From what I remember of the applicable regs only licenced repairers (ie; mechanics and/or panel beaters) are permitted to remove any form of compliance or identifying feature of the vehicle and only during the course of a repair. That said, if the repair is that significant then why is the vehicle being repaired? These bush lawyers who feel it is their right to remove compliance and/or VIN plates for a respray of the vehicle (or even to put the plates in storage if they are so "valuable") are running the risk of either questions of actual forensic ID of the vehicle when they come to register or pit it, or even the police impounding and, under a court order, destroying the vehicle.

Not worth the risk. The rules/regs are yet to catch-up with the restoration industry.