mk1-forum.net

So, what's the legality on this scenario; Reshelling a 1965 Mk1 into a brand new heritage shell..? Obviously it's not 'right' from an aesthetic point of view, but the shell's obviously unused and would be legal for a mk3 onwards..

Talk to the DVLA....

They have a points system for vehicles that have been rebuilt using a mix of new/used parts.

To retain the original Reg mark, cars must use;

Original Chassis, or Original Shell, or

New Chassis (with receipt), or New Shell (with Receipt)

And 2 from the original...

Suspension (Front & rear),
Axles (both)
Transmission
Steering
Engine.

Quite how anyone would prove you were using an original, new or secondhand rear subframe or many of the other items on the list is another matter however........carbon dating perhaps?

Has anyone experienced one of these inspections from a DVLA inspector with enough 'anorak' Mini knowledge to pass or fail your re-shelled car? It is often mentioned on forums but there rarely seems to be much first hand knowledge or experiences of what actually happens.

I mate of mine had one of these inspections, first he nearly came to grief because the chassis number was not engraved in the gutter just behind the bonnet, just like a (Rover) Cooper should have. Then they wouldn't accept his proof of identity, despite it being well researched. Finally they did give him a new age related plate & he got it back on the road.

Not a pleasant experience though.

More's the point has anyone tried to fit most of their Mk1 bits onto a new shell anyway ? What's the point? You'd not be reshelling in reality you'd be building a new car as so little of it fits. As for legality, as Martin says it's laughable, I had to present a Mk1 to DVLA once cos I wanted to retain the number, the "inspector" could have been looking at a Mayfair for all they knew, just so long at the numbers matched.
Answering this one is like trying to plat yogurt.

the inspectors have upped their game.

ive heard that their secret weapon is a paper template of a mk1 rear screen.

they unroll it, hold it to the window and 'EPIC FAIL'!

you would have no problems with a heritage shell obviously as you would have the receipt and the heritage shell number.

not as bad as the story of the guy who dobbed every single mini minus owner up to the dvla because his rear engine conversion failed the mot...........bad looser!!!!

all minusis have had their logbooks pulled as a result and its caused a load of trouble for the people who have cars that where legitimately built pre 1998 on mini logbooks, but never got the model type changed (which is a little slack of them)

rich@minispares.com wrote:the inspectors have upped their game.

ive heard that their secret weapon is a paper template of a mk1 rear screen.

they unroll it, hold it to the window and 'EPIC FAIL'!

That may be the case Rich but I can't see day when they employ inspectors who are trained in the dating of Mk1 shells, spot Mk1 shells from a MK2 with a Mk1 back end, the other way round even, decipher a Mk3 from a Mk4, be able to tell if a shell's had a rear bulkhead swap (seen that a few times!) and be similarly trained for doznes of other 50 year old cars.

Template or not, it's hard enough for a good proportion of Mini enthusiasts , I just can't ever see the DVLA being able to get it right.

My experience of an inspection a few years ago was similar to Pete. Having been led to believe they would be crawling over the Mini concerned with a fine toothcomb to check that it deserved its original registration, a man came out from the DVLA local office with a clipboard, glanced at the car, noted that the chassis plate number under the bonnet matched the documents and said ok in about 2 minutes flat. I also got the impression afterwards that any year or type of Mini with that chassis plate riveted on would have been passed !

I am not sure much has changed as recently my brother had a similar experience.......the helpful local DVLA office closed for good half way through the authentication process while waiting for the final vehicle inspection and then all calls were re-routed to Swansea who denied any records had been passed on to them. After nearly losing the will to live a few weeks later a new V5c arrived by post out of the blue with the old reg number re-instated on the DVLA computer, I don't think the inspection ever happened in the end which would have involved a trip on a trailer to the local office. I somehow doubt they have the time, money or manpower to examine every case in great detail especially now with no local offices.

Sorry if this is a bit of a long post but I thought I might share my experience of having my mini inspected by the DVLA.

I had to have my 71 Clubman inspected at the local office a couple of years ago after buying it. The V5 had been withheld after the previous owner had it MOT’ed and the current colour didn’t match the colour on the computer system. The car was originally red but had been painted green then blue. Fairly simple I thought just get it set right with the new colour then get the log book back...

The whole process was horrible, unfortunately the previous owner had been quite dishonest when he sold it to me and had failed to tell me he’d already had the car inspected. I got a letter from the DVLA about 2 weeks after I had got the car home saying, as you are aware your car was inspected... bla bla bla and no original chassis stamping was found, the letter then just went on to tell me how to apply for a Q prefix. Pretty shocking and very odd as all original body numbers/stamping are in place along with riveted car/chassis and commission number , the original red paint can be seen everywhere as both re paints were very bad and incomplete. It is a tatty but original car. I made a large comprehensive folder photographing, documenting and dating (approx) with supporting information all the stampings and commission and chassis, all the early mk3 body features like rear companion bin ashtrays, remote gear box tunnel, hole in rear bulkhead, twin peg rear quarters etc. Even all the glass is etched, the car is totally correct.

The DVLA were totally uninterested in all the facts, they told me I would not be able to have the V5 unless the VIN was stamped into the body.... on a 71 shell? It beggars belief I know. If it hadn’t been for the help of BMH who informed them though email that VIN numbers were not used until 79/80 and chassis number could only be seen on the riveted plate on the slam panel my car would have ended up on a Q plate. By the way I had to go through most this before I could even get them to agree to re-inspect the Clubman at the DVLA office.

Looking back I shouldn’t have bought a car without the V5 but I knew the car was right and I was far too trusting. I got the original registration back in the end, it was a lot of work but worth it for me as I love the Clubman even if it is a bodged wreck that has been painted with a 4” brush.
If all this had happened now I’m not sure where I would even start as local offices are closed now.

Ollie,

That is a fantastic story & it is a demonstration that perseverance does pay off even in the face of a bureaucrat.

I once had to take a Mini I had rebuilt for inspection, it had it's registration, was taxed, MOT'd & insured, but after several attempts to change the colour from blue to red via the normal channels, they eventually refused to do so without a Vehicle Inspection Check, so I took the car to the local VOSA test station, immediately I was encouraged by the first comment, "Oh no, not another, we only know about trucks here", I said not to worry, I'm sure you will do your best, so they removed the steering column cowl & saw that the shear bolts were intact, declared it as not stolen & that was it! It was a 1983 Mini, but it had no stamped number on the scuttle flange, because I had replaced the panel, but they obviously didn't even know about that. They also didn't know that I also fitted the shear bolts! All in all a total waste of time & money

There are plenty of 60's minis with internal door hinges on Ebay at the moment......

NZmember wrote:There are plenty of 60's minis with internal door hinges on Ebay at the moment......

Now that reminds me, I've seen quite a number of 72 to 76 model round nose Rover Clubmans around our country - go figure!