Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[TwoBlueDoors]

Right, I don't think my car quite qualifies as a classic. But I am a bit desperate and I am not sure where to turn, it has been more than two years now and I am still confused by what to do, not even asking the DVLA themselves has been of any help (they seemed rather obtuse).

My first car was a 1987 Ford Sierra (yes, I know... but very cherished I promise you). It was rear-ended in summer 2005 and is consequently rather dead. Close inspection of the shell after stripping showed one hell of a lot of rust, which is hardly a surprise for a Sierra (and one built with 1980's British steel at that).

The car has never been officially written off because I did not pursue a claim (they wanted to take the car if they paid out), but it would have been a Cat B if I had. It is now sitting in my dad's garage, stripped.

Consequently I want to re-shell. Getting hold of a shell isn't really a problem (although logistics may be ), but I am struggling to find clear advice on the legal implications of doing this. At the time of the crash I was unaware that to retain a numberplate you have to do so within 12 months of the last tax date. It has now been two years, far too late to retain my numberplate. Because the numberplate is very important to me and what I feel is the car's identity (last three letters are SVP, and I named the car 'SVP' as a ten-year-old so it has been named that ever since! ), I want to transfer the plate onto the new shell.

Only the actual bare shell will be 'new' - the doors, engine, running gear, interior, lights and panels etc will be from the original car (with the exception of the bootlid which got a wee bit smashed up in the crash). I am aware that there is a points system which determines whether a reshelled car can keep its original identity, but I am very confused.

Basically, my question is; if only the shell is 'new' and all other parts are original, will swapping the numberplate over be illegal? As opposed to swapping the plate onto an entirely different car which of course would be illegal.

I don't know anyone in the world of Sierras who has done this so I have been searching for someone who has reshelled any car for advice. Hopefully someone can help me!

I have been looking around your forum and you have a great place here.

Thanks,

Shosh

[Scotty]

Hi TBD - welcome!

My following comments are more well-meaning, rather than informed, but I do have some knowledge about this subject.

If I use a kit car analogy, then provided the principal parts of a single donor vehicle are used i.e. engine, gearbox, back-end, suspension, etc then the "new" kit vehicle adopts the donor vehicles registration number - subject to an inspection. For me, your current situation runs very closly to this example, and I don't see where the DVLA are coming from in their refusal over the Sierra's original registration number. Some kit buliders can take years and years to complete their vehicle, so if what you say is the case then it must be something fairly new as I've never come across this before.
The only thing I can think of is even though you didn't "scrap" the car it may have been recorded as such by the DVLA on information supplied by the insurers. There may be an agreement where the registration number is withdrawn from use to prevent (not saying your's here) badly damaged vehicles returning to the road and sadly your's has fallen into this category.

Have you been SORN'ing the car - perhaps this is where the problem has arisen if you haven't been? Taking into consideration this governments hell-bent determination to totally confuse the whole SORN'ing issue by employing staff at the DVLA who far too often interpret the same regulations differently depending on the day of the week it is and what person you speak to - I speak with long and bitter experience on this subject!
Be aware if you have raised this subject directly with the DVLA then there is a good chance there is a "flag" against your particular registration number. This could mean you might have problems if you now just transfer the plates across and then attempt to road tax the vehicle. DVLA vehicle identification database is now fully computerised and any unusual activity will immediately be noticed and you might get a letter from them.

I wish i could be a bit more helpful, but you've strayed into a minefield - best answer is join a one-make club and have the clubs registrar service do it for you. If you go into the DVLA web site there's a section that lists all the car clubs recognised by the DVLA who are able to provide this service. There may be an administration charge for this service by the club, but its worth accessing their experience.

Good luck, Scotty.

[pigtin]

A few years ago we re-shelled my daughter-in-laws Escort after a very bad shunt. We used the original logbook and just put it back on the road.
No problems. We used it for a couple of years and then scrapped it.
If you are likely to want to sell yours afterwards; It may be risky.

We may well have broken the law? so don't quote me.

Don.

[TwoBlueDoors]

Thanks for the advice!

I was careful not to mention the car's identity when I contacted DVLA - I asked them a general rather than a specific question with regards to retaining number plates but they said I was unable to retain it because it was 13 months after the last tax (or MOT, I forget) had expired and the limit is 12 months. D'oh!

I suppose they could have flagged the car because I gave them my name, but I have two Sierras so they have no way of knowing which one I was referring to.

Yes, car has been SORN since I garaged it and claimed remaining tax back.

But thank you Scotty, you have been helpful. I have put off reshelling the car for 2 years now and it will be a long term project, but I would really like to transfer the plate. I know that the chassis won't be original but everything else on the car will and it just won't feel the same without it's original identity. But the last thing I want to do is create a ringer, which is why I am trying to do it properly!


Don - the car will never be sold and I certainly wouldn't be aiming to defraud anybody! But I don't want to risk the car being seized and crushed over something so silly, not after everything it has been through.

Vehicle licensing laws are there for a good reason I suppose but they don't half make things complicated!


Shosh

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Your best advice is to talk to the DVLA. Reshelling is not unusual, and if you persist someone there will tell you what to do. You may still have to go thru the VIC test saga so you will need to establish a legal source for the new shell etc. Dont bother cutting numbers out of yours and welding them into the new one etc. that just causes problems. If everything is above board it may be protracted but it's do-able.

[Mistydog]

I think some are making the matter unnecessarily complicated. Reshell the car, remove VIN plate from old shell and put it on new car (it is only attached with pop rivets). When finished, apply for Mot. Officially the 'old' car has been off the road legally by virtue of the SORN, so all you are doing is putting it back on the road. Comparing situation with a kit car is, imho, wrong.
When applying for road tax, you may be asked to present it for inspection -but that will not present any problems.
Always remember- it is easier to obtain absolution than approval !!!
By that I mean -do not go asking anything.

[pigtin]

These guys may be useful at some stage:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/donthebat/tk9.jpg

[Rick]

zee ultimate driving machine!

R
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[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Some people will go to any lengths to turn their handcart into a status symbol!!

[pigtin]

Re 'cycling' anyone.

Couldn't get it off the slideshow and had to photograph it from the screen without getting a flash reflection.

Have a whole series with 'lunatic' asians on bikes.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t103/donthebat/bodys.jpg