Definition of a car's model

[McclaudEagle]

This is something I've been wondering for some time now, and can't seem to get an answer on Google.

 

If I were to strip down my Hyundai Accent, replace 95% of it with parts from an Aston Martin, and go as far as to alter the chassis to fit certain parts, at what point would my Accent no longer be that car, but something else instead?

 

I originally assumed two things would define a car's particular model; the chassis and its legal registry. However, the problem with the chassis argument is that several car manufacturers share the same chassis in their own cars, known as 'platform sharing'.

 

Anyone able to solve this?

[Vagrant0]

I'm probably wrong, but I believe the model usually refers to the combination of chassis, engine, and body style of the car as well as the registered VIN number. As soon you start changing out parts for those designed for another car, it ceases to be stock and identified as that model of car and becomes a custom variant of that model.

 

The real question would really be at what point that Hyundai Accent stops being a custom variant of a Hyundai Accent and becomes an Aston Martin custom variant. But, I believe that would be a matter of when the engine gets swapped out and the VIN gets updated to reflect the change in parts.

[HeyYou]

The VIN number rules the day here. So long as you still have the original VIN, it is still the same make/model that it was when it was new. Doesn't matter what you change. (then it becomes a 'custom' car to enthusiasts, but, for legal purposes, it is still whatever the VIN says it is.)

[Lisnpuppy]

For all intent and purpose that is correct...though the VIN number is going to give you a great deal of info beside just the chassis should someone look it up. It gives you everything from number of seats, engine type and country of origin. The engine will have another number with a partial vin and then there is a trim code which tells you the paint, interior, etc. To have a "matching numbers" vehicle all these things would of course need to match.

 

So and yes, it would be a custom vehicle at this point with what you say...at least in the U.S. Vin and legal registry are usually one in the same except in the most unusual of circumstances.

 

Now if you are looking at this from an insurable standpoint...the vehicle should be reported to the agent/under-writer for all the modifications/customization as obviously the value of the vehicle changes dramatically depending on the customizations made (and a person should pay accordingly.) As far as taxes go....well....it is the vin unless you have applied for custom car status/plates and then you pay the dollar.

 

So if you have a chassis vin of a chevy volt but all an Aston-Martin engine (and have it repainted in British Racing Green) and other parts it could (in theory) be worth much more than the insurance company thinks and is writing your risk to be.

 

My husband is huge into cars and also worked as a auto adjuster for years so if you have something more specific I could always ask....but then you all probably knew all this already, huh?

[Vindekarr]

Typically a car's model is "attached" to it's skeleton. The basic chassis of a car usually carries it's model designation as long as it stays intact. Even modifying the frame to fit components from a different manufacturer won't effect the designation. Modified cars are listed as just that under law; a particular car that diverges heavily from the original model, but still has trace mechanical similarities.

 

Replacing the frame with a custom one is typically where a vehicle transitions to a different "model" or more specifically, becomes regarded as a one-off. A vehicle with 95% Aston Martin parts and a Hyundai Accent skeleton is still a Hyundai Accent. A car with 80% Aston Martin parts, 20% Hyundai Accent parts, and a custom-made frame will typically be viewed as a one-off race car-a new model.

 

Most race cars only have tenuous mechanical connections to their "parent" vehicles. Typically speaking only frame remains; nearly all have custom-made power systems and chassis, and ultimately only a handful of parts are compatible with a stock car. NASCAR take this even further; because they all share a single frame, they are all technically one model despite their different bodies and engines.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Vindekarr