DVLA - Body Swap

[KTMsm]

I have a 1950's car which was rebodied 20 years ago from a saloon to a convertible

I have pictures of it in progress and all the numbers match

However the V5 was never updated

I have submitted the pics and a letter to the DVLA asking for the body type to be updated - they keep sending more forms and moving it around departments

I'm sure that this should be simple but they have now moved me to the kitcars department !

They now want me to fill in V627/1 but I don't think I should following my understanding of the part marked red on the form

I thought it was a simple points system but they are insisting I'm wrong

[KTMsm]

EmailAddress said:

It's kind of been rebuilt no?

I'm wondering if that's what they're saying

It's had a body swap, it hasn't been rebuilt to my understanding - rebuilt means taking everything apart and rebuilding with new components

They're now asking for receipts for the body - which obviously I haven't got and I don't see why it matters whether it was new or used either way (under the points system which is what I thought they still used)

[stang65]

I'm not an expert but as you've declared it as a body swap I think you have to rename the car, and they'll possibly want to do an identity check. I haven't read it all but this thread seems to declare itself as the definitive thread and says 627/1 is needed...
http://www.nsra.org.uk/newforum/showthread.php?231...

[KTMsm]

stang65 said:

I'm not an expert but as you've declared it as a body swap I think you have to rename the car, and they'll possibly want to do an identity check. I haven't read it all but this thread seems to declare itself as the definitive thread and says 627/1 is needed...
http://www.nsra.org.uk/newforum/showthread.php?231...

Thanks

I had read that before (but forgotten about it) I take comfort in

"Success depends upon meeting the points to keep the original identity this can only be done by using an unmodified chassis"

Which I have

With a hotrod generally very little is original, mine is simply a body swap

[aeropilot]

KTMsm said:

I have a 1950's car which was rebodied 20 years ago from a saloon to a convertible

I have pictures of it in progress and all the numbers match

However the V5 was never updated

I have submitted the pics and a letter to the DVLA asking for the body type to be updated - they keep sending more forms and moving it around departments

I'm sure that this should be simple but they have now moved me to the kitcars department !

I'm afraid you've now opened Pandora's box with the DVLA........

Should have left well alone.......given its not been an issue for past 20 years!

Wouldn't surprise me if they now withdraw the V5 and say it has to be IVA'd and put on a Q-plate.

[OutInTheShed]

Is this a car with a separate chassis which has been rebodied?

Or is it a different monocoque shell which has been rebuilt with the mechanics of the old car?

Does the 'new' shell have an identity?
Is the running gear 'correct' for the 'new' shell's identity?
Does it score enough points to be registered as the new identity?

E.g. if it was a minor traveller rebuilt into a minor convertible, enough of it would probably be 'correct' to register as a convertible of the body's year?

Is it like a landy or a Herald, where most of the body parts are common and can be assembled with screwdriver and a spanner into a ragtop, van, estate....?

Can you export it or just SORN it until the modifications are historic? (30 years?)

[mk1coopers]

It's my understanding that if the vehicle has an unmodified separate chassis then the identity (vin / chassis number) remains with the chassis, the body on top could, in theory, be replaced with anything (that is compliant), whereas with a monocoque the identity stays with the shell, and as you aren't supposed to modify that, say by taking a saloon and cutting the roof off to make it a convertible, you would then be looking at an IVA.

Unfortunately, as others have said, now the DVLA is aware it will be up to you to prove the car can retain it's original identity. Personally I would gather every bit of evidence you have of what was done and when, then reference it all against their current criteria, then send it recorded delivery so that the next person that picks up the case can go through it all again and decide if they want to have it inspected, or if a new V5 will be sent out.

[Xcore]

You sure the swap wasn’t done pre 1980s?

[KTMsm]

Xcore said:

You sure the swap wasn’t done pre 1980s?

It could have been

The issue was that I've got a buyer but he's understandably unwilling to hand over £65k for a convertible with a saloon V5

[aeropilot]

KTMsm said:

Xcore said:

You sure the swap wasn’t done pre 1980s?

It could have been

The issue was that I've got a buyer but he's understandably unwilling to hand over £65k for a convertible with a saloon V5

Aaahhhh......

Awkward.

[KTMsm]

It took a year of arguing - the stupid woman wouldn't pass it to anyone else

Finally I managed to get it looked at by someone else - they sent somone to check the numbers and a new V5 was issued within a few days, keeping the reg etc

Just a shame it's a lottery who deals with it

[Carfield]

Good news in the end then, but ridiculous for it to take a year to sort out!