Thread: Mopar Reverse Trike

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Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Another interesting point: since you are using all car parts, when you are done it should still be legally a car, with same vin- so no helmets required?

Seriously? Using that logic wouldn't anything made entirely of wood still be considered a tree?

I'd like to be present when you go to the DMV and tell them that your 3-wheeler is still a car, using the VIN for the donor.

Maybe in Georgia....

I think any thing with three wheels is considered a motorcycle. The title and Vin will just serve to show where everything came from. As soon as I have a running, driving chassis I'll start working on the specially constructed vehicle title. From what I read on the DOT website, it only has to be "substancally complete " to start the process.

I don't know al the legal ins and outs of DMV and custom vehicles.

But seriously, at what point is a car no longer a car? The number of wheels can't be the sole factor, because you can lawfully register and operate three wheeled factory original cars, without a helmet requirement. This vehicle is being built with all original suspension components. The argument could be made It's the same vehicle, with a suspension upgrade. A car does not require helmet, even if you remove the top.

Not everything made of wood is a tree, certainly. But at what point is a car not a car? Will the answer vary from state to state?

I believe the three wheel Morgan is still considered a car in almost all states, not sure about California.

I guess I'll have to see once I get a little farther along. I wish I could just keep the Omni VIN and title since all the mechanicals will be from the car but I don't think they'll go for that. I'm certainly not the first guy in Missouri to title a home built car so i'll jump through the hoops and figure it out.

Missouri has some reasonable laws based on some of the SEMA guidlines. If I was in your shoes, I would see if this would work: Reconstructed Motor Vehicle. A vehicle that is altered from its original construction by the addition or substitution of two or more new or used major component parts, excluding motor vehicles made from all new parts, and new multistage manufactured vehicles.

Not much of a chance here in MO of using the ol'title, got a buddy they just nailed on a dune buggy because he used the same title & VIN off the VW it came from. I found a whole lot of misleading and incorrect info on the web for MO, even from the official web sites. You are correct it has to be substantially complete, I simply called the inspection station previous and asked all the questions I wrote down, as well as who I talked too, doing this earlier than later is where I messed up as I should have done it from the start of the build and I didn't. There is nothing hard about it, just finding out which hoop to jump through first and what order afterwards is the trick. The SEMA law helped alot but it hurt in some respects as they are more strict now, the part of notraized bill of sales and title copy's isn't alway's easy when you buy used parts, just ask the guy for'em at the swap meet and let me know what he says!

Originally Posted by falconvan

I guess I'll have to see once I get a little farther along. I wish I could just keep the Omni VIN and title since all the mechanicals will be from the car but I don't think they'll go for that. I'm certainly not the first guy in Missouri to title a home built car so i'll jump through the hoops and figure it out.

Just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting that you were going to attempt to use/keep the Omni VIN & title, I was just amazed at the idea of "...all the major parts are from this specific Omni, therefore it's still an Omni" and suggested that it would be interesting to be a fly on the wall when anyone presented that argument. To me the fact that you've constructed a rectangular tube frame to mount the modified front power unit and one trailing arm assembly from the back seals the deal. Now Jack's suggestion of a "Reconstructed Motor Vehicle" might be the ticket, but no matter how you get there the beast will be getting a brand new VIN courtesy of the State of Missouri, I'd venture a guess.

That's what I'm thinking; I'm just hoping that rather than having to show a ton of receipts I can just show the Omni title in my name and show them that all the major parts came from that car. But we'll see once I hit the "substantial completion" point and start the process.

I stripped all the 1985 emission crap off and power washed the drive train to start mocking things up. Unbelievable how much junk they used in the mid 80's; tons of vacuum lines, smog pump, electric carb, etc, etc. My plan is to go with the early vacuum advance distributor and a Weber progressive 2 barrel carb to keep it simple. Iv'e got the power train sitting in the frame and the spindles on the lower control arms, now I can start fabbing some engine mounts.

They told me in March (when I started to title mine) if you don't have a Manufacturers statement of origin for the frame you'd better have the reciepts for the metal! I don't know how specific they stay to that because I had the MSO for it, I think taking the title for the Omni and any other parts to them you will be fine. My theory is better to have to much paperwork than not enough, as I had a buddy that had his wifes wheels off her new charger on his '32 roadster (just temporarily to pass the inspection), they wouldn't pass the inspection until he ran home and got the title to give proof! I will tell you I have a friend who works at the DMV inspection station in Springfield and he told me good thing you went to Lees Summitt as he can be a stickler, but honestly the Lees Summitt guy was extremely thourough on paperwork also. I think you will fine if you have what they are after as they do trikes everyday they told me.

Lookin' good. I enjoy watching your fabrication skills via photos.

what if you mounted two rear wheels in close proximity to each other, possibly by making two swing arms into one? It would still be a car but look like a reverse trike with a steam roller rear wheel.

Interesting thought for sure, I'll have to toss that around.