Howdie All,
Been cruisin several On-Line sites, gathering all intel I can and figured it was time to say, "Hello."
A little background history.
Got the 1st gen Bug back in High School. I compare it to Herpes. Once you have it, it never really goes away and there is no known cure. Had a 69 Rag Top, spent more time and money on it than I will ever admit to and like a Bone Head, I sold it. That was about 8 or 9 years ago and life came along to occupy my time and money else where.
Never loosing the desire to own another 69 Rag Top, I recently purchased one and so the Restoration process begins again.

Here's an interesting fact. The first 69 Rag Top, I purchased in 1992 for $1,700.00. A plain Jane, all matching 327, PG. Needing a complete resto and I do mean COMPLETE. Tail panel, Trunk pan, full floors, Dash panel, 2 full quarters, inner and outer rear wheel wells, it was a mess.
The one I just purchased in Dec. 08. Ran me $17,000.00. How's that for inflation.
This one is another Rag Top. MOSTLY done. Just Love those 69 Rag Tops. In need of paint and an interior. Dynacorn body, all new sheet metal present, primed for paint, complete but not original drive train. Set up as a 4sp car.
Considering todays cost, I felt that $17,000.00 was not a bad price. I didn't steal it but I did save quite a bit.

Here's a few questions for the group.
The seller, purchased a Donor car to help complete the Dynacorn shell. He removed the VIN and Cowl Tag from the donor car and has tranfered them along with the Title over to the Dynacorn shell.
My Wife and I have had several long debates on whether or not, this can be called a restored original. If I restore it, (build) it to match the Trim Tag, is it an original or a fake? At what point is a car no longer an original? That is to ask, "At what point, does a car loose the ability to be called an original restored car?"
My wife, is of the opinion, (just one among a multitude of opinions) that it will be a knock-off and in no way an original. I honestly don't know what to think.
My first 69 had just about the entire shell replaced The frame rails were the only portion salvaged. The Sub and drive train were also true original parts.
Thanks Marc

I would say 1 of the big differences is somebody else did the body work.(dynacorn) (lol ) ...still a repro or mock up off the original though...good question though...AS LONG AS YOU DISCLOSE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE..

I would say 1 of the big differences is somebody else did the body work.(dynacorn) (lol ) ...still a repro or mock up off the original though...good question though...ASLOND AS YOU DISCLOSE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE..

I can live with that.
Been bugging the crap out of me ever since my wife mentioned it.

My wife, is of the opinion, (just one among a multitude of opinions) that it will be a knock-off and in no way an original

I like probably the majority of others on this site agree with your wife.

Welcome to Team Camaro Marc,I think the jury is still out on this if it looks good when you decide to sell like Bill said just disclose what is done and if the price is good for both it will sell.If it is not eating anything and you decide to sell put a price on it and wait till the right person comes along.I am from Glen Burnie Md you ever get down this way...

Marc, welcome to Team Camaro from another Maryland guy. My guess is the most important issue is that if you ever go to sell it, just let the buyer know what you did. Other than that, I wouldn't worry about what to tell people -- I would just enjoy driving it :thumbsup:

Appreciate the input.
As much as it PAINS me to admit, I tend to agree with my Wife.
Never gave it any thought until she mentioned it.

Welcome to Team Camaro Marc,I think the jury is still out on this if it looks good when you decide to sell like Bill said just disclose what is done and if the price is good for both it will sell.If it is not eating anything and you decide to sell put a price on it and wait till the right person comes along.I am from Glen Burnie Md you ever get down this way...

Nice job,
Looks like that will scare most people who ride in it, :)
No intention to sell ANY time soon.
http://www.camaros.net/forums/olp/images/misc/progress.gif

In my opinion, if you transfer the vin and TT from the donor car to the Dynacorn it will be a fake, no question.

i guess there is no getting around it..it would be a fake...sounds bad...
HOWEVER...i agree with the others...ENJOY the car for what you make it to be...then IF it is sold..disclose all info...just keep accurate info..even on the donor car as well.....
then there can be no FOULS called....
kevin

I would say 1 of the big differences is somebody else did the body work.(dynacorn) (lol ) ...still a repro or mock up off the original though...good question though...AS LONG AS YOU DISCLOSE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.. its not fake, thats a harsh word.. it just didnt come off gm's prodution line..your blood sweat and tears and a empty wallet wont be fake when your done with it.......p.s. remember every car starts off the same then they add packages to them and tag them when they are done with the build..every 69 camaro was built then tagged not tagged then built...you will have a real dynacorn 69 ragtop camaro when your done and god bless the man who puts it together....very frustrating...you thought aftermarket parts dont fit well on a factory car...a lot of custom work goes into putting together a dynacorn body..well worth it in the end........p.p.s think about all the camaro's on the road that are altered (quarters,doors,complete floors,roofs,interiors, motors..........) at what point is it fake?? just because you have a vin. no. ,a trim tag ,and a no. on the block that might match or not, or maybe some stuff matches but not the rest...(real camaro' s are virgins....) god bless the freedom of speech...............

As long as not trying to pass as an original... But I still don't like tags being swapped.

BTW, welcome to TC from another Harford Co. guy.
Try to get down to Lowes this spring/summer (Rt 24 by Walmart) Every Fri after 5pm weather dependent (as many as 1000 cars some nites) :yes:

He removed the VIN and Cowl Tag from the donor car and has tranfered them along with the Title over to the Dynacorn shell.


First of all, welcome to TC. We all understand how the Camaro bug grabs ahold. Once bitten, you'll never be the same. :thumbsup: Now on to a more serious side. Switching VINs is illegal in all 50 states. Most of us here frown on swapping cowl tags, but so far that's only illegal in Oklahoma. I don't mean to sound negative, especially since you have been upfront about the switches. Just be aware that IF you ever sell the car and a future owner finds out the VIN has been switched, you may be answering some legal questions even though you didn't personally make the switch. You may disclose to the buyer that the VIN has been switched, but if he sells the car and doesn't make that info known, it may come back to you. I'm definitely no expert on the legality of all this, but you may be better off getting a state assigned VIN for the Dynacorn body and just enjoy your car. Best of luck to you!!

Welcome to Team Camaro Marc,I think the jury is still out on this if it looks good when you decide to sell like Bill said just disclose what is done and if the price is good for both it will sell.If it is not eating anything and you decide to sell put a price on it and wait till the right person comes along.I am from Glen Burnie Md you ever get down this way...

Where in Glen Burnie? I grew up in Linthicum. :) My Dad owned and ran a transmission shop in GB for 20 years.

First of all, welcome to TC. .....but you may be better off getting a state assigned VIN for the Dynacorn body and just enjoy your car. Best of luck to you!!

Welcome to Team Camaro!

It's amazing how the guys have mellowed over the years, or maybe we just need to move this to restoration to get the proper level of attention?

This has been a VERY hotly debated subject.
The people who answered so far do not represent the opinions of many here, a lot of people don't read welcome wagon.

What about the hidden vins, did they move over too?

I agree that a state issued vin would be a better choice.

Welcome Marc...

I would have to agree with what Jim is stating below. Does the DMV in your area know that the VIN attached to your car is actually from another Camaro that has been destroyed ? It is entirely your call but down the road should you decided to sell the car and the new buyer finds out that there are no hidden VINS (not on a dynacorn carshell, assuming the "creator" of the car did not transpose them as well) you could be in a bit of a bind...

I would get a new state issued VIN for the car and remove the one that is on the car right now. I would even go as far as removing the trim tag too...

Welcome to the sight. I wanted to say that "in my opinion" the dynacorn shell reminds me of the Shelby Cobra kits that are reproductions of a car made in the 60's. The kits now are new and aren't passed off as original just as the dynacorn shells are made now and shouldn't be passed off as original. As for moving the vin tags, I thought that was illegal to do. Whatever you do, just drive and enjoy the car and if you try to sell, make sure you have a full disclosure document written just in case.

I think you nailed it. It shouldn't be titled as a 69 with a dynacorn body. A new vin should be applied for. It's not going to help the value of our cars when they can be restamped in Taiwan or whatever and titled as 69's. Bull puckey I say.

I appreciate all the input provided by those who replied.
Just shows my level of ignorance. I was not aware, the transfer of VIN'S was illegal and don't want or need that type of headache.
Can't say if any hidden VIN'S were transferred as well but chances are pretty good that they were not. The Donor car was flipped as described by the seller and had no chance of restoration. Never saw the Donor car in person but photos show it was pretty bad off.
Guess it's off to the DMV.

welcome from another maryland guy.
you are driving it. it's real.
i bought a plain jane convertible a couple of years ago. the wife and i get a kick out of driving with the top down. everytime someone tells me nice car the wife says "i am in the club".
for the record most of the time i would be lost without th help of several knowledgeable friends.
enjoy the car.

its not fake, thats a harsh word.. it just didnt come off gm's prodution line..your blood sweat and tears and a empty wallet wont be fake when your done with it.......p.s. remember every car starts off the same then they add packages to them and tag them when they are done with the build..every 69 camaro was built then tagged not tagged then built...you will have a real dynacorn 69 ragtop camaro when your done and god bless the man who puts it together....very frustrating...you thought aftermarket parts dont fit well on a factory car...a lot of custom work goes into putting together a dynacorn body..well worth it in the end........p.p.s think about all the camaro's on the road that are altered (quarters,doors,complete floors,roofs,interiors, motors..........) at what point is it fake?? just because you have a vin. no. ,a trim tag ,and a no. on the block that might match or not, or maybe some stuff matches but not the rest...(real camaro' s are virgins....) god bless the freedom of speech...............

You are right. Its not a fake as far as toil, blood sweat and tears goes. These factors are not considered when a car is actually looked at as being real or not. Fundemental items on the car are looked at, and if they don't measure up the car is usually deemed not real. I agree with Jim that a DMV assigned vin in this case is the only way to go.

Welcome from md also