ID'ing from engine number?
Discussion
Ok following previous post as to potential value of my cooper engine (thanks for responses) fate took an interesting twist today - discussing it at work today and ended up being offered (for minimal beer tokens) and unfinished mk2 project 850 - the shameless owner has taken the tax exempt G registration and somehow got it transferred to his 79 1275GT - how????
But in conversation it came up that every MOT tester should be able to enter an engine or chassis number and come up with the registration number - bordering upon questionable legality a) is this a myth? b) the obvious devious thought occurs - if I could track the reg attributable to my engine (assuming car itself no longer exists) then conceivably I could obtain the logbook, get the chassis number off that & marry up to orphan Mk2 - going some way to creating a cooperish car......
There's doubtless some questionable legality here but can it be done without bending the law too much?
But in conversation it came up that every MOT tester should be able to enter an engine or chassis number and come up with the registration number - bordering upon questionable legality a) is this a myth? b) the obvious devious thought occurs - if I could track the reg attributable to my engine (assuming car itself no longer exists) then conceivably I could obtain the logbook, get the chassis number off that & marry up to orphan Mk2 - going some way to creating a cooperish car......
There's doubtless some questionable legality here but can it be done without bending the law too much?
The MOT stations are now online to the DVLA so they have access to the info on V5c
ie they can cross check engine no./ chassis no. / reg / colour / make and model.
But this only applies to cars that have been registered on the computer and therefore have a V5c, any car scrapped or just unregistered since before the changes won't appear.
As to creating a 'ringer' - well this is illegal and I suggest you'd be unwise to discuss it on an open forum.
ie they can cross check engine no./ chassis no. / reg / colour / make and model.
But this only applies to cars that have been registered on the computer and therefore have a V5c, any car scrapped or just unregistered since before the changes won't appear.
As to creating a 'ringer' - well this is illegal and I suggest you'd be unwise to discuss it on an open forum.
All we can enter is the Reg No and VIN (Chassis No).
(Both must be entered or it will not go thru.)
It will not give us a Full engine number just a code I.E. the first four digit's of the engine number to aid the emmision's test data.
Could be he has only transfered the reg number it should still be a 79 Mini
>> Edited by SprintV8 on Wednesday 26th April 00:20
>> Edited by SprintV8 on Wednesday 26th April 00:26
(Both must be entered or it will not go thru.)
It will not give us a Full engine number just a code I.E. the first four digit's of the engine number to aid the emmision's test data.
Could be he has only transfered the reg number it should still be a 79 Mini
>> Edited by SprintV8 on Wednesday 26th April 00:20
>> Edited by SprintV8 on Wednesday 26th April 00:26
Go for it, I have whinged at the DVLC for letting people do anything with V5 documents. Loads of people have in fact. It pretty much says £5000 fine and 2 years inside if you mislead them on purpose. Just type in Mk2 Cooper into ebay and you'll probably get a pile of V5 docs.
It makes me sick as a guy in my neck of the woods called Jason has sold quite a few Mk1's with Cooper S V5's as the real thing. Some people have lost a lot of money.
The point is, the DVLC are full of shit and won't do anything, so if you can avoid the cops coming around, you're on to a winner.
I don't agree with it myself, but I can spot a fake from about 200 yds.
It makes me sick as a guy in my neck of the woods called Jason has sold quite a few Mk1's with Cooper S V5's as the real thing. Some people have lost a lot of money.
The point is, the DVLC are full of shit and won't do anything, so if you can avoid the cops coming around, you're on to a winner.
I don't agree with it myself, but I can spot a fake from about 200 yds.
SprintV8 said:
Could be he has only transfered the reg number it should still be a 79 Mini
Exactly. Nowt wrong with transferring a reg number to a newer car; its the other way 'round that's illegal.
Now, if he was passing off the '79 car as the 68/69 G-reg for the purpose of avoiding VED, then that would be naughty.
Had a little more than an inkling that this could be trouble - I don't mind advantageously bending the odd rule but draw the line at out & out dodgy - phoned DVLA this morning - twice posing 2 scenarios - a) shell no ID - end result despite all being legit parts circa 67 - 69 - Q plate most likely - ok not unexpected b) if I could come up with a registration no from the cooper engine donor ( I can - belonged to my uncle so should have the odd photo about & It was scrapped in about 1980) then dependent upon presentation to DVLA then it's not impossible to reregister under the pseudo original number, doubtless tricky but not impossible - to my mind this would be a little bending of the rules & would never sell end result as anything other than a repro cooper - at least its not out & out dishonest such as a tax exempt 79 GT sporting black & white plates!!!!! Just hope the reg from my engine donor isn't rolling on a sportspack!!!!!!!
p.s don't mind paying tax - it's just that if I'm going to commit to lots of expense, blood, sweat, tears, domestics & ingrained grease the I don't want it on a Q plate!!!! - just expnading the thought a little I assume by non transferrable DVLA don't mean that I couldn't commercially purchase a period plate & transfer after having the car Q plated? would stick a bit as the whole car would probably be more original than most 60's mini's out there!
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