DVLA registration of Built Up car from South Africa

[Chevyrider]

I am about to purchase a 1936 Chevrolet in South Africa and ship it over to the UK. The car is being bought through a dealer and it was in a private collection for many years ( 25 years ) and therefore there is no record of it being registered . The dealer bought it from the collector's estate and has over the last six months, got the vehicle a new vehicle identity number which is now engraved onto the chassis and data dotted as required in South Africa by the police .
They have now sent the paperwork to the Traffic Registration department to get a registration certificate but I'm told that it's likely to come back with the terms Built Up, which I understand could be a problem in getting it registered in the UK.

Is there any way I can get the vehicle validated in the UK that it is a true original Chev and not built up using spares ?.
Does the DVLA have inspectors that can carry out an inspection before registering?
Can I provide photographic proof of other 1936 Chevs to show the similarity etc ?
Thanks

[Auto810graphy]

Sadly it sounds like you are going to end up on a Q plate due to unknown age and origins. If you could prove the original chassis and build it might be a different story.

[D_G]

There's not a bargepole big enough for that.

[Chevyrider]

With a Q plate are you allowed to transfer to a personal plate on the car and will it affect the insurance premium having a Q plate ?

[t400ble]

No provate plate can be assigned

[vx220]

Get the dealer to register it. That way you have no doubts. Maybe put a deposit down?

[Chevyrider]

I think you right in SA the term Built-Up means from a knockdown version - Sounds like I will need some good evidence to present to DVLA to persuade them that this car is built from parts Cheers

[aeropilot]

Chevyrider said:

I think you right in SA the term Built-Up means from a knockdown version - Sounds like I will need some good evidence to present to DVLA to persuade them that this car is built from parts Cheers

It also means a car built up similar to our DVLA 're-constructed classic' terms.

You need to search on PH for this, as this has been discussed before about an import from SA which was classified as Built-Up.....there was a thread about 2-3 years ago by a guy that had imported a relatives Triumph.
Its becoming quite common as more people look to SA to import classics, and from my understanding of how its gone, the DVLA won't budge if its classed as Built-Up on SA registration docs, and it will not get an age related plate in the UK.

[Old Merc]

Chevyrider not sure if this helps? Have a word with these guys, http://www.autosportif.co.uk/html/contact.html they have had lots of experience with old Chevrolets.
They built a 1938 Chevrolet Fangio Coupe for my mate to use in the Peking to Paris Rally. He got parts from all over the world,its classed as a replica and its got a UK reg`.

[Chevyrider]

Old Merc Thanks for the link I certainly will look will have a look at it

[Chevyrider]

Aeropilot - it all seems doomed but will look into it deeper , just in case there is a solution

[anonymous-user]

Chevyrider said:

The car is being bought through a dealer

Port Elizabeth by any chance? I had some dealings with him quite a few years ago on a 30's Willys Coupe that thankfully didn't happen in the end. It later came up for resale in the Netherlands after some poor chap figured out what he'd bought....

It really isn't worth throwing good money at a car with basic registration issues - especially from SA. Put the money back in your pocket and run like hell.

Regards Andy

[aeropilot]

Andy-IM said:

It really isn't worth throwing good money at a car with basic registration issues - especially from SA. Put the money back in your pocket and run like hell.

^^^^This.

[Chevyrider]

I am buying through a dealer in Knysna not far from Port Elizabeth. Thanks for your advice from experience