Frank,

The purists are turning in there graves, the number matchers believe only is a car original once. And thats the way it rolled off the line, down to the natural patena(what ever the hell that word means). Along with the original laquer paint. A cowl change or touch those rivits on a cowl tag sends them running in the other direction.

Im having Mike Riggs build me a 69 from nothing but an original a-piller/b-piller side frame and we will use the cowl tag and title from that car, but Im not sure if I could say its original. Personally, it dont matter to me, I say cut them all and add mini tubs to everything!

Rich

We are building a '67 Mustang Convertible in the shop now and after it was blasted and we removed all the sheetmetal that needed to be replaced we had 2 shock towers attached to the front frame rails...A pillars with dash and a battery apron with the VIN stamped in it(which miraculously had no rust).....EVERYTHING else was replaced using donor parts from another car(rear convertible inner structure) and Dynacorn parts......so is it still an original car? It's no different that using the prewelded Dynacorn unibody...only they don't make a convertible so we had to make our own.

This is a touchy subject with many but in the end it is a restoration piece but different states have different laws regarding VIN's and their removal/replacement.

In the case of this Camaro where the VINs were removed...that is a touchy subject. I used to live in Maryland and know first hand that the law states you cannot attach a VIN to another car...however you are allowed to possess/collect them. In this case we have a Unibody that the VIN's have been removed so I am not sure how you would go about re-registering it in the state of MD short of going through the process such as a kit car would and have the State Police inspect it and assign a State of MD VIN plate. Obviously the original numbers are in use still so this presents a situation of sorts.

Back to Dynacorn....We have a '68 Mustang GT(Original Bullitt style car) that is going to be restored using a Dynacorn shell....the car is a basket case but we have the original Block, 4 speed, rear end and interior parts.....so is this still not a Mustang....the drivetrain is original...it's just the rusted out sheetmetal being replaced. No it's not an unrestored original but it is still a restored Mustang.

There are points to both arguements but in the end it boils down to whether someone is trying to defraud someone. It's very hard with the Dynacorn Mustangs because the Dynacorn body features convertible inner rockers and seat riser which are easy to identify.....I'm not sure if there is a similar identifying point to the Camaro bodies.

I have a dynacorn rag top as well. If I could have located a donor body I would have used it's documentation to "save" it as well. I prefer being able to run 1969 license plates and such. As I don't have any of that, I used the Dynacorn serial as a VIN and licensed it as a 1969 Camaro Convertible Replica.

Only by looking at the VIN/ Custom Cowl tag or the tail panel can you tell it is a dynacorn. The only foul would be if you tried to defraud a potential buyer into thinking it is someething it isn't. The purists are annoying but hell they really don't like PT cars anyway. Camaros.net members generally are pissed that it could lead to fake 1st Gens which would make their cars less rare, and or valuable. I think the sinking economy and the substantial resources required to build one will preclude this. Bottom line, enjoy it and tell people the truth, IF they ask you at a show or cruise.

An older gentleman with an "original" 69 coupe ( in ****ty shape) suggested that my car will have to be placed in a "kit Car" class if i take it to a cruise. He had little to say when I asked him to show me where I could order a "kit" 69 rag top. It isn't like factory five racing selLs them. No, you stilll have to buy and FIND alot of stuff even if you call year one and order their roller.

Check the passenger side of the wind shield frame especially if you hav a reproduction top frame. Nothing is right in that area. You will see when you start bolting up the surround trim and top locks.

Do you have the original front metal/ doors from the donor? Start with an original core support if possible. Goodmark/ Dynacorn...whatever, the molds are probably the same and it will require severe tweaking.

I can sympathise with the herpes thing. But you learn to deal with it.

Its an original Fake. Or a Fake Original.

I 'll hang out with the '32 roadster dudes then. Call it whatever you want just don't call it a damn kit car.