DeTomaso Mailing List: December 98, Message #269

Up until a few weeks ago I had been the owner of a '74 GTS Pantera.  Given 
the
recent changes in the smog laws, and the fact that many of the GTS were 
sold
as 73's, I was interested in trying to re-register mine as a 73 if 
possible.  I read
with interest the postings on this site that discussed how it could be done 
- I think
 that Mike Drew mentioned that he knew of someone who had gone to their
local AAA office and had accomplished the conversion.  Now I thought that 
there
was no way it could be that easy, or that there was no way I could be that 
lucky.
I decided to give it a try, especially in light of the fact that my 
appointment with
 the dreaded SMOG II dyno machine was quickly approaching.  Let's just say 
that
 I had major doubts about the ability of my vehicle to pass the new 
standards.  

I gathered up the "Pantera Registry" compiled by Bill Van Ess - this would 
be 
used to verify later serial numbered cars than mine registered in Calif. as 
'73's.
I also had the so-called "sheet" from Ford listing the '74 and '73 GTS's 
and how
 they were titled -- in California as '73's, and elsewhere as '74's.  This 
listing
 broke the cars down by individual VIN.  Anyway, to make an already long 
story
 shorter, I go into my local AAA office and after some telephone 
conversations between the clerk and DMV on how to proceed, I was told that 
I only had to 
fill out a "Statement of Facts", sign it, and they would submit it to the 
DMV.  
AAA went out and verified the VIN and build dates and put that info on the
 statement of facts as well.  

Lo and behold, two weeks later to the day, I receive my new title and 
registration
showing my car now as a '73.  Very simple!  And well worth the effort.  I 
think 
the key was the build date that showed my car built in Nov. '73, and the 
fact that
 I stated on the form that there were other Pantera's registered in Calif. 
as '73's
that had later VIN's and build dates than mine.  During the telephone 
discussion
 with DMV, I found out that they maintain a substantial database of VIN's 
for
just about all cars, except the Pantera.  They usually can enter their 
database, 
input the VIN, and it will tell them what model year the car is.  They will 
not
 budge off what the computer tells them.  Without the database telling them 
what to do, they took my word for it.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I don't 
think
that things would have gone this smoothly at a DMV office.  

I must be living right!!!!