New MEV Exocet Kit car
Discussion
I believ it may be possible to avoid the test by MOTing your Exocet as a re-bodieed MX5. Un-modified chassis, all the power train steering brakes etc, why would it need an IVA test. That said it may not be the right way to go in the eyes of the law but a fair arguement could be made I feel. 
Looks loads better in those colours Stig.
I'll admit to not being fully up to speed with the IVA regs but I'd have thought it was more of a chassis swap than a body swap. I know you're keeping the front and rear subframes and the centre section thingy but are you not throwing away the bit with the original chassis number? If so I'd have thought that would mean you now need a new chassis number for the Exocet chassis and that would probably mean an IVA wouldn't it.
I wonder what the insurance implications are (cost wise) of a re-bodied MX-5 over a kit car seeing as kit car insurance is generally relatively cheap. Where's that Adrian Flux bod when you need them?
I'll admit to not being fully up to speed with the IVA regs but I'd have thought it was more of a chassis swap than a body swap. I know you're keeping the front and rear subframes and the centre section thingy but are you not throwing away the bit with the original chassis number? If so I'd have thought that would mean you now need a new chassis number for the Exocet chassis and that would probably mean an IVA wouldn't it.
I wonder what the insurance implications are (cost wise) of a re-bodied MX-5 over a kit car seeing as kit car insurance is generally relatively cheap. Where's that Adrian Flux bod when you need them?
Edited by Kev M on Thursday 29th July 14:15
Yes looks loads better in the single colour. Still think I would go for black with silver stripe. Suprising how those lights change the character of the front end. More in proportion, but less aggressive- my prefernce is probably somewhere inbetween the two but that is a minor detail.
i also have no idea on IVA but surely where the number is written has no bearing? If I understand the build guide, only the body is removed, to leave a rolling chassis. I guess we will find out eventually- would surely be another useful marketing point if it doesn't.
Stuart i hope you are on to a big winner here. Everything seems to tick the right box- price, ease of build, donor choice- particularly the concept that it doent need that much alteration to improve what is pretty good in the first place. There must be plenty of 5 owners like myself who love their car but realise that the 18 year old body isnt going to get any better!
i also have no idea on IVA but surely where the number is written has no bearing? If I understand the build guide, only the body is removed, to leave a rolling chassis. I guess we will find out eventually- would surely be another useful marketing point if it doesn't.
Stuart i hope you are on to a big winner here. Everything seems to tick the right box- price, ease of build, donor choice- particularly the concept that it doent need that much alteration to improve what is pretty good in the first place. There must be plenty of 5 owners like myself who love their car but realise that the 18 year old body isnt going to get any better!
i like the colours, it looks good.
As for IVA, its not really a body swap as the MX5 is a monocoque, it doesnt have a detachable bodyshell. The suspension components are just being bolted to another chassis ( i wouldnt have thought a subframe counts as chassis). If you crashed your mx5 and bought another car and swapped all the running gear from the crashed car and fitted it to the new car, you wouldnt be able to (legally) put the crashed cars reg number and vin plate on the new car IMO.
Stig, would it not be a good idea to bottom this out with DVLA / VOSA so customers know where they stand?
As for IVA, its not really a body swap as the MX5 is a monocoque, it doesnt have a detachable bodyshell. The suspension components are just being bolted to another chassis ( i wouldnt have thought a subframe counts as chassis). If you crashed your mx5 and bought another car and swapped all the running gear from the crashed car and fitted it to the new car, you wouldnt be able to (legally) put the crashed cars reg number and vin plate on the new car IMO.
Stig, would it not be a good idea to bottom this out with DVLA / VOSA so customers know where they stand?
antnicuk said:
If you crashed your mx5 and bought another car and swapped all the running gear from the crashed car and fitted it to the new car, you wouldnt be able to (legally) put the crashed cars reg number and vin plate on the new car IMO.
Not sure I agree, type approved components going into a type approved body, and no changes being made. This is assuming that the new bodyshell was a spare part. If it was a question of obtaining another car of the same model (B), then removing all the existing components and replacing them with those from the crashed car would be somewhat bizzare, but as I see it, the identity would then be of car (B) and DVLA informed of the new engine number.The Exocet, of course, is not a type approved body and may well (I don't know either way) need and IVA test
Edited by singlecoil on Thursday 29th July 18:24
thats what i said, you would keep the identity of the new car not swap the identity from the crashed car on to it. So your new car would have all the running gear from the crashed one if say for instance it had lots of performance parts and you wanted to put them on the new car. In the case of the Exocet, this would be the equivalent of B but doesnt have a registration to use.
covmutley said:
i also have no idea on IVA but surely where the number is written has no bearing? If I understand the build guide, only the body is removed, to leave a rolling chassis. I guess we will find out eventually- would surely be another useful marketing point if it doesn't.
Perhaps we have different interpretations of what a body is. My understanding from the diagrams posted is that the "body" you're removing holds the front and rear subframes together and accepts the majority of the load while the bit that remains between the two subframes isn't really a chassis in itself but a some extra reinforcement to reduce torsional forces. My point about the chassis numbers is that if you think about the places these are usually stamped then aren't all of these parts being removed and are unused on the Exocet?
I'm surprised the actual method of getting the Exocet road registered hasn't been verified before releasing the kit for sale.
Stig, you obviously know far more about IVA than I do. If the Exocet has to go through IVA in the form you've presented it do you think there would be any trouble (ignoring builder competencies and such) or do you think it would meet the criteria and sail through providing it has been carefully built?
I can confidently assure builders that the Exocet has been designed to pass the BIVA test with ease provided it is built correctly. If a builder mounts his lights in the wrong place it may well fail. The common BIVA fail points such as lack of self centre steering, brake balance, brake efficiency, emmisions, noise, seat belt mounts, protective steering wheel etc are all no problem with the Exocet. This is due to the car retaining those relative components. I would have to say that to be sure it is 100% legal the car should be put through the test. The inspectors will ensure you have built it well and may find errors that you will need to rectify to ensure it is safe. That said no doubt some will be running around with the MX5 plate on but they will have to be satisfied with their own ability without it being checked apart from an MOT. They will also have to be confident that if an accident occurs or a police check is carried out that the PPF is a chassis. Maybe a high court judge will have to decide that one. Best be safe than sorry.
So it does need a test then!!!!! what about the VIN number as this would need to be a new one does the new kit come with one? as you cant move numbers this is ringing and not legal, if you had a crash bet you would not get paid out. I am thinking about building this kit as done a few westfields and i think you could sell this kit easy and make a few quid but MEV need to sort this out with VOSA before anyone gets nicked.
madhubbs1 said:
So it does need a test then!!!!!
I don't htink it's quite a simple as that. Whether or not it needs a test is a matter for of regulations and their interpretation. It's all very much a grey area and as Stig says, maybe we will need some case law before we get into a more black and white situation.I think anyone building one would be well advised to got to the extra trouble and expense of getting it properly tested and correctly registered, it will certainly improve its resale value as well as the other advantage he points out.
Sorry for the delay, only just recovered from a fantastic weekend, the 1st MOG track day, please see pics here.
http://www.mevowners.proboards.com/index.cgi?board...
I was delighted with how Exocet handled. She was begging for more.
As a coincidence one of the Exocet's on order is with an extra tube on the roll bar with 4 inserts to take a harness. We just charge £100 extra.
http://www.mevowners.proboards.com/index.cgi?board...
I was delighted with how Exocet handled. She was begging for more.
As a coincidence one of the Exocet's on order is with an extra tube on the roll bar with 4 inserts to take a harness. We just charge £100 extra.
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