54 replies to this topic

[pete]

As I said before I don't want to put a downer on Smudgers idea as I would definately be interested if the price is right. Since building Ade's I think fibreglass is the way to go which is why i've just started another minus project, have someone else who wants a z-cars bike engined or vtec minus(he hasn't decided yet) and have plans to convert the pickup to fibreglass using a modified domino shell.

But

I have spent several weeks trying to find a legal way around registering a z-cars kitted minus shell (similar to Ade's) without having to have an SVA. The way the current rules stand, if you use any shell other than a new original specification or you radically alter a monocoque body then you will have to have an SVA and take pot luck on the registration number you get issued (unless you use all new parts).



Those thinking of reshelling a mini with any type of shell need to take time to read the following link.
http://www.dvla.gov....es/regrebil.htm

I have highlighted the main points for ease.


1. In order to retain the original registration mark:

Cars and Car-Derived Vans must use:

The original unmodified chassis or unaltered bodyshell (i.e. body and chassis as one unit - monocoque); or

A new chassis or monocoque bodyshell of the same specification as the original supported by evidence from the dealer/manufacturer (e.g. receipt)

2. Radically Altered Vehicles
This covers vehicles which are substantially altered from their original specification, but which are not kit conversions.
If less than eight points are scored or a second-hand or modified chassis or altered monocoque bodyshell is used an ESVA/SVA/MSVA certificate will be required to register the vehicle and a 'Q' prefix registration number will be allocated.

3. D. Kit Conversions
This is where a kit of new parts is added to an existing vehicle or old parts are added to a kit comprising a manufactured body/chassis/monocoque bodyshell.
If a new monocoque bodyshell or chassis from a specialist kit manufacturer is used (or an altered chassis/bodyshell from an existing vehicle) together with two major components from a donor vehicle, an age related mark will be assigned. The mark will be based on the age of the donor vehicle. An ESVA/SVA/MSVA test will be required to register the vehicle.

If anyone knows of a legal way to register my current project without having an SVA then please let me know as I can't find one. It would save me a lot of time and hassle.

[Alburglar]

You use an old donor. Send of the v5 with the new chassis number on it. If anyone ever queries it, which they won't if the shell is even vaguely mini shaped. You say the car was converted by a previous owner about 30 years ago and they obviously nerver bothered to change the chassis number til you noticed it was wrong.

Then insure with flux declaring all mods.
What could possibly go wrong???


then once that is sorted you put the z-cars kit in it

[Jammy]

You use an old donor. Send of the v5 with the new chassis number on it. If anyone ever queries it, which they won't if the shell is even vaguely mini shaped. You say the car was converted by a previous owner about 30 years ago and they obviously nerver bothered to change the chassis number til you noticed it was wrong.

Then insure with flux declaring all mods.
What could possibly go wrong???


then once that is sorted you put the z-cars kit in it

This is technically illegal, and could result in some arse clenching moments if you crash and your insurance company decides to look further into things.

[Alburglar]

You use an old donor. Send of the v5 with the new chassis number on it. If anyone ever queries it, which they won't if the shell is even vaguely mini shaped. You say the car was converted by a previous owner about 30 years ago and they obviously nerver bothered to change the chassis number til you noticed it was wrong.

Then insure with flux declaring all mods.
What could possibly go wrong???


then once that is sorted you put the z-cars kit in it

This is technically illegal, and could result in some arse clenching moments if you crash and your insurance company decides to look further into things.

not if you insure it properly as a kit car

[pete]

You use an old donor. Send of the v5 with the new chassis number on it. If anyone ever queries it, which they won't if the shell is even vaguely mini shaped. You say the car was converted by a previous owner about 30 years ago and they obviously nerver bothered to change the chassis number til you noticed it was wrong.

Then insure with flux declaring all mods.
What could possibly go wrong???


then once that is sorted you put the z-cars kit in it

This is technically illegal, and could result in some arse clenching moments if you crash and your insurance company decides to look further into things.

not if you insure it properly as a kit car

Just because it's insured properly doesn't make it legal. Claiming no knowledge and hoping no one queries it also doesn't make it legal.

[R1mini]

I have spent several weeks trying to find a legal way around registering a z-cars kitted minus shell (similar to Ade's) without having to have an SVA. The way the current rules stand, if you use any shell other than a new original specification or you radically alter a monocoque body then you will have to have an SVA and take pot luck on the registration number you get issued (unless you use all new parts).

Pete,
Even if you do it properly using the SVA test, you won't pass a SVA test without big modifications to a mini. All of the ZCars minis using steel bodies are on dodgy registerations as well, they have had massive mods to the monocoque so would fail on the first cirteria for keeping the original registration and would need the SVA test and Q reg which they won't pass.

They might not be that keen on lengthened frontends, removed inner wings, modified bulkheads either, box section frames, etc according to the website almost any conversion including the front wheel drive VTEC/Vauxhall should be SVA'd

David

[Wil_h]

surely a fibre galss shell is unbelievbly dangerous or am i just being dumb???

grp shells behave better in accidents than steel ones. they spread impacts really well.

yup, GRP is a tried and tested material for car bodies, there are massive lists of vehicles made from GRP.

reliant robin,
reliant kitten,
reliant rebel,
reliant fox,
reliant scimitar,
reliant sabre,
Lotus Elise............


to name but a few!

All the cars you mention have a steel chassis and GRP bodywork, so not really monocoque at all.

Try, Clam crusader and Davrians/Darrians for propper GRP monocoque cars.

Either way it too Smudger 6 months not to make me a CF bonnet, and a court summons to get my money back. So good look getting a whole car built hahahaha.

Wil

[Alburglar]

"Just because it's insured properly doesn't make it legal. Claiming no knowledge and hoping no one queries it also doesn't make it legal."


Yes but it does mean that no-one would ever find out that it's illegal which is the next best thing.

[smudger]

A mini will never pass the SVA due to the sharp edges etc

However i am looking into it, and am sure a re-shell should be able to pass without sva due to "loopholes"
what those "loopholes" are i am not saying, dont want to give em away and then get em closed on us.

[markrally]

A mini will never pass the SVA due to the sharp edges etc

The Z-cars monte carlo Vtec mini has just passed its SVA test and is now road legal!!

Cheers