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Reshelling saloon
myke pocock - 26/11/14 at 08:40 PM

Someone on here is bound to know the answer to this. I want to reshell a 1980's saloon. I have a rolling shell with log book but want to keep the original registration number of the car I am going to reshell which has been on the road with me for 10 years. Do i have to inform DVLA or are there forms to fill in etc or can I just do it and get it MOT'd?

[Edited on 26/11/14 by myke pocock]


nick205 - 26/11/14 at 08:55 PM

I have been looking at this in relation to my ongoing 205 GTI project. I have a rusty F reg car on the road and an H reg shell on SORN. Plan is to rebuild the H reg shell using bits from the F reg car.

My understanding is I will end up with an H reg car and have to change the engine number to the one from the F reg donor car. Once complete the F reg donor car will be scrapped.


loggyboy - 26/11/14 at 09:12 PM

OPs may end up on Q.
Only way to reshell and retain the reg is a brand new shell.
only way to do it is the way we all hate on here, ring them.

One way is, if the age of plate permits, is to do a reg transfer prior to taking the cars off the road as a valid mot is needed.
Obviously wouldnt work in nicks case as the f plate car couldn't have the h put on it, but in nicks case he wants to do it the other way - keep the H reg of the shell.


[Edited on 26-11-14 by loggyboy]


mark chandler - 26/11/14 at 10:21 PM

Lots of reshelled Classic cars out there with original plates, look at MGB's they just move across a bit of bulkhead and call the whole car original, heritage or decent donor.

I have seen MII rally escorts wearing MKI bodies, the car retains the identity of the majority donor so do not sweat it, just move the important parts across.


nick205 - 26/11/14 at 10:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
OPs may end up on Q.
Only way to reshell and retain the reg is a brand new shell.
only way to do it is the way we all hate on here, ring them.

One way is, if the age of plate permits, is to do a reg transfer prior to taking the cars off the road as a valid mot is needed.
Obviously wouldnt work in nicks case as the f plate car couldn't have the h put on it, but in nicks case he wants to do it the other way - keep the H reg of the shell.


[Edited on 26-11-14 by loggyboy]


Interesting part for me is 205s had a face lift between F and H reg; F being "phase 1.5" with grey plastics and orange indicators, H being "phase 2" with black plastics and clear indicators.

Although I plan to keep the car and I'm not looking for a concours build, I will most likely transfer the F plate the H plate shell so the finished car looks correct.


chrism - 27/11/14 at 01:30 AM

You can normally transfer the reg from one car to another as long as the plate being transferred its not a newer reg and as long as it doesn't say non transferable on the V5.

Also I'm sure that to put the original plate on retention you have to have a valid MOT, I'm remember reading that somewhere.


Badger_McLetcher - 27/11/14 at 06:52 AM

IIRC it's based on a points system dependent upon how much of the original car remains. If you use everything from the car you want to keep in the new shell it'd be fine, if you are using the running gear from the new shell you'll struggle.


indykid - 27/11/14 at 07:07 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Badger_McLetcher
IIRC it's based on a points system dependent upon how much of the original car remains. If you use everything from the car you want to keep in the new shell it'd be fine, if you are using the running gear from the new shell you'll struggle.

Swap the running gear onto the old one, then swap the lot in one go...

Which 2 shells are we talking about here anyway? Will it be a straight reshell or is it a Frankenstein job?


cliftyhanger - 27/11/14 at 07:56 AM

legally (the DVLA version) the identity of the car stays with the monocoque shell, or the chassis if a seperate one. You can repace with brand new, as many classics are (new shells/chassis are available)
yes, lots of classics are reshelled with donor cars etc, and this, although not strictly legal, is not regarded as a major issue. After all, when I rebuilt my car, I had 2 identical chassis, no id on them at all from new, and so I just used the best of the 2.
Newer cars have vin numbers stamped around places, so if you go down the reshelling route you will need to address that issue.

What I am surprised about is how many people see this as OK (I do, with certain caveats like no theft etc etc) but go potty when somebody does it to a kitcar....


loggyboy - 27/11/14 at 08:02 AM

They do use the poinys system for what you wamt to do (radically altered vehicle) but if reshelling, one of the proviso that a new shell is used.
It's all here
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-altered-vehicles


loggyboy - 27/11/14 at 08:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by cliftyhanger

What I am surprised about is how many people see this as OK (I do, with certain caveats like no theft etc etc) but go potty when somebody does it to a kitcar....


It's a bit different where you have a completely different car, as you say its almost over looked when swapping for the purpose of a rebuild, but the final car largely stays as it was. Also in some cases having a home constructed chassis really should have an official look at it.