Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Now this is something that is playing on my mind.

If you were to make a project car/van, a bit like a kit car, if you use a chassis of a vintage pickup or the like, do you need to have the vehicle up to modern standards, or do you have to have them to the standards of the day, ie breaking standards etc to the date of the chassis.

Sorry if this sounds vague, but I have tried to explain it as best I can.

Cheers

Dave

[Jim.Walker]

If you have or can obtain the registration document from the original vehicle and you retain significant parts of the original you need only to contact the DVLA to get it (possibly subjected to inspection to validate the retention of those parts) registered. I think you must retain three parts out of five listed. Engine, chassis and transmission are (I think) three. Off the cuff I cannot remember the others. If the requirements are met the only requirement is a valid MOT result on the finished vehicle.
Anyway the info. is available on the DVLA website.
If you do not retain a valid number of original parts, the vehicle must be subjected to a Single Vehicle Approval Test (SVA) where the vehicle must comply with modern safety standards. The list is horrendous. No sharp corners on windscreens etc. no projections such as wing mirrors or door handles, all projecting fastenings (nuts etc.) covered with plastic caps and on and on. The brakes etc. need only to be up to current MOT standards, which are not very stringent. I don't think the SVA covers emissions.
Curiously, once the SVA is passed there is nothing to stop you adding horrendous things like wing mirrors or wire wheels secured with knock on winged spinners or a radiator mascot or or or........
_________________
Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Hmmm for what I planned the chassis would be used as would the brakes, etc, but not the engine transmisions, think I will have to look on the DVLA website.

Cheers

Dave

[Jim.Walker]

It might help if you could could use the original engine initially to get the vehicle registered and then change it afterwards, which would only then require a notified engine change to DVLC.
_________________
Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!

[Scotty]

All good advice from Jim Buzzy - if I can add anything then perhaps it'd be worth talking with the "one-make" club which caters for the make where your project's principal mechanical parts are coming from i.e. if you're going to be using Ford Side-Valve major components and chassis then contact the Ford Side-Valve Owners Club and speak with their "expert" for guidance.

With regard to which major components can be included to retain original registration number - and I'm only guessing here, but I seem to remember brakes and steering were included in that list as well. But don't take this as gospel - check.