4.5 vehicle - 4.2 on HPI check - Advise pls

[TICKER]

Guys,

having checked out what seemed a nice vehicle , the HPI came up as a 4.2, when it is badged and being sold as a 4.5. The guy selling was totally up front and stated that this was an oversight on the logbook by TVR on mass production and it was a commmon issue on some of the 4.5 produced. It was inspected by Rob Ingelby before he purchased it.

Anybody shed any light on this or am I being spun a yarn?

Dave

[gazzab]

This is not unusual for TVRs.
If the engine is a 4.5 (purple trumpets), it the brakes are 4.5 (big disks and AP calipers) etc then this is what tells you it is a 4.5

[jensena]

I'd think Its more likely to be a mistake at the DVLA end, I can't really see someone trying to sell off a 4.2 as a 4.5, although it is possible that it may have had an engine transplant. If you've seen the car does it have a 4.5 engine? What does the original owners manual say it is?
If you don't know how to tell the difffernce between the 4.2 and 4.5, then Id advise you do a bit of research into Cerb's, you really need to know about the cars befeore jumping in and buying one. I don't mean that too sound patronising, but I don't know what your level of knowledge is, you may know more than me, so for the purpose of replying to your post, I'm just assuming it's not a lot, and offerning some friendly advice !

[trackcar]

A lot were down as 4.2 on the log books, and the confusion extends because the engine numbers start 4200 not 4500.

[SprintV8]

this was an oversight

Then why didn't the owner send the logbook V5 back to DVLA to change it?.
How long has he owned it for?.

Could someone post the diferent's between the two.

[TICKER]

Thanks for the info,

It did have purple trumpets and obviously a 4.5 engine, I was questioning whether or not what the guy was telling me was correct about the paperwork, and where better than a Cerb forum. U hear so many nightmares about these sort of things, I just want to get it right.

Thanks again for your advise.

Dave

[SprintV8]

Do the number's match what's on the log book V5

[Caduceus]

Was this car from the classifieds on PH?

[ridds]

Really wouldn't worry. Mine's down as a 4.2 and it is and has been a 4.5 all it's life.

DVLA balls up I'm afraid.

[TICKER]

Yes,it was on classifieds, it was the red one uo for £18500 from Essex area.

Dave

[purpleheadedcerb]

Just for the sake of getting this right.

We know the TG that Clarkson tested was a 4.2 and that had purple trumpets.
My car is a 4.2 and has AP callipers (I thought they all had?)

I heard a story the other day of a 4.5 car that hadn't been running particularly well. The reason being, it had been running on a 4.2 ecu.

I'm suprised that people haven't rectified the error with dvla. It can't be that hard to obtain proof and present it to them.

Scott

[ridds]

It's not hard but it costs money and there's ever the chance that your V5 will come back with another owner on it (heard of this happening a lot recently).

[purpleheadedcerb]

Unless its a one owner car then it doesn't really make much difference (IMO). IT would also show the previous keeper as being you. Any buyer would understand what had happened.

How much does it cost roughly?

[ridds]

All info here

Potential for a nightmare with the DVLA with inspections, changes in tax bands etc.

A frind of mine tried to change the details on a Honda Civic from a 1.5 to a 1.8 VTEC, DVLA would change the engine number but not the capacity due to it meaning a change of tax banding and needing a receipt for the work etc etc etc.

Unsure of cost but though it was the usual £19 for any changes to the V5 eg address or other info.

It really is a whole world of agro from my experience.

[budaholic]

ridds said:

Really wouldn't worry. Mine's down as a 4.2 and it is and has been a 4.5 all it's life. DVLA balls up I'm afraid.

Same with mine...... I was concerned too when I bought mine. TVR told me it was something to do with obtaining type approval for the 4.5. Consequently, some of the earlier 4.5s left the factory with a 4.2 engine number.

Or something along those lines anyway. I was gonna change my details with the DVLA, but I've never got round to it.

Bud

[lake]

May I suggest that if you want to know what is really going on with this car, just ring the factory and ask them. They are normally quite helpful in this respect.

Hope this helps

Lake

[bluebeast]

When I purchased my 4.5 the v5 showed 4.2.
I also had a 4.2 hand book. Took a while for
a 4.5 book to be done, so early 4.5 cars had 4.2 book's.
One phone call to the factory confirmed car was a 4.5
they sent me a letter confirming the error which I sent off
with the v5. All correct now and no charge for the change.

[SI-PEN]

When I bought mine I checked all the details and found the log book saying 4185cc but engine number 4500794 although TVR's chassis plate on the car says 4200794!

The car was being sold as a 1998 4.5 and looked correct in all the right places, purple pipes, 220mph speedo, correct 4.5 original hand book matching the car etc.

To be safe I rang the Blackpool factory and they confirmed it left the factory as a 4.5 and was probably due to a mistake at DVLA or the dealer!?? I think it was all to do with type approval they didn't have at that time for the 4.5 so registered some as 4185cc.

Left all my details "as is" on the log book as changing them register on HPI and then looks really iffy!!

[Wiggyfella]

To save any confusion, you could make it a lot simpler, and just go out and get a Speed Six ;-)

[gazzab]

Wiggyfella said:

To save any confusion, you could make it a lot simpler, and just go out and get a Speed Six ;-)

4ltr or 3.6?