Re shelling illegal?

[Golfgtimk28v]

I've been looking at getting an older car (guess), but issue is they are very rusty. Now I've seen a place with decent old shells, could you legally buy a rotter and transfer to new shell whilst upgrading in the process?

I guess it would be illegal, shame really though just checking.

[chrisch77]

The shell carries the vehicle identity, so if you can get the relevant ID paperwork with an old useable shell then thanks the vehicle you would end up with. Transferring the ID (I.e. VIN) from a rusty shell to a good shell would be called Ringing, and yes, illegal.

[Golfgtimk28v]

chrisch77 said:

The shell carries the vehicle identity, so if you can get the relevant ID paperwork with an old useable shell then thanks the vehicle you would end up with. Transferring the ID (I.e. VIN) from a rusty shell to a good shell would be called Ringing, and yes, illegal.

new shells are unvin plated, o.k thought so.

[sherbertdip]

Isn't that exactly what this company do? https://www.cchl.co.uk/vehicle/2/mgb-v8.html

[CanAm]

sherbertdip said:

Isn't that exactly what this company do? https://www.cchl.co.uk/vehicle/2/mgb-v8.html

Yes, a brand-new shell to original spec, legally retaining the old vehicle’s reg and ID.

[Muzzer79]

chrisch77 said:

The shell carries the vehicle identity, so if you can get the relevant ID paperwork with an old useable shell then thanks the vehicle you would end up with. Transferring the ID (I.e. VIN) from a rusty shell to a good shell would be called Ringing, and yes, illegal.

I don’t think that’s correct, otherwise classic cars and heavily damaged cars wouldn’t be able to be re-shelled.

Transferring the ID (VIN) from a stolen shell to a good shell is called ringing and is illegal.

[bimsb6]

Muzzer79 said:

chrisch77 said:

The shell carries the vehicle identity, so if you can get the relevant ID paperwork with an old useable shell then thanks the vehicle you would end up with. Transferring the ID (I.e. VIN) from a rusty shell to a good shell would be called Ringing, and yes, illegal.

I don’t think that’s correct, otherwise classic cars and heavily damaged cars wouldn’t be able to be re-shelled.

Transferring the ID (VIN) from a stolen shell to a good shell is called ringing and is illegal.

Why would you need to change the vin ? If the good shell has an identity use that !

[gazza285]

Muzzer79 said:

chrisch77 said:

The shell carries the vehicle identity, so if you can get the relevant ID paperwork with an old useable shell then thanks the vehicle you would end up with. Transferring the ID (I.e. VIN) from a rusty shell to a good shell would be called Ringing, and yes, illegal.

I don’t think that’s correct, otherwise classic cars and heavily damaged cars wouldn’t be able to be re-shelled.

Transferring the ID (VIN) from a stolen shell to a good shell is called ringing and is illegal.

You can reshell a classic using a new shell, what you cannot do is reshell using a used shell.

[Golfgtimk28v]

gazza285 said:

You can reshell a classic using a new shell, what you cannot do is reshell using a used shell.

Does the shell have to produced by original manufacturer?

[gareth_r]

To be strictly accurate...

If the replacement shell has a V5, then you use that registration mark.

If the replacement (secondhand) shell does not have a V5, you could do it legally, but not with the original registration.
- it would be classified as a "rebuilt vehicle"
- it would need a Basic Individual Vehicle Approval test
- the DVLA would issue a new VIN and a new "Q" registration mark

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/rebuilt-ve...
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/individual-veh...

You would need a brand new shell in order to keep the original registration (see many MGBs, Minis, etc.).
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-...

[ChevronB19]

Golfgtimk28v said:

gazza285 said:

You can reshell a classic using a new shell, what you cannot do is reshell using a used shell.

Does the shell have to produced by original manufacturer?

No.

[bimsb6]

gareth_r said:

To be strictly accurate...

If the replacement shell has a V5, then you use that registration mark.

If the replacement (secondhand) shell does not have a V5, you could do it legally, but not with the original registration.
- it would be classified as a "rebuilt vehicle"
- it would need a Basic Individual Vehicle Approval test
- the DVLA would issue a new VIN and a new "Q" registration mark

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/rebuilt-ve...
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/individual-veh...

You would need a brand new shell in order to keep the original registration (see many MGBs, Minis, etc.).
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/radically-...

Do they issue q plates any more ? I’ve not seen one for years .

[gareth_r]

bimsb6 said:

Do they issue q plates any more ? I’ve not seen one for years .

Get a Q registration number
DVLA will give your vehicle a ‘Q’ prefix registration number if you do not meet the conditions for keeping the original registration number.
Your vehicle must pass the relevant type approval test to get a Q registration number.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/rebuilt-ve...

[OutInTheShed]

bimsb6 said:

Muzzer79 said:

chrisch77 said:

The shell carries the vehicle identity, so if you can get the relevant ID paperwork with an old useable shell then thanks the vehicle you would end up with. Transferring the ID (I.e. VIN) from a rusty shell to a good shell would be called Ringing, and yes, illegal.

I don’t think that’s correct, otherwise classic cars and heavily damaged cars wouldn’t be able to be re-shelled.

Transferring the ID (VIN) from a stolen shell to a good shell is called ringing and is illegal.

Why would you need to change the vin ? If the good shell has an identity use that !

Surely ringing is normally using the 'good identity' from a crashed or knackered car, on the 'good structure' of a stolen car or other car with a bad identity?

[anonymous-user]

If you’re using a good shell then you need to use that shells identity, as your effectively putting a new engine in that shell so you need to update that V5 with the engine number from the shell your no longer using and scrap that shell.

Legally you need to use a new shell or chassis if you want to retain the original identity and have the old shell out chassis disposed of.

If you’re rechassising a ladder on frame vehicle like a landrover you can re-use the body but you must use a new chassis as the body isn’t the structure like on a monoquce eg a mini.

There’s a bit of a grey area when it becomes a bitsa, if you end up reusing too many panels and parts on a monaquce you may end up on q plate as recycled vehicle

[Hol]

Golfgtimk28v said:

gazza285 said:

You can reshell a classic using a new shell, what you cannot do is reshell using a used shell.

Does the shell have to produced by original manufacturer?

It has to be approved by the ‘manufacturer’,

Which is why you can legally do it for an MG or Mini.

[Hol]

OutInTheShed said:

bimsb6 said:

Muzzer79 said:

chrisch77 said:

The shell carries the vehicle identity, so if you can get the relevant ID paperwork with an old useable shell then thanks the vehicle you would end up with. Transferring the ID (I.e. VIN) from a rusty shell to a good shell would be called Ringing, and yes, illegal.

I don’t think that’s correct, otherwise classic cars and heavily damaged cars wouldn’t be able to be re-shelled.

Transferring the ID (VIN) from a stolen shell to a good shell is called ringing and is illegal.

Why would you need to change the vin ? If the good shell has an identity use that !

Surely ringing is normally using the 'good identity' from a crashed or knackered car, on the 'good structure' of a stolen car or other car with a bad identity?

Ringling simply refers to disguising the origins or identity of a shell.

It doesn’t have to only be a stolen shell, to apply.

[Jaaack]

The fact that the 'new' shells have no VIN is definitely an alarm bell - where did they come from? If they're used then there's no legit reason for the VINs being removed.

If you can get a tidy shell with legit and non-tampered with VIN plates etc, buy one of those (with V5 obviously) and transfer the rotten car into it, then just MOT and tax like normal. Take plenty of photos in case the new shell has been off the road for a long time and it raises questions at MOT/tax time (can't see why it would, but cover yourself)

What cars are they, out of interest?

[gazza285]

Jaaack said:

What cars are they, out of interest?

I'd guess it's a Mk2 Golf GTi the OP is interested in.

[Rushjob]

Jaaack said:

The fact that the 'new' shells have no VIN is definitely an alarm bell - where did they come from? If they're used then there's no legit reason for the VINs being removed.

They don't have a VIN because they are new from the factory to original specification and are yet to be stamped with one.

A bit like a brand new galvanised chassis for a Landrover.

The VIN hasn't been removed due to the simple fact that as a new shell/chassis , it's never had one assigned to it!

Totally legit.