On 11/9/04 7:33 AM, "Dart 330" <dart330@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Wasn't there a company in the SW US that was importing new Mexican Beetles,
> changing the VIN and registering them as 1960s models?
> 
> Sure they swapped in the old frame, but it was in no way the car they
> claimed it to be. I never heard of them getting into trouble with the law.
The way they were and still are doing it is legal.  The pan and associated
vin markers (note they are on the trannie hump of the beetles) were
documented.  The pan then went to mexico and came back with new parts on it.
As the parts are all listed as replacement parts for the beetles it was
legal when properly documented.  Taxes paid on all parts at border and in
the state it was being done in. the pan with motor was the vehicle
registered.  The motor swap took place in the US.  Again a legal swap for
that year of vehicle.

I know of at least one "mexican" bus legal in the us as well.  He drove his
bus down to a shop in mexico and they went to work on it over about a week.
He drove up to the border stop at dawn and spent the day there while all the
documentation was checked and paid out about 700 bucks in duties and fees.
BTW he intentionally drove to a "full service" border crossing.

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jimt
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