Discussion
Spurred on by the Postman Pat van that is now the smallest car in the world (see link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8041425.stm), I was wondering what is actually involved in turning something into a road legal vehicle.
A tiny little vehicle like this would be perfect advertising space for a business idea I have, and so I am keen to find out some more info.
I was thinking of basing the project on a mini-moto quad such as the one here:
http://www.funbikes.co.uk/p-funbike_49cc_quadard_m...
It is tiny, but very cool and perfectly suited to whizzing around the local towns and cities when finished. Obviously this thing is not road legal at the moment so, in simple terms ie a list, what would I need to do? I would like to put a body shell over the top to turn it into a more conventionally shaped vehicle, rather than a quad.
So far, I have thought of:
Lights (full, dips, sides, indicators, brake, tail, reverse)
If I was to put a body shell on it, like the postman pat van, would it need any form of seatbelt?
Road legal tyres
Number plates
Horn
Keys or some sort of method of immobilising it
I guess its open floor time for what is probably a rather stupid idea!
TIA!!
A tiny little vehicle like this would be perfect advertising space for a business idea I have, and so I am keen to find out some more info.
I was thinking of basing the project on a mini-moto quad such as the one here:
http://www.funbikes.co.uk/p-funbike_49cc_quadard_m...
It is tiny, but very cool and perfectly suited to whizzing around the local towns and cities when finished. Obviously this thing is not road legal at the moment so, in simple terms ie a list, what would I need to do? I would like to put a body shell over the top to turn it into a more conventionally shaped vehicle, rather than a quad.
So far, I have thought of:
Lights (full, dips, sides, indicators, brake, tail, reverse)
If I was to put a body shell on it, like the postman pat van, would it need any form of seatbelt?
Road legal tyres
Number plates
Horn
Keys or some sort of method of immobilising it
I guess its open floor time for what is probably a rather stupid idea!
TIA!!
The car you refer to is indeed very small, but it is not road legal. It hasn't been SVA'd ( I know it hasn't because it wouldn't pass). It does need an SVA (actually now IVA) because it is suibstantially modified. Nor does it comply with the Construction and Use regulations, one of which requires the bottom of the headlights to be 500mm from the ground. As the whole vehicle is only 1000mm tall a glance at the front will show that this regulation (and I daresay many others) is not complied with.
I understand it is still registered as the quad it is based on.
Clever engineering, but if the point is that it is road legal, then it's a FAIL.
I understand it is still registered as the quad it is based on.
Clever engineering, but if the point is that it is road legal, then it's a FAIL.
singlecoil said:
The car you refer to is indeed very small, but it is not road legal. It hasn't been SVA'd ( I know it hasn't because it wouldn't pass). It does need an SVA (actually now IVA) because it is suibstantially modified. Nor does it comply with the Construction and Use regulations, one of which requires the bottom of the headlights to be 500mm from the ground. As the whole vehicle is only 1000mm tall a glance at the front will show that this regulation (and I daresay many others) is not complied with.
I understand it is still registered as the quad it is based on.
Clever engineering, but if the point is that it is road legal, then it's a FAIL.
HiI understand it is still registered as the quad it is based on.
Clever engineering, but if the point is that it is road legal, then it's a FAIL.
Thanks for the info. I realise that this quad isnt road legal in its current setup but what I am trying to work out is what sort of work is going to be involved in converting this to something that would pass the SVA/IVA.
First thing to do is to download the new IVA manual. There's links to it here and there including the MEV website, I'm sure a quick google will find you a copy
The thing that will catch most cars of this type out is the lighting regulations, especially the minimum height of the headlights.
The thing that will catch most cars of this type out is the lighting regulations, especially the minimum height of the headlights.
If it's under 450kgs and under 15kw output then it would be MSVA'd as a "light quadricycle" if thats how they spell it. Tyres would need a speed rating on them to match max speed of vehicle and lights would be one front and rear if below 1300mm wide. Lots of other rules but no belt required.
Go for it, anything is possible.
Go for it, anything is possible.
stig mills said:
If it's under 450kgs and under 15kw output then it would be MSVA'd as a "light quadricycle" if thats how they spell it. Tyres would need a speed rating on them to match max speed of vehicle and lights would be one front and rear if below 1300mm wide. Lots of other rules but no belt required.
Go for it, anything is possible.
That is brilliant! I will plough some thought into this tomorrow, but this has definitely made things more "achievable"!Go for it, anything is possible.
Once it is all registered under MSVA and has its MOT etc, does the car have a make and model? What details do I give to the insurance company etc?
The biggest sticking points to vehicle size under MSVA are headlight / rearlight hieghts. As has been previously mentioned, the lights must be a minimum distance from the ground, and a minimum distance apart.
However, if you read the MSVA spec very carefully, you will see that headlights are not a requirement, so long as you declare that the vehicle is for daytime use only.
However, if you read the MSVA spec very carefully, you will see that headlights are not a requirement, so long as you declare that the vehicle is for daytime use only.
As far as the car in the OP is concerned, for it still to be registered as the vehicle on which it was based it would not have been SVA/IVA tested, as otherwisde it would have an age related plate.
As it has obviously been 'substantially modified' it needs to be tested, so the apparent fact that it hasn't been would mean that it was not road legal.
As it has obviously been 'substantially modified' it needs to be tested, so the apparent fact that it hasn't been would mean that it was not road legal.
Gassing Station | Kit Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff