Thank you Paul,

I think you have summed up the "real world" situation in a few well phrased paragraph's, within your own personal experience.

I just didn't want members to be caught out, with the ever increasing legislation from the EU!

Happy NGing!

Hi John.

The warnings are writ clear on this thread!

However, all is not necessarily lost, but you should carry out any investigation BEFORE making the purchase.

It helps that you've known the car for 20 years, but can you prove this?! Does the current owner or the builder have any evidence of when the car was legally on the road as a kit?

One little thing in its favour - the V5 recording it as an 'MG Special Historic'. As far as I know, there was no production MG referred to as this. This HELPS, but won't be enough proof.

V5s and MOTs are 'lazy' - they just say what's enough to have the car 'covered' for the job. I'd suggest there is one area that could be more useful, tho' - old insurance documents.

Surely the owner had it insured as something that made it clear it was a kit, and not a conventional MG?

If you reckon you can get enough proof together to show the car was a 'kit' pre-1993 (I think - is that when the SVA came in?), then with a sympathetic vehicle inspector, you may have a chance.

My ol' Henley had an insurance document from 1992 that referred to a Ford Henley Tourer, I think it was. The V5 said it was a Ford Tourer Convertible or something. With the reg numbers corresponding, it was pretty obvious that they were referring to the same thing, and that it WASN'T a Ford Sierra! Add to that a sympathetic - but a sticking-to-the-rules - inspector, and I was able to have it re-reg'd as a 'Pastiche Henley'.

Bottom line - an inspector will not BEND the rules, but they will be open to EVIDENCE, and it just isn't in their interest to refuse a change for no reason - why would they want to?

I had a real car enthusiast called Neville King come out from Truro DVLA. He did need proper evidence, but he didn't put any false barriers in my way.

I'm assuming the situation hasn't changed with the intro of the IVA, tho'? Hopefully, if you can still prove it was an NG kit car pre-1993, you may be ok. I remember another case from a few years back - the owner of a incorrectly-reg'd NG car had a photo of it picking up a 'best in show' award with a large pre-1993 date on the plaque! That, apparently, did the job

Hi John,

I am still fighting with the DVLA over my car(coming up for nearly a year now). They are an absolute nightmare!! My experience would strongly recommend avoiding contact with the DVLA unless it is about routine stuff (i.e taxing or selling a vehicle).

Donnie has given you some wise advice in his last post but any doubt, the car is best avoided. No matter how attached or knowledge of the car you have. It will involve a virtual rebuild from scratch and deep pockets to get a pre-sva/iva car through the test and a gamble at best to persuade the DVLA to amend the documentation from my bitter experience.

Could I have a photo of the car showing the registration number so I can add it to the records?

Happy to discuss further if you require.

Regrads

Paul