Obtain and Age Related Plate for project

[mittaw]

Hi - we are looking at a donor vehicle for a kit car of our own design. I note on the Government's website that we can apply for an age related plate if we can prove that we have used 2 original major parts along with:

1. a new monocoque bodyshell, chassis or frame from a specialist kit manufacturer
2. an altered chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame from the original vehicle[/li][/list]

We are intending on using a donor vehicle chassis (slightly altered) so pass on the second point, and we are planning on using as few major components of the donor car as possible, but will do what we need to comply. If necessary the gearbox and suspension (will this suffice). However on the first point we will be producing the bodyshell ourselves out of carbon fibre using specialist equipment. Now we are not a specialist kit manufacturer ourselves but will be able to produce high quality body sections akin to a kit. Therefore does anyone have any advice from going through this process on what is the minimum major parts can comprise and any thoughts on addressing the specialist kit manufacturer issue? If necessary we will set up a business to legitimise the design etc ...if that will suffice.....

For context, we are looking to obtain a donor chassis and eventually replace the suspension, gearbox and engine and provide a new carbon fibre body shell over the basic chassis/frame of the existing vehicle. If however, the frame doesn't fit we may have to strip it back to the basic chassis and build a tub/frame for it. Obviously we will cut our cloth to suit what we need to get the age related plate in the first instance.

Thanks for any thoughts and experiences - we want to make sure that when buying the donor vehicle we buy enough....but not too much of the stuff we don't want.

[CC Cyclone]

I fear you might struggle with this. Very few production cars have a chassis anymore, and are all generally monocoque construction. Cutting up one if those to use as a donor will not be easy or straight forward or provide you with what you want.

I would forget the donor route and don't worry about age related plates. Start off building the car you want and if you intend to replace all the things as you say, then register it as a new car, it will need to go through IVA whatever happens.

If you don't want to get into manufacturing your own chassis, you could buy something suitable from an existing manufacturer and build your body over it. An aeon gt is mid engined and sounds along the dimensions you are looking at - maybe build a rolling chassis with refurbed donor engine, stick your body on, keep all your receipts and post IVA get a new number plate.

[peterw]

Could be worth getting in touch with the DVLA as they do / did all the build up inspections to decide which plate you get and find out their point system for doing it, However now that they have shut all their regional offices it could well be VOSA at Avonmouth that do it now. Thinking about it try an email to VOSA and explain what you are trying to do, I've always found them very helpfull.

[mittaw]

Thanks for the replies. It was a bit easier 20 years ago to pick up a donar vehicle to drop a shell on.  Everytime we find anything decent now it's been broken and hacked to pieces.  We weren't looking to cut or teeth on a complete build with our first main project and were looking for this as an opportunity to get the bodywork process underway with new panels.  However hearing what you say I think we may have to look at a bespoke chassis design or buy in one which will add cost and time to the project. Although in the long run it looks the sensible thing to do.  I'll also look up into the requirements a bit more for new cars. 

Cheers as ever chaps

[Bulldog Bri]

For an age related plate, they work on a points system.
1 point for every original part from one doner & 5 points for a new or original chassis from doner. I was given a 'Q' Prefix as I couldn't find the receipts for the steal I used to build the chassis. (since which I have found) but not worried about the 'Q' anyway

[mittaw]

Cheers Bri. We have decided to ditch the donor route now having looked some more.  I looked up the scoring you mentioned.  I don't think we will score enough for what we want to do.

Given we're building a replica we're going to build the car from the body and then build a chassis bespoke to fit.  We know the first body we build will need lots of modifications so we're going to get that right and then build a chassis to fit the final body shape.

Thanks for the tip on the receipts.  We're trying to avoid a Q because it's a replica.

We'll post some WIP as we go if anyone is interested

[Bulldog Bri]

Yeah. Its the chassis that's the biggy, prove that's new or already registered then your pretty much there for age related. I think it only a score of 8 you need, if memory still works.