So I did a frame off restore but instead of using the fram that had a matching vin to my title, I used a frame I bought and put everything onto it. I never thought it would really matter which frame I used since the fram vin is buried under there. I also don’t intend to sell the truck. Will I run into any issues? I still have the frame with the matching vin, and it’s not to late to use it, but it would be a pain A$$ to restore it and move all my junk onto it.
As these vehicles increase in value, this is going to become a bigger problem. Vehicle provenance, Title, and VIN issues are largely irrelevant in a $2,500 Rusted out Bronco project. But as we see Broncos approach $100K...you start to hit the threshold where financial legal remedies become more commonplace.
It is not an unreasonable expectation that your Bronco will someday be sold, re-sold, inherited, or otherwise end up in the hands of someone who would reasonably assume that the title matches the Vehicle. When and if that happens...you (or your estate) have perpetuated a fraud.
For 15-20 years, people in California have been claiming that their 76-77 Broncos are actually 1975 and earlier to circumvent the draconian, arbitrary and capricious emission control rules. This was generally done on cheap Broncos, where the owner would keep clean paper (good titles) on both VINS. The scenario would be if you owned a 77, but couldn't get smog...you would buy a 66-75...Title and register it...and then swap over the warranty plate. Since the intent was solely to subvert the SMOG requirements, there was no legal intent to defraud anyone. No harm, no foul.
Fast forward to 2018...and now there are a bunch of really nice, rust free California Bronco's with 76-77 Frames and VINS, and 66-75 Titles. After a couple of subsequent owners...the 76-77 paperwork is long gone. And the Title no longer matches the Frame VIN. On an $85,000 truck!!!
The notion of having a vehicle impounded might seem ridiculous, but consider this scenario...Let's say that your Bronco is taken for a joy ride. Lets say that the thief's remove the license plates. Let's say that you report the Bronco stolen. Now imagine that your Bronco is found on the side of the road, and impounded by Law Enforcement. It will go to the impound lot, and the frame VIN will be used for identification. That number will come back to the last registered owner...and that is not you! The impound lot will eventually do the Lien Sale, and you will never even be notified. There are a lot of much worse things that can happen.
Do yourself a favor, and get a title that matches your frame VIN. Do that by either making the frame match your paper, or get paper that matches your frame. PM me offline if you need help.
