Hello Stuart,

I apologise if I have added to the confusion. I've spent so more time arguing this one with myself and have I hope worked out where I have been unclear in stating why I think that the Riley engine and independent front end is OK.

I agree with most everything you say. I believe, though the process is different, the rules are the same for already registered vehicles and newly reconstructed cars. The repeal of the stringent and obviously barmy 25 year old parts and body of original type on cars with separate chassis (the main point of which is that under the 8 point system the Body or frame is a compulsory part no matter what the total is without it and that the DVLA reinterpreted their rules to say that the body was compulsory regardless of separate chassis), means that both cases should now be OK with a change of body on a car with separate chassis in keeping with the DVLAs 'type originally fitted to the marque or of a type associated with the marque'. With this the cancelled logbooks or refusal to register vehicles experienced before, should not now happen. It seems we're both in agreement with this?

Where I think we have got crossed up is how many points the theoretical Riley 9 engined, independent front end special would score. Before the DVLA went mad the Body on a car with separate chassis was not considered in the points system so body could be changed, and as long as it had an original chassis it scored the 5 points. I take the U Turn on the original body being a compulsory as meaning that they accept that it is the chassis that counts for your 5 points and changing the body doesn't cause you to lose them. So following that logic our theoretical special should get 5 points for the chassis lose your points for suspension, axles and engine, but score 2 each for steering (not sure now if all independent systems use enough of the original steering setup to qualify so this could possibly be a problem), and transmission, giving a total of 9. Of course if they are taking away your 5 points for changing the body, despite you having the original chassis, you've got 4 points and no leg to stand on.

As I said in my previous post I may of course be 100% wrong as are the pitfalls of trying to understand aforementioned organisations and weed the facts out of their statements.

All the best and happy fettling

Location: New Forest