Last night I watched that show Overhaulin' for the first time. It got me thinking about what truly identifies a car as a particular model. In the case of the Camaro they were working on they had replaced the engine, wheels, interior, even some body panels, etc. When they were through the car looked nothing like it originally did. It seemed that the only part of the original Camaro that remained was the platform. So, I was thinking to myself that the platform must be what truly identifies a car with a particular model name (in this case, a Camaro). Then I began to remember that several different models of cars (even SUV's, I think) can share the same platform. If this is the case, then the platform cannot be the only thing that identifies a particular model as a such and such...

I know this post seems a bit esoteric, but I guess what I'm wondering is if you change virtually all the parts that make up the original car, at what point is that new car that you've built no longer identifiable with the original name?

Hmmm...

 

wow, you think too much.......JK. I would believe if you changed everything on a car(i.e. engine, brakes, exhaust, tranny, wheels, brakes, body panels, light housings, etc) it wouldn't really be the same car, but you have register it as what you bought it as.

 

Wow, this thread is really striking a chord with you guys. Maybe some of you are drained from taking finals? Anyway, I'm pretty much on the same page with you, sbuswell - the car is a Camaro despite a complete overhaul because the VIN says that's what it is, not necessarily because it resembles one...

A little more eggnog please...

 

 

If you mod your car until all the original equipment no longer exist in your car or it don't remotely resemble what it used to look like, i don't think it is the same car. Doesn't have the car "soul" anymore......... getting philosopical here............back to hitting the book

 

Post belongs in Car Talk.