Is it legal to chop a roof off then weld a new one on?

[Reaper]

Yeah you can remove and replace the roof - same as most body panels, rails and sub structure. As 88Green said, there are documented procedures on how to carry out such repairs so they are as strong as and as safe as the original car. That is not an example of how to do it though.

Reaper

[R0d]

this car shouldve been a structual write off ......

how can you say that when you havent seen what was actually damaged and even if you did are you a repair assesor or panel beater?

[davway]

What's the web page, i know the one to check if it's got money owing on it, reg is cancelled or write-off but did't know you could get a list?

Written-off vehicle registration : VicRoads

These 2 points should bring him undone anyway:

a completed accident damage repair report for crash damaged vehicles. This is a written report/repair diary and photographs detailing how the vehicle was repaired.
photos taken prior to and during repairs.

[soop]

You can replace the roof. It happens quiet often.
Wether this gentleman has done it properly is another story, though its not as if he's hidden the fact.

It would be usefull as a race car for that money.

[danja]

You can replace the roof. It happens quiet often.
Wether this gentleman has done it properly is another story, though its not as if he's hidden the fact.

It would be usefull as a race car for that money.

An Ecotec race car?... Seriously?

[soop]

Erm, where did I mention using the engine?
Anyone with half a brain would have realise that the V6 would get tossed.

The shell would be oright though.

[danja]

You'd pay $8,500 for a bashed up and chopped rolling shell with the structural integrity of a wet bog roll - and I'm the one with half a brain??

I'd say the motor might be about the only decent thing left in that car!

[soop]

Hahaha.
I'm just winding you up buddy .

With a roll cage in it, the shell would work fine.

[danja]

Hahaha.
I'm just winding you up buddy .

With a roll cage in it, the shell would work fine.

See you at the next Bathurst 1000 then

[pjdm1980]

how can you say that when you havent seen what was actually damaged and even if you did are you a repair assesor or panel beater?

Would you feel safe having your wife and kids in this car?
I would say NO!
Imagine if this car had been painted/put back together and sold to you for full price and then you rolled it and somebody was seriously hurt or worse killed due to this car having it's back bone removed (not just the roof skin).

[Growler88]

nah should be sweet man.......If you wanted to buy it chop the roof back off and have a convertible
Overall that car should never see a public road again, unless its on a tilt tray to the crusher!!

hahah ^

Or, buy it, re-remove the roof, strengthen the body back up and do a lil work to the motor, and hey presto, u have yourself a motorvation cruiser that can lay skids on the pad at will

[lukieboy]

as a aspirering panel beater allow me to say this ****ING DONE BY PROFFESSIONALS MY LEFT TESTY

[social]

wow he really is aspiring! lol

[CANYONERO]

wow, ah. that thing looks dangerous. not only would i not want my family to be in something like that, but i wouldnt want it to share the same roads i use. that death trap should be crushed.

[acarmody]

wow, ah. that thing looks dangerous. not only would i not want my family to be in something like that, but i wouldnt want it to share the same roads i use. that death trap should be crushed.

Give it one decent roll-over and it will be. Along with every passangers spine.

[gslrallysport]

Yeah you can remove and replace the roof - same as most body panels, rails and sub structure. As 88Green said, there are documented procedures on how to carry out such repairs so they are as strong as and as safe as the original car. That is not an example of how to do it though.

Correct. Removing and replacing a roof or turret structure is not uncommon, and certainly not illegal. It's done quite regularly to install awkward roll cages in small volume interiors (Like a Hyundai Tiburon). However, as has been pointed out, to repair a roof structure in a road car, that doesn't have the benefit of a roll cage is a specialized process, and without seeing the actual car here, I would still say the repair job is a bit average.

Having said all that, judging by some of the comments here, I think people WAY OVERATE the structural benefit and protection that a brand new from factory wafer thin piece of sheet metal held above your head by structural glass will provide in a roll over. There's a reason why a roll cage is called a ROP (Roll Over Protection), and not a hit sh!t hard head on protection...

[R0d]

Would you feel safe having your wife and kids in this car?
I would say NO!
Imagine if this car had been painted/put back together and sold to you for full price and then you rolled it and somebody was seriously hurt or worse killed due to this car having it's back bone removed (not just the roof skin).

mate youd be suprised how many cars have been damaged and repaired and you would not even realize it. Im not saying this cars repaired properly, but if you had any clue about smash repairs just cause a roof is replaced doesnt mean the cars a death trap.

[soop]

I agree.
If done correctly, there should be very minimal if any, difference at all.

[pjdm1980]

mate youd be suprised how many cars have been damaged and repaired and you would not even realize it. Im not saying this cars repaired properly, but if you had any clue about smash repairs just cause a roof is replaced doesnt mean the cars a death trap.

Yer good point if it was just the skin but the complete structure from the top of the pillars!
I don't think so mate, and if that is legal then they need to change the laws.
You wouldn't catch me buying a car with that kind of damage thats why VIV's and REV's are a good idea so people can make there own minds up.

[Zeussy]

Da rooster1980, I think R0d was meaning that the job is possible if done correctly... (Although went on about saying "if you had any clue......")

Clearly the car in the O/P is NOT done legally - which we are talking about...
We're not really saying it isn't possible, or that every car that has it done is a death trap...

Just that THIS car is done F***IN DODGILY!!!!

[VjamesY]

Well if its illegal to put someones life at risk, yeh it sure is

[vsl67]

Dont know if anyone has said this yet (I cant be bothered reading the whole bitch figth/post)
When you remove a roof you have to brace the body to stop it from twisting and there are or were very strict guidelines for this as it plays a vital part of structal intergrity ,this more of the bracing than the skin
This is why the only cars that you can legally covert into convertables have full chasisis to compensate or are already over engineered for loosing the roof and some structual integrity
Now if this car was done properly he should have pictures of braces welded in while swapping the roof, I bet lukieboy will be keeping his left family jewel