I've been mulling a few things over in my head recently, and hoping that someone on here can clarify or correct some assumptions I've been making.

a) If I take a car (eg an old classic) and change the engine to a different one, am I right in saying that the vehicle remains essentially the same from a licencing/tax perspective, and is subject to the same emissions, even if the transplant is a radical one (ie going to mid engined from front engined).

b) If I take a car (eg an old classic) and take all the bits (engine, body panels, suspension) and build them into a self made replacement chassis, the car can continue to be registered as was.

c) If I take a car (eg an old classic) and "upgrade" the suspension and brakes, the car is still the same car etc etc etc

d) So this is where I'm going with this.... can I take an early 70s (tax exempt and with lenient emissions) car and replace the engine (including perhaps it's location), upgrade the running gear including a chassis to mount it all into, and then remount the body panels AND claim that it is still the original vehicle I started modifying?

There must be some way to do this, even if I keep more of the original chassis than is structurally required and then cut it out post SVA.

IF it's possible, then the next question would be "what tax exempt car to use?". It needs to be cheap and easy to locate parts for, and preferably have aftermarket GRP parts available (or else I will be fabbing them myself). Even better would be something that's not monocoque as the rear quarters will be potentially easier to remove from the chassis. Oh, and the wheel base needs to be something like an S14.

I know a mate who bought an escort estate, cut the floor out, welded in the floor pan from a sierra xr4x4 and dropped a cossie lump and 4x4 running gear into it and just updated the paperwork for the original estate. This would be just a touch further by "modifying" the original chassis (ie replacing it with a spaceframe).

Any thoughts?

a) - OK, it keeps the same chassis and you just change the engine. Notify DVLA to get the V5 updated - they may ask for an inspection, especially if the new engine is smaller than the original

b) no - you have changed the chassis. If you use a replacement chassis of the same type e.g. a Heritage bodyshell for a Mini, MGB, etc. and use the original other bits, then it doesn't need SVA. If you put bits into another chassis it isdn;t the same car and needs SVA

c) upgrading brakes etc. - it is stil the same car as you haven't changed the chassis

d) no, no. no. It's not the same car, it will need SVA

Your mate should have got the car SVAd, as it does not use the "original unmodified chassis"

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/RegisteringAVehicle/DG_10014199

Ah, in "d)", I perhaps didn't make it clear. Yes, of course it would need to be SVA'd, but having been SVA'd and passed would it then be the "original" car - ie still tax exempt and with generous emissions.

So what constitutes "the chassis"?

If I strip back everything, to the shell and then strip off al the removable parts, panels etc, then what I am left with is the chassis?

And I'm not permitted to modify this - eg changes to the tunnel, moving the bulk head, moving turrets etc without going through an SVA.

So if I take a car, modify the chassis, get it SVA'd and it passes, then is it a new car, or the same car with a modified chassis?

[Edited on 31/5/08 by Jesus-Ninja]

The chassis is either the spaceframe/ladder structure (for a 7 type of car) or the shell (for most modern tintops).

As for whether a modified chassis would still "be" the opriginal car with a modofied chassis, or would be a new one, I don't know. If it ws modified but you kept enough other relevant bits (engine, gearbox, etc.) you might get to keep the same reg no. but if it's SVAd because it doesn't have the original chassis you would think it is a "new" vehicle and therefore would not be tax exempt even if the original car was pre 1972.

I would suggest contacting VOSA/DVLA, but I'm afraid that you would get as many different answers as people you speak to!

There are various links on the page I posted before which might help

The first MOT after modification would be the problem as would your description on the insurance certificate.
At MOT if the tester questions the description on the computer to what you present you have a big problem.
You may also not be insured

You are asking for ways to avoid SVA when most members building are planning to accept their responsibilities and build a fully legitimate legal car which is genuinely what it says it is. I know of one car registered as a rebuilt lotus seven that is a Robin Hood lightweight and avoided SVA. The original builder sold it on and the unknowing buyer will get a heck of a shock if he is ever in an accident and finds his car is a ringer.
Why not just follow the correct route.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dusty
You are asking for ways to avoid SVA when most members building are planning to accept their responsibilities and build a fully legitimate legal car which is genuinely what it says it is. I know of one car registered as a rebuilt lotus seven that is a Robin Hood lightweight and avoided SVA. The original builder sold it on and the unknowing buyer will get a heck of a shock if he is ever in an accident and finds his car is a ringer.
Why not just follow the correct route.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jesus-Ninja
Yes, of course it would need to be SVA'd, but having been SVA'd and passed would it then be the "original" car - ie still tax exempt and with generous emissions.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Humbug
The chassis is either the spaceframe/ladder structure (for a 7 type of car) or the shell (for most modern tintops).

As for whether a modified chassis would still "be" the opriginal car with a modofied chassis, or would be a new one, I don't know. If it ws modified but you kept enough other relevant bits (engine, gearbox, etc.) you might get to keep the same reg no. but if it's SVAd because it doesn't have the original chassis you would think it is a "new" vehicle and therefore would not be tax exempt even if the original car was pre 1972.

I would suggest contacting VOSA/DVLA, but I'm afraid that you would get as many different answers as people you speak to!

There are various links on the page I posted before which might help

---

Here's my 10p worth..

Have a look at this prime example of a restoration. Lots of these classics Fords get repaired back to better than new standard and end up having nothing much left of the original chassis. Even though it looks exactly the same who thinks the current rules dictate that SVA is required?

Nice Ford

My plan is to fit RWD to a Saxo and going off features in Fast Ford & ClassicFord I think a lot of people flaint the SVA bit when 'modifing' there cars.

Is the rule just for some, ie kit cars and ignored by restorers and the like??

Steve

There's a fella on another forum i look at that took a chunk of chassis out of a suzuki vitara.

took it off from behind the rear axle no major structural points etc etc and shortned the boot to suit.

Then tried doing a cherished number transfer but got called for an inspection and got told the vehicle was deemed to be radically modified and therefore required sva. With same inspection as a kit car and to get age related plate would need full documentation proving it was a "self-built" vehicle....

AND it would have no longer been allowed to be regestered as a suzuki grand vitara or keep same chassis number..

maybe that will shed some light on things !!!!! but he did mention for his to be sva'd vosa/dvla had to break their own rules i.e. its not self built but they class it as being self built