[ratpiper71T]

First off no, I'm not a lawyer so you can trust my legal opinion,(lol)!

I think there are some concepts being confused here.

When a kit car is being titled as a 1965 cobra for example, it doesn't mean it has the VIN of a cobra, it just means the description of the type of vehicle is such- that it doesn't have to meet smog or safety(read equipment) regulations which only applies to new manufacture vehicles(yes we know it's new). The DMVs know the vehicle is designed to replicate a vehicle of a certain vintage and then for simplicity only puts the requirements of that year on the inspection smog test. So 'titled as a...' does not = 'VIN is...'
Second, the OP's question is quite simply answered with it's fraud. Anyone can argue until there 'blue in the face', but think about it. The intent is to change the VIN, period. Any path of modification that end with -' I did it to preserve the VIN of said car, whether it's for smog purposes, or restoration purposes it's wrong. Some say 'well I wanted the advantage of the galvanized body with this feature or that feature'- then why do you need the older VIN? 'I wanted to restore this vehicle that is special to me' then why do you need the VIN?- replacing all the panels around a VIN doesn't make the driving experience any more special- this is coming from a very sentimental person, by the way- it's essentially just being honest with ones self- it's being done to preserve the VIN, period.

Think about it this way( I know this may not be the best example)- so what if your wife dies. What if you can take someone elses living soul or being and transplant it into the body of the deceased loved one...now you've got your loved one back!.....right? I mean, it's the same thing right?

Or, better yet...

Your wife's body is destroyed and you can transplant her living soul into this big WWF guy's wrestler body? I mean., it's still her isn't it?