49 replies to this topic

[ShoutforJoy]

The rules may appear to be a bit daft and work against us honest people at times but we shouldn't lose sight of the reason they were put in place; to help stop people ringing cars. And they have made it that much more difficult. No-one wants to buy a ringer, but we still we see original tax-exempt early Minis on eBay with Mark IV and V shells too often.

Sod's law says that I tried re-shelling a mini I'd get caught and VOSA would crush the car

guliver77: I have sent you a PM with the garage details.

[lrostoke]

the shell the bit that is the car

Ok go a bit further then, new scuttle, rear quarters, floor pans, sills, boot hinge repair section, door steps.

Not much of the shell left now.

I think the point is if you used a 2nd hand shell of same MK which was in better condition than what you've got with your own parts with the amount minis get repaired over the years I very much doubt it would be noticed.

I'm not advocating it and passing a 1990 model off as a TAX exempt is obviously a no no.

[Bungle]

then why not use the identity of the other shell ?

[lrostoke]

I guess some people get attached to what they think is there car.

Forgetting the legalities for a second if somebody was selling a 2nd hand shell in good condition of same MK as what you have, It would be pretty useful to be able to finish weld, and finish the bodywork on that replacement shell whilst still having your existing mini to run around in.

As an example mine passed an MOT then I took it off the road to repair the floor and sills, was off the road 2 month. A spare shell to work on and then transfer over the bits would have been great .

OK technically its illegal but is that replacement shell any more of a clone than replacing nearly every panel on an existing shell ??

Really only playing devils advocate on this one, its not something I've done or probably would, but a like for like swap who would know ???

Edited by lrostoke, 10 May 2011 - 05:17 PM.

[Cooperman]

The big question is how a shell is actually identified. Reading the legislation it seems that you are allowed to restore an existing shell so long as you keep the identity the same. Nowhere does it seem to indicate how much restoration is allowed. I have a friend who does a lot of body restoration. He has a super body jig and currently has a pick-up in work. It is very rusty and the only part of the shell which is re-useable is the front bulkhead, upper A-posts, B-posts, rear cab upper metalwork and roof. Everything else has to be replaced with new panels. Now, this is a repair so it's absolutely legal. What is strange is that there is no body identification which could be inspected, only the photographic record and that, so far as I know, is not legally required. The original VIN plate will be fitted and that's what the MoT person will look at.
The ludicrous situation is that it seems you are allowed to re-shell any Mini with a brand new 'Heritage' shell, so long as you have a VAT receipt for it. Thus, a completely re-shelled Mk.1 into a 2nd hand Mk.1 shell with absolutely no rust and 90% new panels with the configuration exactly as original is not legal, but a Mk.1 with a Heritage shell is both legal and road tax exempt. How stupid is that?
It's hard to see how DVLA could identify a re-shelled Mini which has used a 2nd hand shell as any Mini could lose whatever panel(s) might have some sort of stamped-in ident, such as the scuttle panel and, anyway, why would they even want to try unless it was suspected that the car was stolen in the first place. You complete the resto, fit the old VIN plare and take it for MoT. So long as the car presented matches the description on the V5 why would there be a problem. Now if you took a 1960 registered car with an original V5, but with a 1275 engine, 1996 interior and wheels, late colour scheme, rod-gear change, etc, alarm bells might well start ringing, and rightly so IMHO. That's when you would be in a lot of trouble.
There appears to be nothing to prevent restoration even using 2nd hand parts, such as a 2nd hand roof (and maybe A-posts) if a sun-roof has caused rusting of the roof panel. The same would apply to other panels. At what point does the shell change identity.
What a really grey area in legislation this is. Maybe we should not worry, but just ensure that we keep the Mini on the road whilst paying 'lip-service' to all this nonsense and not making our projects 'high-profile', if you see what I mean.