Got some crappy news; If I want to run in the "Street" class at the local strip, beginning 2006 season, I'm gonna have to have a title for the Mitsu Challenger I'm building. I "rescued" this car from a bonyard, so the title has been officially junked according to Iowa DMV. In Iowa, you can't get a new title for a junked vehicle.
This leaves me only three options;
A) Don't run in "Street. (Means I won't be running for any decent payouts, just plastic toys (trophys).
B) Make the vehicle conform to DOT specs, remove all traces of the original VIN, and have an inspector go over the car. They will then issue a "state" VIN for the car. (They are REAL picky, and it'll mean big hassles and bucks.)
C) See about getting a title from a different state, maybe through one of those "title services".

So.......any opinions, experiences, suggestions? (Maybe somebody knows of a '78-'82 Mitsu Challenger/Sapporo in a yard that might have the title available?)

Roger

You may have to buy another car......My work truck has had 3 bodies so far (700,000 kms). It has a 73 body right now,,,but is registered as an 89. A VIN plate swap may be in order.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

I think VIN swapping is kind of illegal...but you could give it a shot

It is completely illegal,,,,but in the case of rebodying or race cars it hardly seems immoral. I was just suggesting the most expediant solution.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

If you're thinking of going the VIN-swap route, check your state's laws VERY carefully before proceeding. If any kind of vehicle inspection is required prior to the issuance of a street title, you're probably hosed, and here's why: the VIN plate is only one of *many* locations the VIN is located on every vehicle sold in the North American market since 1980. There are numerous "confidential" (not published) and concealed locations. If you take your car for an inspection and the VIN plate says one thing but every other VIN says another, getting a title will move to the very bottom of your priority list (making bail will move to the top).

,,,

I would swap plates, just because it doesn´t hurt anyone.
Just make sure the car the plate comes from disappears completely...

Speaking of the VIN swap idea; I really don't like it, but it might (big might) be a possibility. On this car, the dash VIN "plate" is a strip of plastic that spans the width of the dash, and it's held down with four plastic push-in retainers, similar to what's used for license plate screws in bumpers, and the actual vin is a sticker on the driver's end of that strip. The only other vin I've found is(was) stamped into the center of the firewall. The dash vin has also gone bye-bye, as I've almost completely stripped the car for weight savings.

Roger

Have you looked under the trunk seal?
it is usually stamped there, on most cars/brands.

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Actually, I haven't seriously looked for vins on the car. I didn't care at the time we started, and figured I'd see them as I saw them. After that news though, I suppose I should get serious about it.

Roger

In Pa you were able to get a reconstructed vehicle title. I can't believe that PA is the only state that will do this.

Since You did not mention what kind of title they will except, I suggest you look into this kind of title.

I had a utility trailer built to haul firewood 15 years ago, and had gone
through this procedure in order to get plates for it. they needed pictures and a description detailing the trailer. so I guess this might follow the same routine for a car(?)

Good luck

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67 Dart GT convertible
"225 Slant 6"
Super 6 and 2.25" exhaust.