29 replies to this topic

[dave20046]

Good guide for mini shopping-thanks!

Edited by dave20046, 21 June 2008 - 04:46 PM.

[Guess-Works.com]

Good guide, but nothing new, and one of the reasons why the sale of vehicle documentation on this site is banned... There have also been instances of 'obviously ringed' vehicles being removed from for sale sections...

The bottom line is... once a reshell has been done unless you can prove otherwise the vehicle will probably go on un-noticed, I've even seen concourse cars in pre 72 state which are obviously mk4 on... and I'll openly admit that my 72 is in a late 70's shell.... ( but it's legit reshell )

[redhotmini]

also if you were to reshell a tax exempt mini with a heritage shell (which is acceptable), then that also messes things up as you can't get the early mk3 shells from heritage, only mk4 onward shells.

What does an SVA test consist of - I was tempted to re-shell a project but I think I might be confused of the term by that I mean basically make the best of two minis one tax exempt one and one not.

well in order to pass the SVA, and not get a Q plate, you are only allowed 1 used component, everything else must be brand new. an excellent example is the Z cars Mini in this months Mini World, its a classic mini, built with all new bits, (the 1 used component is the motorbike engine) so it qualifies for an '07 plate.

To reshell your tax exempt mini, you can use a heritage shell, as its regarded as a brand new, genuine shell. You wont need to do an SVA for that, as long as you keep as much bits from the tax exempt mini as possible, i.e. subframes, engine, brakes, steering etc. To put it simply, if you bought a heritage shell, and parked your tax exempt mini beside it, and transferred everything over to the new shell, its legit. Once youve done that, theres nothing in the law to state that you can't then update, repair or modify that mini, with discs, later engine etc.

[jack_marshall]

Your all going to shoot me down but these threads are just repeating their selves.

No its not right. But who cares, really?

If theirs 2 vehicles on the road with the same identity, then obviously, thats just plain wrong.

But if somebody buys a rusty old mini and then buys a good shell... It doesn't really bother me.

Their old minis. Nothing special. Not worth a great deal.

I think the law has more pressing issues than following up why an old mini doesn't pay road tax.

[1984mini25]

Because occasionally minis are stolen, re-registered as tax exempt and then either sold on or exported off to the states.

[mab01uk]

Your all going to shoot me down but these threads are just repeating their selves.

No its not right. But who cares, really?

If theirs 2 vehicles on the road with the same identity, then obviously, thats just plain wrong.

But if somebody buys a rusty old mini and then buys a good shell... It doesn't really bother me.

Their old minis. Nothing special. Not worth a great deal.

I think the law has more pressing issues than following up why an old mini doesn't pay road tax.

Totally agree...........this has happened throughout the classic car and motor bike world for years, a Mini is just a machine with replaceable parts, to most people its just a car nothing special, even the most valuable are normally worth less than your neighbours new Ford Mondeo, its not worth losing sleep over a few people who save tax on what are all now fast disappearing old classic Minis or maybe just want an old black and silver no.plate to show off. For buyers who really want a totally genuine unmolested car it is not difficult to research what to look for, as always in the car world it is buyer beware no matter what you are buying..........
All the genuine works Rally Minis had their bodyshells, Austin/Morris badges, grilles, chassis numbers, engines, no.plates and registration documents and identities swapped around as needed (ask any ex-works mechanic) but does anybody really care 40 years later?

[clubman katie B.F]

Have been looking at the SVA regs for my scamp project, they are very very strict and a mini wouldn't pass with out severe modifications. just to pick out two points of the many that a mini would fail on:
1. to pass the sva, you need to have a collapsible steering column.
2. the seams on the body shell wouldn't pass the SVA test. they check for protusions.

Many brand new cars would not pass the SVA without some mods

[Guess-Works.com]

Your all going to shoot me down but these threads are just repeating their selves.

No its not right. But who cares, really?

If theirs 2 vehicles on the road with the same identity, then obviously, thats just plain wrong.

But if somebody buys a rusty old mini and then buys a good shell... It doesn't really bother me.

Their old minis. Nothing special. Not worth a great deal.

I think the law has more pressing issues than following up why an old mini doesn't pay road tax.

Totally agree...........this has happened throughout the classic car and motor bike world for years, a Mini is just a machine with replaceable parts, to most people its just a car nothing special, even the most valuable are normally worth less than your neighbours new Ford Mondeo, its not worth losing sleep over a few people who save tax on what are all now fast disappearing old classic Minis or maybe just want an old black and silver no.plate to show off. For buyers who really want a totally genuine unmolested car it is not difficult to research what to look for, as always in the car world it is buyer beware no matter what you are buying..........
All the genuine works Rally Minis had their bodyshells, Austin/Morris badges, grilles, chassis numbers, engines, no.plates and registration documents and identities swapped around as needed (ask any ex-works mechanic) but does anybody really care 40 years later?

I don't disagree.... however, when a reshell is an obvious attempt to commit fraud, tax evasion, or hide stolen goods ??? who's right or wrong....

When reshelling a mini, there's no harm using the identity of the replacement shell then, is there ?

[dave20046]

Well what if you had a used shell and everything else was brand new? Could that work?

[midridge2]

a point to bear in mind, back in the late 70s when the mk4 came in they were selling brand new old stock mk3 shells for £80 with boot lid bonnet and doors, a lot of people bought them and swopped there rusty shell mk4 bits into them a few years later so you could have a early mk3 that was made up of bits from a later mk4.

[pete]

Have been looking at the SVA regs for my scamp project, they are very very strict and a mini wouldn't pass with out severe modifications. just to pick out two points of the many that a mini would fail on:
1. to pass the sva, you need to have a collapsible steering column.
2. the seams on the body shell wouldn't pass the SVA test. they check for protusions.

Many brand new cars would not pass the SVA without some mods

Quite right about the steering column but there is an easy way around this.

The seams will pass as Ady's r1 car has them.

[mab01uk]

a point to bear in mind, back in the late 70s when the mk4 came in they were selling brand new old stock mk3 shells for £80 with boot lid bonnet and doors, a lot of people bought them and swopped there rusty shell mk4 bits into them a few years later so you could have a early mk3 that was made up of bits from a later mk4.

Exactly my point, I think some younger Mini enthusiasts think all this swapping around only happened in the last 10 years or so...............But people have been creating hybred Minis out of various shells, identities and bits of minis for nearly 50 years now, its only in fairly recent times that classic status has got some all concerned about the originality of even humble 850s.
In the 1970's I went out of my way to put as many Mk 2/3 bits and pieces on my "old fashioned" 1965 Mk1 to update it, even cutting out the Mk 1 rear lights to fit Mk3! It was even easy and possible to buy a later green log book cheaply from the local scrap yard right offs (unrecorded then) to get a newer registration for your Mini............we also wanted the new yellow and white reflective no.plates not those old fashioned black and silver ones!

[pete]

Well what if you had a used shell and everything else was brand new? Could that work?

The shell is the part that the identity is attached to so you would just use the identity for that shell. If it had no identity then in theory you could recondition it to as new condition, fit all new parts, sva it and then after a vic check you may be given a new reg. But you have to have all build pictures and receipts for everything.

[imabitnaughtyxx]

a point to bear in mind, back in the late 70s when the mk4 came in they were selling brand new old stock mk3 shells for £80 with boot lid bonnet and doors, a lot of people bought them and swopped there rusty shell mk4 bits into them a few years later so you could have a early mk3 that was made up of bits from a later mk4.

or a mk 1 with a 1979 reshell.....( done in 1979), like manfred, i have the receipt for the shell cost £95 brand new!

[imabitnaughtyxx]

a point to bear in mind, back in the late 70s when the mk4 came in they were selling brand new old stock mk3 shells for £80 with boot lid bonnet and doors, a lot of people bought them and swopped there rusty shell mk4 bits into them a few years later so you could have a early mk3 that was made up of bits from a later mk4.

Exactly my point, I think some younger Mini enthusiasts think all this swapping around only happened in the last 10 years or so...............But people have been creating hybred Minis out of various shells, identities and bits of minis for nearly 50 years now, its only in fairly recent times that classic status has got some all concerned about the originality of even humble 850s.
In the 1970's I went out of my way to put as many Mk 2/3 bits and pieces on my "old fashioned" 1965 Mk1 to update it, even cutting out the Mk 1 rear lights to fit Mk3! It was even easy and possible to buy a later green log book cheaply from the local scrap yard right offs (unrecorded then) to get a newer registration for your Mini............we also wanted the new yellow and white reflective no.plates not those old fashioned black and silver ones!

Again im told like manfred, the previous owner bought a brand new mayfair and his wife was stuck with manfred from her father , she updated manfred in mayfair items from the local scrappy eventually even getting the 998 fitted from a wrecked car. She hated the 60's look. she told me back in the day (over 20 years ago)it cost her £5 for some scrappy mayfair clocks but then cost over £100 getting the wiring and speedo sorted to suit!