Was watching the OC BJ auction yesterday when the had the Saleen Expedition up on the block...they specifically mentioned that it would NOT be eligible for license/street legal. I'd imagine that those H's would be the same, especially if they had bogus VIN's. I agree that a RWD with a 6 or 8 pot would be awesome.

 

Well that is because it is California. And nothing is legal there but hybrids.

I don't see how it would be any different than if I took a 6 cylinder camaro and V8 swapped it.

 

In the case of the "Year One" the only part swapped after GM released it for auction was the VIN plate...... that's not legal.

 

Im not fully understanding the whole Vin swap thing, and why it was done, or if it was done and it's not just hear say. Why not keep a stock HHR vin # and swap an engine into it. Nothing illegal about that. It is what I plan to do with my swapped in 6 cylinder..

 

Its because the HHR V8 swap requires cutting out the bottom of the car. This compromises the unibody strength and voids the government crash testing that was done.

 

I think we are going off on different tangents....... The V8 conversion done on the year one HHR belonged to GM.... when they released the car for auction the VIN was marked so the car could not be street driven. After auction somebody else swapped VIN plates and got a "salvaged" title...... Still not legal.

Swapping a V8 into your own HHR is a different story.

 

Ok, I see what you are getting at.

 

Trying to find these old threads is maddening.... the forums search function doesn't allow short words, etc.


Here's one, but not the one I was looking for.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/general-hhr-4/6-hhrs-hit-barrett-jackson-20095/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...t=20095&page=5


I'll keep digging


BINGO..... Found the thread.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...hlight=yearone


Need more coffee now...

 

The reason for the 'Salvage Title' or the fake VINS is to not only prevent the new owner from legally registering it, but to also protect GM for a potential lawsuit.

Let's say you actually were allowed to license one of those, and let's say you did get into an accident with a loss of life... just like the Toyotas breaking problems, owners will go after the manufacturer, and from a legal and busuiness standpoint, GM's not that stupid anymore.

So, why bother buying anything at auction when you can't register it and drive it... it goes back to more money than common sense.

 

That's one of the reasons why switching the VIN plate only and trying to title it as "salvaged" or reconstructed is illegal. GM covered their butt by classifying the original VIN as not for road use (or whatever the proper term is) Whoever it was that switched the VIN after that would be liable and/or whoever pulled a fast one at the DMV and put it on the road.

I would imagine one could drag race the car if it passed safety checks though....