Confused!

[Ben]

Hi all,
Noobie here and with a bit of a dillemma (spelling?) on the build.

It's a VW beetle floorpan that me and my mate Kieron restored to as standard spec, ready for a different bodyshell.

The bodyshell is going to be a steel box frame supported fibreglass number in the style of a 90's LeMans GT Racer.

Right now the quandry is this, will i need to SVA this?

The details;

OG floorpan with V5 (tax exempt)
OG engine & Gearbox
OG front beam suspension
OG Rear Suspension
OG brakes

in fact the only none original parts will be the frame sat on top of the floorpan and the shell on top of that.

I thought this is just a simple case of body swap no SVA, but Kieron anonymously spoke to the DVLA and they said it would need SVA.

What say you?

All advice knowledge and input greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Ben.

[JG]

At this point in time it shouldn't need an SVA if it is using the chassis from the beetle (I'm not sure what happens if you start altering the chassis though, ie stretching it)

There are plans afoot to bring modified cars into the SVA scheme though so you might want to get a move on just in case. Can't remember where I saw details of this but it is being objected to by the hot rodding association.

Cheers, John

[Ben]

Thanks for the reply, this is as i thought.
The chassis/floorpan is unmodified so should be fine then, and once it's done they can't later on down the line recall it for SVA can they?

Ben.

[JG]

I wouldn't have thought so. If the modified car scheme does come in then I'm sure they will introduce something similar to that of the introduction of SVA in that you had a grace period to get the vehicle registered properly without the need for SVA.

John

[Vindi_Andy]

Ben,

read my article relating to registering my Spartan. Different car but similar principle.

My understanding of the law is an unmodified chassis or floorpan means you retain the original registration plate. My experiences taught me that the LVLO offices can make mistakes i.e. the guy I spoke to in peterborough.

For unmodified I read standard wheelbase as some of the outrigger on my chassis were cut to allow for the style of bodywork however once the car is built they cant tell except by measuring the wheelbase.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Spartan_andy2 should now be Vindi_andy

[Ben]

All this info is a great help.
We have been trying to contact the correct person at DVLA but they make it as difficult as possible by routing you to somewhere else and so on.
In the end the statement was "write a letter as you cannot contact your local branch any other way" Pfff i ask you?!

I'll let you know how this goes when we get somewhere with it.

Thanks
Ben

[madolddog]

Maybe this will help - taken from the DVLA web page. Registering a rebuilt vehicle, kit car and kit conversion

If you are rebuilding a vehicle, or building a vehicle from a kit or kit conversion, it will need to meet certain criteria before the vehicle can be registered. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) local office will assign the original or an appropriate registration mark on the evidence provided.
………………………………………………………………………………………………

Vehicles that have been rebuilt using a mix of new or used parts
In order to retain the original registration mark:
• cars and car-derived vans must use:
The original unmodified chassis or unaltered body shell (i.e. body and chassis as one unit - monocoque); or a new chassis or monocoque body shell of the same specification as the original supported by evidence from the dealer or manufacturer (e.g. receipt).
And two other major components from the original vehicle - i.e. suspension (front & back); steering assembly; axles (both); transmission or engine.
If a second-hand chassis or monocoque body shell is used, the vehicle must pass an enhanced single vehicle approval (ESVA) or single vehicle approval (SVA) test after which a "Q" prefix registration number will be allocated.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Kit Cars
Where all the parts of a vehicle are supplied new by the manufacturer. Subject to the provision of satisfactory receipts and a certificate of newness these vehicles will be registered under a current registration mark. Kit cars which have been built using not more than one reconditioned component will also be registered under a current mark. This is subject to the provision of satisfactory evidence that the component has been reconditioned to an "as new" standard. An ESVA or SVA test will be required.
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 or monocoque body shell. The general appearance of the vehicle will change and result in a revised description on the registration certificate. A vehicle will retain its donor registration mark if either the original unmodified chassis or unaltered monocoque body shell and two other major components are used. If a new monocoque body shell or chassis from a specialist kit manufacturer is used (or an altered chassis or body shell 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 or SVA test will be required to register the vehicle. Where there are insufficient parts from a donor vehicle or in cases where the original registration mark is unknown, an ESVA or SVA certificate will be required to register the vehicle and a 'Q' prefix registration number will be allocated.