Which gets titled..chassis or body?

[76L82]

I thought I'd start this link here because I own a C3...but it would relate to all years I suspose...

Seeing that the Corvette is a full framed vehicle and you can remove the body fully from the frame, which component (frame or body) does the title to the vehicle actually go with, so to speak?

The reason I ask, is that I have two different options on a potential project car. My first option is to fabricate a custom frame and attach a previously titled body to it. In this scenario, I would have a frame that has never had a manufacturers title but the body would. Could I then title the 'whole' vehicle as a 19XX Corvette? Conversely, I have the option of using a titled 1975 Corvette frame modified to hold a 1963 body that does not come with a title.

Do you see my dillema here? I would suspect there are multiple scenarios on the same theme...have a titled frame from one year and a body with a title from another year...put them together...which title do you use, etc. My ultimate idea is to have a fully custom frame fabricated to hold the 63 body...the problem with this is that I wouldn't have a title for either the body or the frame.

I realize each State has there own rules, and I will certainly check out mine, but I wanted to get some feedback from you guys seeing if anyone has done this before and how it worked out.

Thanks!

 

[Stingray6974]

This is a very touchy subject with local goverments(DMV). In Texas it is the frame that is titled. If the car requires a frame replacement you would restamp the frame. A body replacement is more involved due to the special rivets holding the VIN tag on. It usually involves several trips to the DMV(Department of Puplic Safety here in Texas) with proof of ownership of all frames and bodies invovled and then an officer would re-attach the vin tag. However the company, I no longer work for, just titled a Grand Sport replica as a '63 and the state issued a new vin number which we stamped into the frame.
I would go to the agency controlling vehicle titles. Most likely the state police. Tell them you have a 75 corvette, show them the title and proof of ownership, and that you are planning to use a "custom body resembling a 63" and will require extensive frame modifications. This may not get you anywhere fast but it's a start to getting information.
Mike