VIN 12306 'Auryn' : RHD twin turbo rebuild

[arranj]

Are you changing the interior to Black?. as per the Wooler Hodec cars then?

The highest recorded frame number on late cars is 9277 I believe, so cant see where 12306 came from, are you saying it has a frame number of 12306?

It's mentioned on page 1 of this thread. The re-vinned WH cars were 121xx so 123xx is close to that, Chris being the modern day WH. The number is made up.

[A Van]

I don't think the number is made up, although it might be

Something is odd.

[DMCH James]

If it does not have any former VIN, no one (now) can legally just make up a number and call it the VIN for that car. If someone in the States did that it would be a serious legal offense and someone would be going to jail.

DMC (Texas) has *always* started with a donor vehicle (an original 81-83 DeLorean) that has been completely disassembled and then rebuilt using reproduction, NOS, OEM and some parts from the donor. To just use these parts and build a car and give it a made-up VIN would not be legal. We *could* build up car in the same manner without a donor but then the only legal way to get a VIN would be to have the car inspected by the State of Texas, showing all receipts for parts purchased and used on the car, and then the State would assign a VIN. It would *not* be a 17-digit VIN, but a number created by the State and as such would not be able to to be viewed by Carfax or AutoCheck or the like. It would be registered as a 2012 "DeLorean Replica" (basically an "assembled" or "kit" car - like the Shelby Cobras made in Las Vegas, and the Noble cars, for example) and carry a regular Texas certificate of title.

The process and laws may be different in the UK, but IMO, a car created in the manner that you are describing would have a "tainted" provenance which may prove to be a hindrance if you need/wish to sell the car on in the future.

There are no "incomplete" cars other than the handful of chopped up cars sold as "kits" back in the day and the various stockpiles of parts such as ours. DMC (Texas) has *never* done anything as you describe and anyone who told you so is mistaken or misleading you. You say "PJ Grady" has also done this but don't indicate if it is PJG UK or PJG US and I would wager that Grady in the USA has never done this either.

James Espey
Vice President
DMC (Texas)

The car was partially assembled by the factory but not completed to roadworthy status. It does not have any former VIN.
It is now being completed and registered, following the Wooler Hodec pattern for the RHD conversion and either the stock or Legend pattern for the engine.
Both PJ Grady and DMC Texas have done this several times with incomplete cars.
If necessary we will hold off on fitting some of the non-stock components until after test & registration.
The fact that this DeLorean did not previously exist as a roadgoing vehicle makes me significantly happier about doing tons of modifications to it, as no one can reasonably accuse me of permenantly damaging a historic car.
I am located in London.

[DMCH James]

Someone PM'd me asking if blank VIN plates could be used to create new cars. Legally, the answer to that is "no". Simply having some blank VIN plates does not mean you have the ability to create VINs/cars. We have 4000+ of them and we *will not* sell them and they are essentially useless.

James Espey
Vice President
DMC (Texas)

[Dangermouse]

Theoretically James, if you created a "new" car and had it inspected by the State of Texas and they assigned you a kit-car type VIN, could you stamp it on one of those blank plates and fix it to the car?

[Dangermouse]

One thing that has been bothering me and I will ask it as politely as I can to the OP - if you have never driven a DeLorean, why are you spending a hat full of money commissioning a custom RHD conversion from Grady?

It's your money obviously, but it seems like some due-dilligence would be prudent.

[A Van]

One thing that has been bothering me and I will ask it as politely as I can to the OP - if you have never driven a DeLorean, why are you spending a hat full of money commissioning a custom RHD conversion from Grady?

It's your money obviously, but it seems like some due-dilligence would be prudent.

Especially with a towbar!

[Starglider]

One thing that has been bothering me and I will ask it as politely as I can to the OP - if you have never driven a DeLorean, why are you spending a hat full of money commissioning a custom RHD conversion from Grady?

I thought it would be a fun project and a cool thing to own. When I was a student I owned horrible cheap 70s cars which I had to try and fix and upgrade to something drivable on a shoestring... and strangely I miss doing that (well, except the 'shoestring' part).

It's your money obviously, but it seems like some due-dilligence would be prudent.

Well, possibly I should have been more forward about getting a test drive before hand, but I doubt it would have made a difference. Besides, I didn't think anyone would take me seriously if I just showed up on a forum and asked to have a go in someone's car; it was hard enough to convince Chris I was serious about actually buying a conversion.

[hana 5284]

As far as I'm aware, when DMC sell a "new" car they still have to have a donor VIN at the very least, so they then claim it's a rebuild. If you were to import for example a car from the USA with a previously unregistered VIN, i.e. a "new car" then it would be (probably) be subject to an SVA test, which it would epically fail.
As for a car assembled over here I would have thought it would be a similar process - either use a donor VIN and the story that it is a rebuild of that VIN, so just an MOT required for registration, or..... create a new VIN and register it as a new car possibly on a Q plate as a kit car, or some other way, but then still surely an SVA test would be required?

What happened to that fire damaged car Chris was converting? I assume it's completed and sold?

Hay Duke im 99.9% sure that fire damage car ended up being a right and drive that will-i-am brought to eurotec last year.....could be wrong but im sure it was!...... olies brother?

[arranj]

What happened to that fire damaged car Chris was converting? I assume it's completed and sold?

Hay Duke im 99.9% sure that fire damage car ended up being a right and drive that will-i-am brought to eurotec last year.....could be wrong but im sure it was!...... olies brother?

Yep - that's the one. Vin 10xxx something.