Quote Originally Posted by HK1837 View Post
Legality has a few different meanings too. For registration purposes, the chassis and engine numbers are all that really matter (legal identity). Legality of tag removal has a few different areas too. Removing an ADR tag has always been frowned upon as it contains the ADR info applicable to the car. Removal of the other tags was never an issue, but due to fraudulent cases it has recently been made an offence to tamper with these plates too. Different aspects around rebodying or rebirthing vehicles involve both or individually civil or criminal law. Example, if you want a van and don't care what it is, there really is no problem sticking a great WB van shell on a Hz's rails and making it look like a HZ Sandman. As long as you never advertise to sell it as a Sandman then there is no real problems. But of you buy a rusted out HJ Sandman and fit another HJ body to it, and then restore it then you still may be OK, no-one may know except close inspection will show it is not the original body for the car. This may not ever be an issue, but if for example you die and your kids advertise it for sale as a genuine Sandman then they may end up in court under a civil fraud case. In either case the RTA could conceivably take criminal action against you for removal of the ADR tag, but then again they could also do this tou you if you replaced a rusty cowl.
HK1837, I think how you differentiated the legal, identity and originality certainly helps to make it clear but I think it needs to be simplified and a few points emphasised with some examples....

1, You have a documented, matching number sandman, You blow your engine with a piston hanging out. You replace your engine. You go to rego with your receipt for the engine and new number, rego updates your vehicle details. As far as the Authority is concerned you have the same vehicle. Your sandman is now no longer a matching number sandman.

2, You have a matching number sandman, You hit a concrete barrier and bend your chassis rails. You replace your chassis rails. You go to rego with your receipt for the chassis and new number and rego updates your vehicle details. As far as the Authority is concerned you have the same vehicle. Your sandman is now no longer a matching number sandman.

3, You drive your matching number sandman on the beach in the water, take it home and park it for 10 years. You decide to put it back on the road and find the body completely rusted beyond repair. You find an exact matching shell and swap it over including the tags. You have just committed a crime. If rego finds out you will never be able to re register it. You will be fined or worse. If you get away with it and sell it, some time down the track and it comes to light what has been done the buck will be passed back to you.

HK1837, in your above post I have highlighted "Recently". Recently actually was 1986.

As far as original goes that is subjective to each person from "It still has original tyres" down to "original shell" and no more. If you are looking to buy a vehicle and are unsure look for documentation of History or a good restoration diary with photos of before and during.

I have attached a copy of the "Unique cars" article on re-shelling that confirms what HK and I have posted here. Read it and take heed.

If you are unclear about the body, chassis and engine thing above have a look at this thread, it has all the legislation and documents to back up what is written above...
http://www.mysandman.com.au/forums/s...rfeit-Sandmans