52 replies to this topic

[CharlieBrown]

Hi chaps,

Well during my absence (cant get broadband - stupid BT) ive been thinking.

What are the rules on using a fibre glass shell to re-shell ones mini? I am talking completely legal here and considering the new rules.

Can the car be re-shelled and put through an SVA test? Or if the fibre glass shell was bought from a manufacturer is that enough to pass the re-shelling rule to keep the mini on the origional plates?

Does anyone know someone in VOSA (SVA people) who I can talk to?


Cheers all,

Charlie

[Brawlyrox]

Charlie it will be classed as a kitcar.

[CharlieBrown]

So what does that mean?

Will it have to be SVA tested?

[miniboo]

yep think so.

Pete is the man who seems to know the most about this as he is doing something like this with his pickup if i remember correctly

[Brawlyrox]

Yeah SVA rules will apply.

[Jammy]

Yep SVA test. Unless you get a fibreglass mini (Minus or similar) that is already registered, not talking about reshelling, just getting a whole new 2nd hand already registered FG mini and building that!

Theres no way of using a different shell and not going through the SVA.

[Guess-Works.com]

Theres no way of using a different shell and not going through the SVA.

Unless it's a heritage shell

[Jammy]

Sorry, by different I meant, non-standard, ie. Fibreglass, sprint, etc. Should have made that more clear.

[CharlieBrown]

So are there any problems of getting a fibreglass shelled mini through an SVA test.

1 problem I am aware of is it must have a collapsable steering colum but thats not a mojor issue.

[Jammy]

Could make a quick phone call to Z Cars, am pretty sure they've got one of their conversions through the SVA (although don't think it was FG).

Pete should definitely be able to help though, he's done the most work with Minus' and had a good look into the SVA.

[Alburglar]

I've been told by a tester that a mini would fail an SVA test on the steering coloumn issue. You can use an austin allegro steering coloum to get you through the test, as it fits with no modification and has a UV joint in it.

[Ade]

So are there any problems of getting a fibreglass shelled mini through an SVA test.

1 problem I am aware of is it must have a collapsable steering colum but thats not a mojor issue.

I seem to remember Pete telling me this is only the case if your going to use a steering column that isn't already type approved?? So the mini one will be fine as it is already done.

But I could be wrong so will wait for Pete to offer correct wisdom!

[koss]

If you are serious about building a fiberglass mini, go for new parts and a recon engine and keep every reciept.
or at least get every part replated like new and obtain reciepts. Then register it as a amature built car, this being the lesser sva test not the esva. The sva test is not that bad, just build the car and take it for test if it dosent pass they will tell you the reason, put things right and re test it. Tip dont bother on cosmetic things like wheel type and flash paint job till after the test. Make sure you take it there on a trailer. I have a good mate (a tester at vosa) i have built up good relations with vosa presenting some hundreds of cars for sva and esva over the last ten years. hope this helps. my old web site kosscar.com give me a call if you want any help.

link to test info mainly first 12 items on a amature built car
http://www.direct.go...n...&chk=LLGFMd

Edited by koss, 20 November 2006 - 08:29 PM.

[pete]

Simple answer is yes a fibreglass mini will pass an sva if you use all the parts from a standard production mini in all the places they were intended to be used. The only problem you may have is if you build the fibreglass shell yourself.

[Pickup76]

As i understood it reshelling a car is done on a points system, if you use over a certain amount you can keep your original reg and no sva is required. Thats why my dads robin hood is 2 years old but on 89 plates. So if you use everything from the donor mini and a new fibreglass shell its easy.