Vins on DMCev and more new build talk***Split from DMCev thread***

[ccurzio]

does anyone know the VIN of the DMC EV? it has dark rims but the grooved hood has no flap...

This isn't a conversion, it's a new-build. The VINs of these cars are probably going to be completely different/new.

[dmc6960]

This isn't a conversion, it's a new-build. The VINs of these cars are probably going to be completely different/new.

FYI, all new builds still have old VINs, but lets not go there again.

[ccurzio]

FYI, all new builds still have old VINs, but lets not go there again.

New-build PRV6 models have the old VINs. I could be wrong, but the EV models (to my knowledge) can't legally retain the old VINs.

In other news, that's an awful place for an iPod Dock.

[nullset]

New-build PRV6 models have the old VINs. I could be wrong, but the EV models (to my knowledge) can't legally retain the old VINs.

In other news, that's an awful place for an iPod Dock.

I don't think DMC is capable of producing new VINs.

If it's a new VIN, it would have to pass crash testing, have airbags, etc.

It's a conversion.

--buddy

[tyb323]

I don't think DMC is capable of producing new VINs.

If it's a new VIN, it would have to pass crash testing, have airbags, etc.

It's a conversion.

--buddy

Exactly, no new DMC vins. Besides, no way a DMC could pass modern safety requirements simply based on airbags alone, not to mention headroom, crash zones, etc.

[ccurzio]

I don't think DMC is capable of producing new VINs.

If it's a new VIN, it would have to pass crash testing, have airbags, etc.

It's a conversion.

--buddy

Thing is though, part of the VIN (per federal requirements) specifies engine type and the like. If these things are leaving the assembly areas without ever touching or even seeing a PRV6, I can't see how it'd be legal to retain the original VINs. I mean it's sticky enough with the new builds considering the VIN also contains the location of manufacture, but since it's just maintaining the original blueprint that's probably easily skirted.

It doesn't seem possible that a new-build with a completely different engine AND a completely different KIND of engine can sustain the same pattern.

[nullset]

Thing is though, part of the VIN (per federal requirements) specifies engine type and the like. If these things are leaving the assembly areas without ever touching or even seeing a PRV6, I can't see how it'd be legal to retain the original VINs. I mean it's sticky enough with the new builds considering the VIN also contains the location of manufacture, but since it's just maintaining the original blueprint that's probably easily skirted.

It doesn't seem possible that a new-build with a completely different engine AND a completely different KIND of engine can sustain the same pattern.

Those "new builds", and the EV cars, will all have once had a PRV V6 in them. They aren't building new cars from scratch. They're doing the same thing with this that they've been doing with the "new builds" - only now they're replacing the engine too.

--buddy

[jawn101]

Well since the vehicle was technically already sold to a private party before the original DMC went under, isn't it up to the owner of the car what they do with it? An existing VIN was a car at some point, so if DMCH owns it, rebuilds the car (for the purposes of argument, a 'frame off restoration') and drops in a EV powerplant (again, for arguments sake an 'engine swap') then sells the car with a preowned title, is it legally any different than dropping in a 3.0 engine after taking the body off to paint the frame? Obviously that's an oversimplification of the process, but the point stands.

Just my perspective on it. I don't see how they could do it otherwise.

[Grover]

I have posted this before, take it for what you will.

After speaking to James Espey at a recent event, he said that to avoid the crash testing on the new underbodies, all NEW EV (with the new underbodies) will be plated as a kit car, so it will be a 2011 DeLorean Kit Car basically.

The conversions can be done to existing cars WITHOUT new underbodies and the Vin will remain the same.

[Kenny_Z]

That's an interesting note. Would that mean a car with a damaged fiberglass tub that gets replaced need to be classified as a kit car? Maybe that's the reason they aren't swapping the tub on converted Deloreans?

[nullset]

I have posted this before, take it for what you will.

After speaking to James Espey at a recent event, he said that to avoid the crash testing on the new underbodies, all NEW EV (with the new underbodies) will be plated as a kit car, so it will be a 2011 DeLorean Kit Car basically.

The conversions can be done to existing cars WITHOUT new underbodies and the Vin will remain the same.

Oh great….now the "is it a kit car?" questions will start popping up again!

[Kenny_Z]

Oh great….now the "is it a kit car?" questions will start popping up again!

I get that a lot already.

[Nicholas R]

I get that a lot already.

Yea me too...

But it makes sense. That's how they can produce NEW Cobra kit cars without ever doing crash testing.

Side note: ever been to a cruise in where an idiot Cobra owner tries to convince you and everyone else his cobra is an original? Those guys are crazy. Totally soured my taste on the car. First off, given the value, anyone would be an idiot for driving an original to a cruise in. Second, there are many ways to tell its a kit. Sure pretty much everything can get replaced in the name of restoration but it doesn't change the fact that originals had aluminum bodies and kits have fiberglass. You can stick your head in the wheel well, engine bay, trunk, pretty much anywhere and see the underside of the body and see the fiberglass weave. I had a guy tell me that in the restoration process he replaced the original body also. What an idiot.

Ok I'm done ranting. Back to DeLorean Kit Cars.

[Mike C.]

Yea me too...

But it makes sense. That's how they can produce NEW Cobra kit cars without ever doing crash testing.

Side note: ever been to a cruise in where an idiot Cobra owner tries to convince you and everyone else his cobra is an original? Those guys are crazy. Totally soured my taste on the car. First off, given the value, anyone would be an idiot for driving an original to a cruise in. Second, there are many ways to tell its a kit. Sure pretty much everything can get replaced in the name of restoration but it doesn't change the fact that originals had aluminum bodies and kits have fiberglass. You can stick your head in the wheel well, engine bay, trunk, pretty much anywhere and see the underside of the body and see the fiberglass weave. I had a guy tell me that in the restoration process he replaced the original body also. What an idiot.

Ok I'm done ranting. Back to DeLorean Kit Cars.


Oh this is TOTALLY true. So many guys try to pass those cars as being original. So many bad replicas out there that you can tell a MILE away aren't the real thing, but still they must insist it was a former shelby race car that they made road legal, etc...

I don't want to be that guy that has to go "Um, your 1960s shelby seems to be using a hell of alot of parts from a 1980's Mustang front suspension..." lol