Cobra Replica. Engine swap legalities.

[JonnyWowsers]

Hi Guys. I bought a Granada base AC cobra replica, last year in a rundown state, ie needing a full rebuild, exactly what I was after and dead right money. Its possibly a Mohr or SheldonHurst kit with the flared arches to clear the granada running gear. Shell is mint, no stress cracks or damage, interior looks like it was never actually finished complete with roof that has never even been made to fit.
The car has been on the road and has retained its original 70's 'P' reg registration number. It has a V5 that states Model as Ford convertible, and at the bottom says words to effect of "built from all or sum of the parts from donor"

The front running gear and rear axle are Granada as is the 2.3 cologne engine, here is my question, The 2.3 obviously has to go but If I was to change this for a Rover V8 would there still be enough original car parts to still retain the original reg number or would I have to take it for an IVA? (Cuz I plan to put a 60's private plate on it and don't want it to end up on a Q.)

If so I've got a 3.0 Essex out of a Capri I will rebuild with extra horses in mind, (bit more tunable than the cologne) would this still constitute an engine swap or because its Ford would I get away with it...


If I'm missing anything obvious please let me know, I bought this Tax and mot exempt with declared Conversion on V5 with the hope I can do pretty much whatever I want with it with minimal fuss...
I'm sure someone will burst my bubble..

Thanks in advance Jon

[Steve_D]

As a kitcar already registered you could change the engine. You would need to do the change then get an engineers report simply stating that the car now has a different engine and listing its details and engine number. This then goes to DVLA for a change to the V5. They may also want a receipt for the engine to prove you haven't stolen it. The engineers report could be your local MOT station. The last one I did the MOT guy did not know what to do so he opened the invoice page on his computer and I typed it out myself.

However, in your case this will likely screw your MOT/TAX exempt status. as you are not allowed to increase the power by a percentage or something.
More research required.

Steve

[LLantrisant]

sounds to me like an "old" kitcar registration which missed the amnesty period (around 1996 when SVA came into force).....if you stand in front of a cobra and the v5 says ford....its definately wrong. same applies for a westfield seven which says escort convertible....its a westfield, not a ford!!!

even it may have a valid mot such kits are nowadays considered as in-correctly regsitered and theoretically un-legal.

fact...and no discussion around this.

with enough prove of history, DVLA might alter the v5c with the correct kit-name without sending your to an IVA test......but the magic word is "might"....

[smokey mow]

A kit car would have to have an annual MoT as they are classed as a "substantially changed" vehicle and therefore don't meet the criteria for historic exemption.

See here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/histori...

Edited by smokey mow on Saturday 13th July 13:58

[JonnyWowsers]

Finally after 2 years I've actually dragged the 'Cobra' out of the corner and started the laborious task with copious helpings of WD40 , plenty of slitting discs and a full pair of bottles, stripping the cobra and its running gear.

Thanks for all the help on my previous question. I'm going for an Essex, at least I'm sticking with Ford!!

The referral to the government website was especially helpful because although it is substantially changed, it was substantially changed over 30 years ago, so in black and white on the government website my interpretation of this means it is exempt from Mot tests. Thats what I'm going with anyway. .

Best regards.

J

[InitialDave]

Did you get a definite answer on the registration situation, with it saying it's a Ford when it isn't?

Do that before spending time/effort/money on it.

[Psycho Warren]

InitialDave said:

Did you get a definite answer on the registration situation, with it saying it's a Ford when it isn't?

Do that before spending time/effort/money on it.

If it does have "built from all or sum of the parts from donor" on the V5 then it is registered as a kit car as thats what that phrase means. Sure by modern standards, the clowns at DVLA put the wrong things on the V5 but that phrase is the get out of jail card IMO.