Not able to do convertables any more?
 

Hi, Just read on one of the MR2 forums that the Veranti kit is not available as a drop top any more due to new SVA rules - is this why they are now doing the coupe version as it needs no SVA being just a body kit?

Apparently if you base a kit on say an MX5 that's OK but if your donor is a hard top then it can't be converted to a convertible.

Is this true or a load of b@ll@cks?

Being in deepest China I am not as well informed as others!:violin:

I would say it is due to structural integrity
Seen at the MX5 was designed as a convertible and the MR2 at best a t bar there for the chassis it not stiff enough to cope with scuttle shake

jerry

The MR2 was produced for a while in Spider (convertible) form and the under body received extra bracing. The Veranti uses a similar set-up and the same bracing was also used by BAD for their 355 Spyder. What I need to know is has there been a change in the SVA regulations to prohibit such kits? or is this incorrect?

There's been no change to the rules - you always needed to put body conversions through the test, but in the early days it was often possible to register a body conversion without a MAC certificate.

These days, the rules are interpreted more consistently. There's no reason a convertible Veranti couldn't pass an SVA test, it's just that Verant's MD John Barlow chooses to avoid the hassle by selling coupes with don't need an SVA to be registered.

Arr, got it! So you could still build a Veranti convertible if you want, but the coupe is much easier to construct and register as no SVA at all!! :-)