MGB Register Forum

Hello all. I am considering buying a donor roadster in order to rebuild with a new heritage shell.

So my question is ...... what do i need to do to make the new shell “DVLA legal”

Is it just a case of putting the Car, Body and Commission Tags from the donor car into the new shell so the new shell numbers match the V5C ? Or ....... is there a different DVLA process I need to go through ?

Have looked on a couple of other forums but cant seem to find the answer from someone who has actually done it recently. I say recently as I know the DVLA are tightening up on all the classic bike and car registration / re-registering.

Thanks Richard

As long as you are reshelling a roadster as a roadster or a GT as a GT providing you have a current V5c there is no need to inform the DVLA. The DVLA does not have information on Commission Numbers or body numbers only car numbers (VIN number) and engine numbers but even then the engine does not have to be the same one.

The DVLA only gets fusy if you change GT to a Roadster or vice versa and try to register it as such.

So buy a donor with an up to date V5c, change body for body of the same type, absoutely no problems - no need to tell the DVLA anything. Maybe worthwhile getting an MOT when finished just to get the rebuild.

George

I think I would transfer the original chassis number plate otherwise the MOT tester will pick up that the car doesn't match the DVLA record on his computer. But George is quite right, it is allowable to use a bodyshell of the same type as the original. That's how Frontline get away with their "Abingdon" rocket ship.

George, Mike thanks for info, Richard

Were you intending on retaining the original registration (benefits being no annual MOT and no cost for road tax) or as a new vehicle (benefit being a new registration no but disbenefits + more hoops to jump through) ?

My Vin number relates to a roadster yet I have a GT. The v5c is correct to the number on the car vin plate but a recent heritage certificate says the vin relates to an automatic roadster my car is a manual GT with od.

Any ideas how this could have arisen?

Steve,
I'm afraid this sounds like bad news. I would like to hear what others think, but it seems to me that you may have a car constructed from parts of unknown provenance. Worst case scenario is a stolen car, or possibly a written off car.
Before spending any more money on it I think you need to clear up it's identity. For example, if it turns out to be stolen you don't own the car even if you paid money to the vendor for it.
I would start with the person you bought it from and try and work back.
Sorry for this depressing perspective.

Ian F

The provenance of the car is known for at least 25 years or more. I will be doing some sleuthing

Steve,
I hope you get a good resolution. Keep us updated - we might all learn something.
Did you buy from a dealer? If so you have some leverage if it was mis-sold.

Ian F

Nope private. But known and had owned it for 10 years