Hello everyone
New user signing on.
Have an issue with DVLA. I have had constructed over the past 8 years, a bit of an unusal "car".
This is a bit long winded but bear with me.
The car is a 6 wheeled mini pickup truck, with a 1995 cc engine and gearbox.
The shell was originally a mini clubman estate, bought by me and i have the
log book too. The shell was SORNed. Construction began, with 2 mini subframes back to back and welded, cross braced and mounted into the original shell.
Rear wings extended, corners, tailgate and an original mini pickup rear window bulhead welded in, load area extended, all with mini parts and constructed as the mini pickup was.
Front is a rear section mini subframe and a lancia front bottom subframe welded together, and now houses the complete engine and gearbox and steering column from the donor car, together with a clubman flip front.
There is a new roll cage installed in the original monocoque shell.
The original vin plate, that was on the slam panel, has long gone, but a new vin plate re stamped after producing evidence of my logbook (copy of)
I still retain the slam panel from the mini with commission number on it.
I still retain the vin plate from the donor car.
Now took it to DVLA for an inspection prior to IVA.
The examiner wasn`t exactly helpful, but he asked questions. How many of the original components are still in the car? Total of 8 points to gain.
My total `0`, engine, gearbox, steering, chassis all replaced from a donor car.
He also said that my vehicle id was not legal!!!
(I have the logbook, plates in my possession what more does he want?)
`Q` plate then.
A bit disappointed.
Anyway, after the exam, the examiner gave me the guidelines for the registration of rebuilt or radically altered vehicles and kit cars leaflet.
Reading this, I have two questions to forum readers:
What is meant by `Radically Altered`, What is classed as a `MINIMUM` alteration and a MAXIMUM` alteration?
In the heading KIT CONVERSION, it is written
`If a new monocoque bodyshell/chassis from specialist kit manuf. is used (or an ALTERED CHASSIS/BODYSHELL from an EXISTING VEHICLE) together with 2 MAJOR COMPONENTS FROM A DONOR VEHICLE, an age related mark from will be based on donor vehicle.
Now looking at my pickup truck, it looks radical, well it has six wheels for starters, but the vehicle monocoque shell is still there unaltered, except for the rear bulhead. The chassis mounting points are unaltered, as is the front mounting points. The vehicle has the same doors, windscreen sills floor, roof the lot, and all in steel.
I feel it should have been considered for KIT CONVERSION, and as i have highlighted above it ticks all the boxes ( ALTERED EXISTING VEHICLE, 3 MAJOR COMPONENTS ETC.
I think the examiner has basically pushed me into what he wants and not what the vehicle could be considered for.
It may be that i have to have a Q plate and be done with it, but looking through kit car magazines and the like, I see plenty of cars with 3 different car components and totally radical, eg Raw Fulcrum, Honda Fireblad Engine, Capri stub axles, sierra calipers rear, Aftermarket front calipers etc, and all on a 59 plate!
Now how many donors? or am i missing something here.
I have already written to DVLA to ask them to clarify both these categories and i wait in anticipation.
Sorry is so long, but anyone got any insight please.
Gonk43
3 Nov 2010, 7:28pm