleigh bike, it doesn't then mean he's riding a Milano red BB4 Prelude!!!

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 2:05 pm

NafemanNathan wrote:Basically as soon as you change the heart of it (the engine), for a different spec, whether it's an improvement or not, you are now changing the spec of the car, therefore it's now a different car.

Yes, this was largely my point - they've stuck a

zetec in there, so it's not an RS1600i.

But then if on top of that, you also change the shell... You've really stretched it even further away from being an Rs1600i

Would need to re-check, but given it doesn't have the original engine, I don't think you could rack up enough points to swap the rs1600i VIN onto the new shell, either?

(ps if you look at his other lots, the replacement shell is from a 1.6Diesel!!!

)

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 2:12 pm

Ok, ok, I thought VIN's were non-transferable..