Locost on eBay - Registration nightmare?

Locost on eBay - Registration nightmare?

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Discussion

sleeky

Original Poster:

112 posts

116 months

Wednesday 30th December 2020
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Hi all,

There is a Locost for sale on eBay at the moment (its yellow and silver if you do a search, only a few for sale) which I was initially interested in however the more I dig into it the worse things seem to get!

What I've discovered so-far:
Advertised as being MOT & Tax exempt due to its age (as far as i'm aware this isn't the case for kit-cars?)
Seller claims it is listed as an MG Midget on the V5 and as the car was 'built before SVA' that this is fine (i know it isn't)
DVLA Vehicle Enquiry has it listed as a 1972 MGB (not Midget), with a 1100cc engine and 'multi-coloured'
Digital MOT records only have a single entry for 2017 (the same year as the last owner change, and just before the MOT exemption rules came in)

As always with these things your mind starts to wander as you try and build a picture of what has happened. I'm thinking the following:
Seller buys unfinished/unregistered Locost with 1100cc A-Series
Seller also 'acquires' ID for a 1972 MGB to affix to vehicle (probably from a vehicle scrapped years ago based on the lack of MOT history)
Engine Size & Colour are updated with DVLA
MOT carried out in 2017 with the new ID
No future MOTs required as a 1972 MGB qualifies for MOT exemption (as well as Tax)

Anyway, i've decided its a no especially as the price keeps going up (if it stayed very cheap it might have been worth a punt). The vehicle would need an IVA test and most likely a Q plate as you couldn't even use the V5 as evidence for the engine/gearbox as there not from a Midget. Also just on quick inspection there's a whole list of changes that would be needed to pass the IVA and no doubt many more (steering wheel, heater, headrests, seatbelts, front wheels extend beyond arches, warning lights, side repeaters etc.)

It does surprise me how there are still cars registered like this out there, I found a similar Robin Hood the other day that was still down as a Cortina. Buyer beware as they say!

Furyblade_Lee

4,107 posts

223 months

Friday 1st January 2021
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Ring up a specialist kit car insurance company to see if they will insure it as a Midget on the V5. I think your journey with this particular car will end right there.....

dhutch

14,198 posts

196 months

Saturday 2nd January 2021
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Messy. I would give that a seriously wide berth.

sleeky

Original Poster:

112 posts

116 months

Saturday 2nd January 2021
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oh don't worry I have no intent on bidding now - hasn't stopped plenty of other people though!

LLantrisant

995 posts

158 months

Monday 4th January 2021
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sleeky said:
........

It does surprise me how there are still cars registered like this out there, I found a similar Robin Hood the other day that was still down as a Cortina. Buyer beware as they say!
excatly the same question i would aks as well.

are the authorities blind? or the MOT Stations...how such cars get mot-ed?


Fastpedeller

3,848 posts

145 months

Wednesday 6th January 2021
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A neighbour had a Westfield 11 which was still registered as a AH Sprite. He 'sold' it to someone who then (wisely I suspect) backed out of the deal. Another person eventually bought it. My neighbour said it was known to DVLA, who had (before SVA) checked the numbers, yet still retained the original registration plate and make/model, and that he had DVLA correspondence. I have no reason to disbelieve him as I haven't seen evidence either way except for the sprite badge on the front, which prompted me to ask. I wouldn't have bought it (but then I am very cautious).

sleeky

Original Poster:

112 posts

116 months

Thursday 7th January 2021
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Went for £3,100 in the end. Now got my eye on a few other cars so will see where they end up. These ones are properly registered for a start!