Not all States in the US have such regulations.  I think some states just don't want older cars on the road and making it difficult
to impossible to resurrect one from the wrecking yard is one way of accomplishing this.

My 2� worth  : )

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Grebneff" <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2001 4:57 AM
Subject: Treatment of "wrecks" by wreckers

> >Due to State and Local regulations, the fluids are drained, batteries
> >and other hazardous materials removed, gas tanks ripped out, etc. Then a
> >giant front end loader (fork lift) is used to gently, ha ha, cart the
> >victim several hundred yards to it's spot in a row. There it is placed
> >on 3 or more welded stacks of old steel wheels with no regard for any
> >consequential damage to brake lines, hoses, wires, body, bumpers, etc.
>
> Asinine laws. Here a car can be bought from a wrecker no problem... IF the
> wrecker wants to sell it whole. Reregistering it is no big hassle either. I
> have bought partly-dismantled motorcycles and cars from wreckers, all with
> cancelled registration, and put them back on the road, sometimes within a
> couple of days of purchase.
>
> Cars are only stacked here if there is a severe lack of room. Wreckers want
> to be able to sell bumpers, roofs, corner and end cuts etc. Often they
> remain on their own wheels until the suspension or wheels are sold. Wanna
> gastank? It's still there in the car.
>
> But there are no Vanagons... (well, just the surprise roughie spotted by
> listee John Pronk).
>
>
> Andrew Grebneff
> 165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
> ph   64 (3) 473-8863
> fax 64 (3) 479-7527
> <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
> www.goingplatinum.com/member/vw1
> www.highyieldcrusaders.ws/ref.html?ref=vw
> www.aciimoney.com/index.shtml?vw1
> VW & Toyota vans, Toyota diesels and Macintoshes rule