Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

I am somewhat remiss in not doing much in the way of research into this matter but as Tony may confirm, the DVLA are making life difficult for owners of replicas such as the Suffolk SS100.

Suffolk, themselves went bust in 2020 with substantial debts and so the XJ6 based home build kits are no longer available... but those who wish to buy or sell one of these cars are faced with a big problem.

Unless anything has changed, it is my understanding that the DVLA will not allow these cars to be registered with the donor car number and thus qualify as "historic".

Furthermore, replicas will need to meet IVA requirements; which sounds rather ominous. Having overcome this hurdle the cars will still need to possess an M.O.T certificate to be road worthy. Historic replicas, it would seem, are not now regarded as historic - which I suppose is understandable - but they do seem to have fallen through the net as not being either one thing or the other.

I think the situation for owners or buyers of these cars is dire - as the cars seem to be left in limbo.

Personally, I feel as if I have had a close shave. I was very keen at one time ...but now...lovely as they are, I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole !

[lowdrag]

The situation is not as dire as you make out Ray. The people who run Suffolk will provide a kit to get a Suffolk through the IVA but it will not qualify as classic status and will need an MOT and tax, which is problem. Jaguar have over the last few years built lightweight E-types, XKSS, D-types and now are doing the same with C-types. The problem is that while at least these cars in the UK can be made to pass the IVA they cannot be registered in most countries of the world. Here in France they would not stand a chance of getting registered until they are 30 years old!

Returning to the Suffolk saga, back in the day we took a wreck of, say, an Austin Seven, threw the body away, and built a hill-climb special. It was legal then and many, including myself, carried the practice on using an old log book as an identity for our replica, which is what Suffolk did later on but knowing that it was by then illegal.

Can you buy one today as a classic? It just depends, because Suffolk are a very special case, the DVLA making a collection of number plates shown as, for example, cars for sale by Suffolk. Each and every one was using an old XJ6 V5, so when they came to be sold on the red light flashed as a change of owner went through and the DVLA asked for photos of the car, which of course did not look at all like an XJ6. Result - V5 withdrawn and an IVA needed to get the car back on the road.

[Ray White]

Thank you very much for responding. So, if I wanted to buy, lets's say, a Suffolk SS100. Could I only use it in the U.K. ...or would I be able to take to on holiday to France?

Also, does the DVLA still insist on an IVA? If I bought one would it pass the test without expensive modification? For example would they insist on a roll bar?

[ukdave2002]

[Ray White]

Fraser Williams once suggested I went for a test drive in one of their cars. Somehow it didn't happen but if I had done, I suspect I would have extended my finances and taken on a kit.

Where would I be now? Stuck with a car that I couldn't sell unless I spent even more money on it for an IVA certificate.

My wife (who is a Company accountant) had a suspicion that Suffolk might be unsustainable and as it happened....

I am pleased they have managed to bounce back, but from my perspective it was bit of a close shave.

That said, they do make brilliant cars!

[ukdave2002]

[Ray White]

[lowdrag]

As far as Suffolk were concerned, I had a personal "deep throat" feeding me confidential information about the company all along. The indebtedness of the company was over £800,000 but the details are cloudy, with a suspicion that the huge debt was rent owed to the owner who was the main director.

The situation of all replicas is rather uncertain if the V5 does not show the same car details as the replica. A prime example is Suffolk, where they used an XJ6 V5. But replicas have been built on the back of an old wreck for a long time, and frankly I am not sure where we now stand. Is an Austin 7, now a hill-climb special since the 1930's, illegal or not? There was a period of moratorium when you could get your car re-registered but that is long past. But the DVLA now seem to have taken a back seat on the matter and seem, with a nod and a wink, to have put the matter on the back burner. I wrote for years articles on Jaguar replicas, and they seem to be changing hands at high prices and name changes occur without any problem.

My own replica is registered here in France as a classic car exactly as what it is - a Lynx XKSS. But all the new classic cars built by Jaguar themselves are impossible to register for road use anywhere in the world except the UK (IVA) and some states of the USA.

As regards the Bugatti Type 35B's built by Pur Sang in Argentina, the Bugatti Club were so amazed at the quality of the builds that they allowed Pur Sang to use continuation chassis numbers from the 1930's series. All was well until a disgruntled owner of a "real" car blew the whistle to the DVLA. Where that leaves the owners of the four Aston Martin DB4GT's built in the 90's makes me wonder.

You are fully entitled to drive a replica abroad as long as it is registered and taxed. Mine has seen seven countries alone with no problems.

Interestingly, I have the MD of Lynx coming to see me today. I'll be interested as to what he will say.

[alastairq]

I think there is a 'distinction' at DVLA between ''replicas' and 'specials?'

Or at least, I hope so!
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[Ray White]

I have always thought the trouble with using descriptions like "replica" is that it is so subjective. For example, while I admire the Suffolk for what it is, it only looks like an SS100 (for example) at a superficial level. By using an otherwise scrap XJ6 as a donor car, the "replica" element is just a bit of fun. It doesn't try to be a faithful copy by using original parts.

A true replica; or copy of an SS100 would need to be based on a genuine SS chassis (shortened) and running gear. Personally, I deplore the desecration of original saloons simply to re create the more valuable sports cars. They wouldn't perform as well as an XJ6 based car either!

The nice thing about Suffolk is that - although still expensive - what they make is far more accessible and they do it without causing harm to our motoring heritage.

It is just unfortunate that there is so much official interference when it comes to registration but I guess the rules are the rules.

[ukdave2002]

[Penman]

Where do the VW "Lambos" come in this discussion?
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[ukdave2002]

[lowdrag]

In 2001 a new word entered into the classic car world, and it took two firms of solicitors to agree on this for an auction. The word was "evocation", and it has now become part of the car salesman's bible. The car in question had parts of a car that had been dismantled, so wasn't the real thing but a recreation.

[Penman]

Hi Dave;
here is one
https://fiberclassics.org/corbett-motor-cars-vw-countach-kit-car/

and I believe there were others available.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10