20 replies to this topic

[Will16]

Evening TMF,

Bit of context, I've been offered a Mini with no Vin plate, no V5, no registration, no nothing! I'm interested in it, and it not terrible condition. It's missing a lot, but has subframes and brakes and a few other bits. What would be your opinions on buying a car like this? If I were to buy it, me and some friend would be interested in potentially making it a rally car. If I were to buy it, how easy/would I be able to get it registered? I'm not fussed if it would go on to a Q-Plate.

Thanks,
Will

[Carlos W]

It would have to go on a Q plate (I think), but my concern would be where it originated from?

 

Is it a stolen car with its identity removed?

[cal844]

You wouldnt be able to register it without vin etc

[Kieranlee999]

i would stay away you dont know it's history it could be stolen you never know did rover ever hide vin numbers?

[the_samkingdon15]

anything on scuttle??

[albo]

anything on scuttle??

they will be when he pic`s the soap up,,,that`s if it is stolen that is ??,, 

[The Matt]

Why on Earth would any genuine Mini be for sale with no history whatsoever?

Ask yourself what circumstances would lead to it being available with no registration mark and no VIN!

[megamini_jb]

I would steer clear to be honest buddy

[Kieranlee999]

what about informing the police or dvla of a potentially stolen mini?

[Bungle]

just fuelling the theft of minis

[mab01uk]

Is it an ex-competition car like a Mini 7 or Miglia circuit racer?

These type of Mini's are often built from new shells or if they are ex-road cars several years old and have passed through various racing owners, the original documents, etc are often lost as they were not required. We have had a few race Mini's over the years which had no id due to the above.....ie. lost in the mists of time or built around new shells. To put them back on the road would have required a Q plate or a suitable spare V5 from a broken up Mini not registered as scrapped by the owner.....but if you were Mini racing in the 1970's like us, you had usually broken up quite a few road Mini's for spares anyway!

Edited by mab01uk, 15 June 2014 - 11:07 PM.

[Ben_O]

I personally think it would be irresponsible to purchase such a shell.

 

So many are being stolen lately. It fits that one may have been stolen, stripped of valuable parts and then sold as a 'project' to get rid of the shell.

 

I know that i personally would be devastated to have mine stolen, stripped of it's ID and then sold onto some poor person who has no idea where it came from.

 

Sounds far too dodgy to me but then again, some people buy a perfectly legitimate Mini as a project, remove the Vin plate whilst stripping it and store it together with the documents which can just become lost over the years.

 

Number plates are often thrown away in the early stages of a project. My one had half a front numberplate when i got it which i threw away and the back one was delaminated. The only reason i kept the rear is because it is the original plate with the supplying dealerships details on it which i hope to have re-produced down the line otherwise that would have gone in the scrap pile too!

 

Ben

[Carlos W]

I know that i personally would be devastated to have mine stolen, stripped of it's ID and then sold onto some poor person who has no idea where it came from.

And equally devastated if that shell is used to build a car, it's sold on and the police turn up to the new owners address to inform them their new pride and joy is a ringer.

Any mini with no ID and of unknown origin could be stolen. And a V5 is not something that can be swapped from car to car.

I have an idea for a security measure for my own car, but I think it'll be something I keep to myself

[The Matt]

I just can't see why there would be a genuine reason for a decent shell to have no ID.

I can understand a rotten shell becoming available when a replacement (NEW) shell has been used.  But that would only be good for cutting up for a trailer, or for using as repair sections.

[mk3 Cooper S]

I just can't see why there would be a genuine reason for a decent shell to have no ID.

I can understand a rotten shell becoming available when a replacement (NEW) shell has been used.  But that would only be good for cutting up for a trailer, or for using as repair sections.

Scrapage scheme.