NC's laws:

According to the Division of Motor Vehicles in North Carolina, a custom-built vehicle is one that is "completely reconstructed or assembled from new or used parts." Glider kits and custom-assembled vehicles also fall under the category of "custom built." Such a vehicle must be registered.

You should list the make as "custom built" and the year the vehicle was built should be listed under "year." When you register a custom-built vehicle, the title is branded "reconstructed."

Registering and titling a custom-built vehicle is not much different from titling any other motor vehicle. Registration and titling requires a visit to a vehicle and license plate renewal office and the following:

* An application for title, completed and signed in front of a notary.

* An affidavit for custom-built vehicle, Form MVR-55, which is a notarized statement that describes the vehicle's assembly from new and used parts.

* An inspector's report, as this special type of vehicle must be inspected for safety and drivability.

* An odometer reading.

* A certificate of title or Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin for the frame, engine, and transmission (or an indemnity bond can be filed).

* A title fee of $40.

* A Highway Use Tax of 3% of the value. The car's value is determined by the total of bills of sale for the entire purchase of new and used parts and labor.

Most of them will get a VIN tag swap from a rusty hulk with a good title. I'm not saying I agree with that part of it, but that's what I bet most people who buy them do.

I think they are pretty cool, especially the Camaro bodies. But as everyone else mentioned it would only be worth it if: A.you could register it as a normal chevelle and not get stuck with smog law, etc. B. it was financially smart to buy one of those as opposed patching up an original.

I would imagine the custom build guys would like these for those customers that say "here's x dollars I want a 69 BBC Camaro" or whatever. Might make sense for them and cut down on man hrs. and total project time. Of course I'm just speculating :)

No way in hell would I pay almost 15K for a shell

I'd take one in Aluminum. ;)

I think its cool! i'm in this hobby for fun, not to make money or have numbers matching cars, if you have 14k for a body, and dont have the know how to replace your rusty panels more power to you!

Kit Car
 

I haven't checked, but I believe that these would be registered like any other kit car. There are lots of Cobra kit cars out there so there has to be a legal way. I doubt that you would legally be able to use the original VIN plate.

i'm sure lots of people do!

If you use the frame and engine from a legally titled car and cut and weld the vin plate and surrounding metal from the old body onto the new wouldn't that be legal?

I personally don't mind that the bodies are being reproduced. I'm too much of a tight wad to ever puchase one at the price they're asking currently.

I understand the numbers guy's arguments, but we'll just have to be all the more savvy when we're interested in purchasing that next "matching numbers" Chevelle.

I think it's unlikely the the reprodution bodies match the originals EXACTLY. Once the experts are privy to the differences (i.e. steel thickness, bend radii, a depression here, and a spot weld there) we all should be able to tell if the car's been re-bodied.