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Hi Martin,
Again, very helpful, thanks!
Quite the quandary though eh? My options then are: do nothing, restore the car and risk it being torpedoed by the DVLA, or contact the DVLA now and risk them torpedoing the car before I can do anything.
Bloody bureaucrats lol
Food for thought indeed... 
Location: London
I looked at this baby when it came up on ebay. I too thought it had a pretty line to the body but needed some adjustments. Then I saw that no V5 was available and left it on the watch list.
Don't let anybody put you off having fun but do understand that without a V5 in your name you may never be able to put it on the road legally.
Under current regulations you might get issued with a Q registration but would have to prove that all the parts are over 25 years old. The new-look DVLA has already done this to what was a reconstruction of genuine contemporary old parts which was presented with a club approval ticket. This is unlikely to be rescinded.
You will not be able to register it as a new car without having to pass the IVA test and from the photos and other information this would be impossible without major and radical reconstruction. I have built a couple of cars which had to go through MSVA (motor-cycle/tricycle, heavy quad ) and Single Vehicle Approval, the precursor to the new stricter Individual Vehicle Approval. All these regs are available on line as pdfs. The VOSA inspectors are very fair and helpful but absolutely thorough in my experience; they go through the construction of car by the book
I'd avoid drawing the attention of DVLA before you have a finished item to register because once you're in the system there will be little chance of escape!
At a guess the Reliant engine will make it go too fast for comfort without serious work on the brakes,steering and suspension. Have a look at what the 750 Club boys do to make their cars point, bump-not-bounce and stop.
If the above doesn't put you off and you have the resources go for it and enjoy yourself. There is a wealth of useful information and helpful experience available on this forum and remember, you don't have to take the advice just because you asked for it!
Crack on!
PS I don't know about London but up here in Yorkshire there are miles of moor and forestry roads where the chances of being spotted are fairly remote… you could also look for and cultivate a friend with an estate having private roads!
Location: Ripon
Don't let anybody put you off having fun but do understand that without a V5 in your name you may never be able to put it on the road legally.
Under current regulations you might get issued with a Q registration but would have to prove that all the parts are over 25 years old. The new-look DVLA has already done this to what was a reconstruction of genuine contemporary old parts which was presented with a club approval ticket. This is unlikely to be rescinded.
You will not be able to register it as a new car without having to pass the IVA test and from the photos and other information this would be impossible without major and radical reconstruction. I have built a couple of cars which had to go through MSVA (motor-cycle/tricycle, heavy quad ) and Single Vehicle Approval, the precursor to the new stricter Individual Vehicle Approval. All these regs are available on line as pdfs. The VOSA inspectors are very fair and helpful but absolutely thorough in my experience; they go through the construction of car by the book
I'd avoid drawing the attention of DVLA before you have a finished item to register because once you're in the system there will be little chance of escape!
At a guess the Reliant engine will make it go too fast for comfort without serious work on the brakes,steering and suspension. Have a look at what the 750 Club boys do to make their cars point, bump-not-bounce and stop.
If the above doesn't put you off and you have the resources go for it and enjoy yourself. There is a wealth of useful information and helpful experience available on this forum and remember, you don't have to take the advice just because you asked for it!
Crack on!
PS I don't know about London but up here in Yorkshire there are miles of moor and forestry roads where the chances of being spotted are fairly remote… you could also look for and cultivate a friend with an estate having private roads!
Thanks for your great post Duncan - I'd read quite a few of yours on the long DVLA thread, so I'm reasonably familiar with your position. I'm glad your views echo mine re. my new project's lines - I was getting weary of reading what a dog it was haha
I quite like the idea of the Reliant engine making the car "too fast for comfort" to be honest! That's the best argument I've yet heard for keeping it!
Where you've said "Under current regulations you might get issued with a Q registration but would have to prove that all the parts are over 25 years old" I'm a little confused - do you mean that if I can prove that all parts are over 25 years old I might avoid the dreaded Q-plate? It seems from all I've read that the bodywork appears to be the stumbling block; obviously we're all agreed that it's absurd, when so many cars of that era, from humble Austins to mighty Rolls, were initially presented to the market as mere chassis.
The other thing I'm unsure of is where you've said "I'd avoid drawing the attention of DVLA before you have a finished item to register because once you're in the system there will be little chance of escape!" That obviously presents a quandary - does one try and get a steer from the DVLA first or spend cash creating one's ideal car only to find it's driveway-bound forever? I'd thought of at least checking whether the car's chassis number has any resonance with their system - would even just doing that mean trouble?
Finally - although I'm officially London-based, I actually spend most of my time in a thatched cottage in the deepest Essex countryside. The roads here are like something out of the Targo Florio - windy, twisty, thrilling and utterly unbothered by the local constabulary. I've lost two cars this past year to their potholes - the lanes are suspension killers - but I reckon I could drive an unregistered Special around the locality for ages with no issues. That said, it'd be a bit of a fool's errand really - sod's law dictates that the one day I'd roll out on the road a stray cop car would chance by! Best get it done the right way really...
Cheers
Location: London
but I reckon I could drive an unregistered Special around the locality for ages with no issues. That said, it'd be a bit of a fool's errand really - sod's law dictates that the one day I'd roll out on the road a stray cop car would chance by! Best get it done the right way really...
Cheers
Be aware that at least one participant in this discussion is probably polishing his truncheon at this very moment!!!!!![/quote]
'ello 'ello 'ello what's going on 'ere then?
Location: Derby
another one from same vendor? currently on ebay as 'winter project' £3500 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-7-Seven-Special-Winter-Project-/272110223230?hash=item3f5b087f7e:g:YscAAOSwUV9Wnopf
So I would say is dealer of sorts.
Steve V
Location: Polegate, East Sussex, United Kingdom
I hope that the vendors body building skills are a lot better than his photography !!!
Merv
Location: New Forest
but I reckon I could drive an unregistered Special around the locality for ages with no issues. That said, it'd be a bit of a fool's errand really - sod's law dictates that the one day I'd roll out on the road a stray cop car would chance by! Best get it done the right way really...
Cheers
Be aware that at least one participant in this discussion is probably polishing his truncheon at this very moment!!!!!!
'ello 'ello 'ello what's going on 'ere then?
[/quote]Haha evenin' officer. I've left the papers indoors, but she's legal, honest.
Location: London
So I would say is dealer of sorts.
Steve V
Good lord, that's mental. How many of these has this guy churned out?!
Location: London
So I would say is dealer of sorts.
Steve V
Good lord, that's mental. How many of these has this guy churned out?!
Well that makes at least four, Jonny. Without a shadow of doubt enough to qualify as a Motor Trader, I think!
As the last three have been in varying stages of completion, my guess is that the production line has been shut down because of the near-impossibility of registering the things.
Location: Herefordshire, with an "E", not a "T".
but I reckon I could drive an unregistered Special around the locality for ages with no issues. That said, it'd be a bit of a fool's errand really - sod's law dictates that the one day I'd roll out on the road a stray cop car would chance by! Best get it done the right way really...
Cheers
Be aware that at least one participant in this discussion is probably polishing his truncheon at this very moment!!!!!!
'ello 'ello 'ello what's going on 'ere then?
Haha evenin' officer. I've left the papers indoors, but she's legal, honest.[/quote]
"I think you will be coming along with me to Dock Green Station, Sir!
"At least in the good old days all you would get would be a polite dressing down and a cup of tea!
Location: Derby
So I would say is dealer of sorts.
Steve V
Good lord, that's mental. How many of these has this guy churned out?!
Well that makes at least four, Jonny. Without a shadow of doubt enough to qualify as a Motor Trader, I think!
As the last three have been in varying stages of completion, my guess is that the production line has been shut down because of the near-impossibility of registering the things.
You're not wrong Martin. Trouble is that I like the idea of it as a project now, albeit a potentially unregistrable one (if that's a word.) So rather than try and reverse the deal I'd be happier with a partial refund to reflect the disparity between what he described and what he supplied. Having no experience of chasing motor traders through whatever schemes are an option, I'm not sure if the light would be worth the candle so to speak...
Location: London
"I think you will be coming along with me to Dock Green Station, Sir!
"At least in the good old days all you would get would be a polite dressing down and a cup of tea!
Very true Ray. Sadly in these days of 'compliance' and revenue gathering I'd likely have the book through at me.
Location: London
I just tried to bid on this but for some reason EBay wouldn't accept "two bob and a blackie's egg" as a proper bid.
Location: Gard, France 30960
I sold a 1/4 scale model of an Austin 7 chassis to this chap once on eBay. I built it to help me design bodywork for a 33 chassis I was going to build into a special. He complained about it when it arrived (late) and claimed it was broken, despite a very clear listing regarding the risk of posting it. We had a long and protracted discussion about the supposed issues and he threatened legal action when I asked for more information...
Jonny - I also liked the look of your special. I hope you are able to make it into something that works for you
Location: Essex
