10's on $5,000 ?

That VIN crap would be enough for me to walk. Not that I think it's hot, but just the extra wrenches thrown into the mix. That's negotiating material at the very least. what if you cannot title or register it? Defeats the purpose, doesn't it? Or is this a race only project?

Buy it cheap, switch all the parts you need to one of the titled Dusters. Sale all the spare parts to recoup some money.