Kit car registration clarity - kit built radically altered

[TonyMezz]

Hi All

Don't worry - i'm here for along time, not just a good time

I've recently purchased my 1st kit car (as an adult) quite cheaply via ebay - without logbook. As usual the seller bought it from someone who couldn't find V5 etc.

So he was unable to tell me whether it was correctly registered prior to my collection (it was in his lock up & couldnt remember the correct reg - I took a gamble!)

Anyway It came with a good folder of receipts and a photo diary of a comprehensive build circa 2002/3. Its pretty much a Rover 100/Metro with external panels cut off & the Banham fibreglass kit bonded to frame - roof cut to make it a convertible.

However the V5 turned up this week & is still registered as Rover 100.
After looking online to see how awkward/difficult it'll be to register as a Banham I cannot find any dedicated club or forum?
Or which route is correct/easiest via the gov.uk website ie
• is it a kit car
• or radically altered as its now a convertible
• will it need SVA
etc

It has used all components from 'donor' vehicle incl engine/gearbox, drive train, suspension, brakes etc but I suppose my biggest question is "has the shell been dramatically altered by cutting the roof off?"

Without trawling through 1000's of posts/threads has anyone recently gone through this process and therefore could offer any guidance?

Yours hopefully

Tony :-D

[smokey mow]

As the monocoque has been modified by cutting the roof of you’re going to need an IVA.

[TonyMezz]

Thanks for your quick reaction - that was my thinking after reading through gov.uk blurb.

Was hoping there might be a loophole as it was converted 20yrs ago!

[TonyMezz]

Having started to read throught gov.uk's IVA guidance it states the IVA does not apply to passenger vehicles of upto 8 seats that are over 10yrs old at time of application!?

I'm now a little confused whether its required or not and which application form to use?

[Equus]

A Banham is going to be worth little if anything more than it would cost to put it through IVA (the test fee alone is £450, and that's before you start with any modifications or a retest), so personally I'd continue to run and MOT it on the current V5 unless/until DVLA catch up with you, then if they do, scrap it.

You may be aware that a ruling by VOSA/DVLA in 2004 that the Banham conversions definitely did need an SVA (previously the situation had been inconsistent, with some DVLA officers were demanding SVA and some allowing the cars as 'bodyshell conversions') was the reason that Banham ceased production. It may be that your car was one of the ones that slipped through the net as a 'bodyshell conversion' and so was 'legitimate' at the time - not sure if DVLA should have changed the description on the V5 in any way, if that was the case.

IVA is considerably stricter than SVA, so if the cars manufacturer couldn't manage SVA compliance, you can expect real difficulties with the IVA test.

[batbuilder92]

I ran my Banham BAT for several years as a rover metro coupe. I wrote tot he DVLA stating I had changed the colour and body style, they sent me back an updated V5. It is not the official correct way of doing it, but I insured it, taxed it and MOT'd it with this designation until I sold it in 2012. The MOT system has been updated since then and hence I cannot be sure if this would still apply.

[TonyMezz]

batbuilder92 said:

I ran my Banham BAT for several years as a rover metro coupe. I wrote tot he DVLA stating I had changed the colour and body style, they sent me back an updated V5. It is not the official correct way of doing it, but I insured it, taxed it and MOT'd it with this designation until I sold it in 2012. The MOT system has been updated since then and hence I cannot be sure if this would still apply.

I have done similar things in the 90's and early 2000's but pretty sure its much harder now - but may try this approach.

[TonyMezz]

Equus said:

A Banham is going to be worth little if anything more than it would cost to put it through IVA (the test fee alone is £450, and that's before you start with any modifications or a retest), so personally I'd continue to run and MOT it on the current V5 unless/until DVLA catch up with you, then if they do, scrap it.

You may be aware that a ruling by VOSA/DVLA in 2004 that the Banham conversions definitely did need an SVA (previously the situation had been inconsistent, with some DVLA officers were demanding SVA and some allowing the cars as 'bodyshell conversions') was the reason that Banham ceased production. It may be that your car was one of the ones that slipped through the net as a 'bodyshell conversion' and so was 'legitimate' at the time - not sure if DVLA should have changed the description on the V5 in any way, if that was the case.

IVA is considerably stricter than SVA, so if the cars manufacturer couldn't manage SVA compliance, you can expect real difficulties with the IVA test.

I only bought this as a project & something to get my hands dirty on.
So the costs aren't really an issue, til a point.

Thanks for the info - I'll have to decide which route to take.

[Fastdruid]

TonyMezz said:

Having started to read throught gov.uk's IVA guidance it states the IVA does not apply to passenger vehicles of upto 8 seats that are over 10yrs old at time of application!?

Bit late but that's for imports not modified or amateur built vehicles.