I have just had an inspection on my TC and was told that, as I produced enough evidence that the car had been on the road as a kit kar in the 80s, I would get the name changed on the logbook without the need for an SVA test.
However, the inspector told me that I could not retain the present reg number, which would be replaced by another, age related, number.
He also told me that it would not have Veteran status.
Has anyone had a similar experience?

Hi Hugo.

Your TC was still registered as the donor MG on the V5, then?

It looks as though they are applying their more recent 'formula' to the situation - it could have been worse; a few years ago they'd be giving you a 'Q'-reg

The current regs state that, in order to keep the original reg no., the ORIGINAL donor chassis must be used along with at least 2 major parts from the same car.

A newly-manufactured kit-car chassis (like the NG's), along with 2 major parts from a single donor, will give your car an age-related (to the major-part donor) plate. (If you couldn't prove that 2 major parts came from the same car, you'd be getting a 'Q'...)

Since your car effectively needs re-registering - as it was, strictly-speaking, wrong before - they are applying these guidelines. They are effectively saying that, yes, we know that MOST of your car is pre-73, but it is NOT a pre-73 car!

The same situation was had by another owner - see 'Pastiche TF' a few pages back. (He was extremely lucky to able to prove it was in kit-form before 1998!!!)

I don't think anything can be done about the 'historic' status (only those with correctly-registered V5s can keep this), although it's probably worth contacting a couple or more DIFFERENT DVLA offices - it has been known for some officers to interpret the earlier rules differently, although I think the process is much simpler now.

This is my interpretation of the situation, Hugo, but I can't guarantee it's 100% accurate - please confirm in whatever ways you can.

Fingers crossed for you - Historic status is a great bonus. However, keeping an age-related plate IS more important!

Good luck.

Dear Donnie,
Thank you for that information.

The inspector, who inspected the car, was of the same opinion. He accepted that I did not need the SVA test, but did state, as you said, that I would loose the Historic status. However after a long conversation, when I told him that I had heard that this not so,( as the car had been used as a kit kar, 2 MOT certificates which stated NG TC and a letter from an insurance company to the orriginal owner/builder), he made a note to query this and see if it was possible to keep the same plate.

Once again thanks for your response.

Yours,
Hugo

Any idea when the "new" formula came out?

My NG was registered as an MGB as was allowed at the time of build.
At the time SVA cam out, I knew nothing about it as my Ng was of the road and I was busy designing and building a single seater race car.
In 2002 I contacted the DVLA and after convincing them that the car had been an NG since the early 80s they provided me with a VIN number to stamp onto the chassis.
They then changed my registration document to read NG TC V8.
Registered 1970 and keeping its cherished number plate 4*** NG

Hope this helps

Hi Mel.

Dunno, exactly. When I explored getting back into the kit-car world a couple of years ago, I looked at the DVLA website to see what the registration system was - I was looking at some part-built kits and wanted to see what the consequences could be. My only previous experience of kit cars was with a Dutton build some 25 years ago...

I remember there was a bit of spiel on the site about them recognising that the 'Q' reg wasn't considered particularly desirable by kit car owners, and they had clearly relaxed the requirements before you'd be forced to have one of them (my Dutton, mentioned above, was given a Q-reg at the time, but would have received an much nicer age-related plate these days.)

When I checked the site again last night - to see if I could help out Hugo - the actual information seems to be the same (although simplified), although the actual layout has changed.

So, it's been like this for at least a couple of years, tho' I suspect a lot longer than that; very possibly it was brought about at the same time as the SVA requirements?

The issue with Hugo's 'historic' status is different, however, and wasn't covered by the page I was looking at.

If someone has an incorrectly-registered kit car - ie: the V5 suggests it's still the 'donor' car - this will likely be picked up when the car is sold, or when the next, computerised, MOT is carried out: the MOT will say it's an 'NG TC', for example, and the V5 will claim it's an MGB - you'll actually find that you cannot buy a tax-disc for it (the P.O. is connected by computer to the DVLA), and the DVLA will be in touch...

(My Pastiche Henley is down on the V5 as a 'Sierra Convertible', but thankfully I have insurance docs from pre-'98 showing it as a 'Henley' - I shouldn't need an SVA test, but will probably be given an age-related plate instead of keeping the Sierra's original one.)

Hi Mel. That's good news! Does that mean you managed to keep its 'historic', tax-free status too?

If so, I wonder if it's because they've tightened up the rules since then, or maybe you just dealt with a more sympathetic individual?

There's hope for Hugo!

Im hoping so Donnie, the car is stored at my mothers, hope to repaint and trim it for the summer.
Nothing on document.
Just as stated.
NG TC V8
First registered 1970

That sounds promising, Mel.

I suspect it's only when DVLA get actively involved (eg: when re-registering incorrect V5s) that they pick up on - and get bolshie about - details such as 'Historic' status.

It's a very welcome bonus (especially as these earlier engines tend to have the highest (most polluting) tax rates!

Good luck!