Early Mini Van project I want my registration back

[rolesyboy]

Hi All. Well by sheer fluke a family friend has offered me an early smooth roof Mini van with the vent which has sat in his mums garage for the last 30 odd years and is now getting in the way. Typically I decided to buy an Open Classic for resto only a month ago but I can't resist this so the Open Classic will be on e bay in the next few weeks. The van looks like it was grey originally and is fairly unique as whilst I have come across Minis with engines in the back I have never see one with an 850 in the passenger footwell? I don't think Z-cars make one of them so it will have to go back to standard...Heh heh
My plan is to restore it and sign write the sides and I need some inspiration. Does anybody know of any corporations that used grey Mini vans as part of their fleets in a similar way to the AA, GPO, Post Office etc? (ACESPEED van looks to be the same colour)
It also has a 3 number 3 letter combo ***EUU and I would like to get this back. It has not been supplied with a log book so the rest is up to me. What is the process here??
Pics will be posted next week. Cheers. Mark.

[tintoptom]

This sounds like a really nice project!

I'm not too sure about the reg - I think it's one of those things that you have to sort out once the car is road worthy again...

As to livery - I got quite far down the line of doing an Irvin (the parachute and harness company) liveried van a few years ago. I have no idea if they actually used mini vans but the logo is great and their colours are really nice too - a grey and a royal blue if I remember correctly... So tweed grey with a royal blue roof and the Irvin 'wings' on the side would get my vote. Very handsome!

What do you think?

P.S - I may still have the artwork kicking around for the decals if you're interested.

[rolesyboy]

Thanks Tom. Sounds interesting. We could start our own fleet???
Artwork? Don't know how you do that. Is it a file on a computer and a Vinyl graphics man laser cuts it?? If you can send it this way my e mail is markroles(youknowwhat)hotmail.co.uk.

Tweed grey sounds right. I love the colour nowadays. The van has had a 1970's respray or 'blow-over' in navy blue but will be putting back to original ver the next few months. Filler in the front wing is a sight to behold The headlamp bucket has fallen out but if you look very carefully(?) somebody has skilfully sculpted a front wing around this. You can tell he used the headlamp bowl as a basis to build his wing cos it must be 2 inches thick at the leading edge..... Its a bit like Time team!!
Cheers. Mark

[mk1]

Sounds like a cracking project.

I believe that Taurus had a grey Mini van as a works hack, well it was grey in the pictures I have seen anyway

[bill773mini]

Hi Mark,

As far as the V765 scheme is concerned, do you have any pre 1983 documents with the van? Tax disc, MOT's, VE60 etc etc? If you do not have any of these documents you will not be able to retain the original number plate, you can apply with a V55 for a new V5c and you will be issued with an age related number plate. If you do have some documents or have some documents that you think may be suitable I may be able to help as I am authorised on the V765 scheme by the DVLA.

Regards

Bill

[Pete]

Actually the DVLA will consider reissuing the original number under the V765 scheme without early documentation on a case by case ,none transferable basis depending on other supporting evidence you have and the physical state of the car, ie being complete. Safe to say it'd have to be up ,running and MOT'd before consideration. I have been involved with several cases through the MCR including my own 'MEG', which being reimported was slightly more of a pain.

[bill773mini]

True Pete, but it is very unusual and you will need a lot of supporting evidence and a very good case. 99.9% will be rejected unless a pre 83 document is supplied.

[rolesyboy]

Ok. Great. I will see what documentation I can find but I think at best it will be a tax disc as the guy bought it to Mini Rod and never got round to it. Is it possible to see if the plate has been transferred. If it hasn't I guess there is half a chance of getting the original back?
Thanks Bill/Pete.

[bill773mini]

Mark, a tax disc is all you need. Yes assuming the plate is still available (which it should be) then you stand every chance of getting it back.

[rolesyboy]

Hmm, other question is how do I MOT the car? I guess on the old plates? Then what?

[bill773mini]

Hmm, other question is how do I MOT the car? I guess on the old plates? Then what?

Can be MOT'd on the chassis number alone and the plates sorted out after that. It's up to the verifying agent as to weather the car has to be restored and MOT'd before the V765 application is put it, most insist on it to make sure the person is serious about the car. We'll look at each case individually.

[guru_1071]

in a nutshell if the car is not on the dvla v5 list

there are two ways


1) you only have the numberplate

you will get an age related plate - otherwise you could claim that the plate was 'guru 1' and have that on your car - you have no chance of dictating to the dvla what plate is issued.

2) you have the number plate and documented evidence that the plate was on the car. i.e, old tax disc, old mot, green log book, recipts that show stuff like the number plate and the chassis number

you can then get the original number back BUT it will be non transferable.

you get the car mot'd using the chassis number, then it has to be veryfied by a dating letter (from a mini club who can do it) and you have to take it do the dvla to be inspected (they check that its not just stuck onto a rover cooper) - then they issuse a v5c with the number (marked that its non transferable) and youi get the mot and what not reissued with the plate on it.

[rolesyboy]

Hi Bill. I 'am not permitted to contact you by e mail(???) New forum thing I suspect. I wonder if you could help me identify the year of manufacture of my new van. I have the chassis number, Front end number and registration plate but sadly it looks as though there is little likelihood of any old tax discs, log books etc so its gonna be the hard route. The car needs restoring but is all there but I have no clue when it was manufactured. Just that it is a relatively early Mini van. If you could contact me on markroles(youknowwhat)hotmail.co.uk it would be appreciated. Best wishes. Mark

[FCV.66]

Rolesyboy, if it helps any, ***EUU was issued by London Licencing Authority between July 1962 and January 1963.

Garry.

[Simon776]

No old registration records exist for London in the 1960's so no chance of a copy from the original registering authority.

[Simon776]

do dvla accept local licencing office documents of proof??

They should do but its no good sending it straight to the DVLA you have to apply via the V765 scheme and have your vehicle inspected and approved as correct by an owners club.

[guru_1071]

do dvla accept local licencing office documents of proof??
thats all i have,along with info from gaydon of course

dont know if they accept the local office docs, but stuff from gaydon wont be any use as it never recorded a reg number

[bill773mini]

To quote from the V765 guidance notes V765/3

" The required Documentation for reclaiming an original registration number:-
An old style log-book or pre-1983 tax disc/MOT/Insurance certificate. (Photocopies are only acceptable if they have been made and certified by a DVLA local office) If none of these are available, DVLA will consider other pre-1983 documentary evidence e.g. archive/library records, to show that the vehicle was previously registered under that original number. Please note:Laminated documentation is not acceptable."

[guru_1071]

Please note:Laminated documentation is not acceptable."

i wonder how many prats have tried the 'oh i laminated the originals, the 'courior bond' water mark and the laser printing must have come off the laminator '...trick



i have seen a set of papers for a cooper s, where every single scrap of paper was reproduction, from the green log book, old mot's tax discs etc etc. - the owner was a bit miffed when i spotted a water mark on one of the mots......