53 replies to this topic

[TheMiniDream]

To Mods, if in the wrong place please move.

Right, after TMF being down for some time all I've done all day is scowered through other mini and non mini related forums.

I have has no luck in finding the true answer to this question. Is it legal or not, and please I don't want someone to say just do it as possible crush could happen.

If this is illegal there must be away round. As you can replace every part of the car including engine conventions. Would I e able to buy a rolling shell and just kit it out.

Thanks. Sorry for possible spelling.

[RobWill116]

What do you mean by reshelling? Buying a heritage shell? Or getting another shell and transferring the logbook? If so, that is illegal.

[TheMiniDream]

Sorry, does herritage shell getting a mini of an older date. I'm my to sure of the date of the mini but I'm sure it's pretty old

[RobWill116]

Sorry, does herritage shell getting a mini of an older date. I'm my to sure of the date of the mini but I'm sure it's pretty old

 

 

No, a heritage shell is a brand new shell from British Motor Heritage Limited.

 

You cannot use your current v5 with a different aged mini shell, this is illegal.

Edited by RobWill116, 27 April 2013 - 07:31 PM.

[TheMiniDream]

Okay I mean buying a shell similar year with v5 and putting it on my car?

[RobWill116]

By all means you could buy a shell with v5 and transfer the parts off your old shell onto it.

But you cannot by a different shell with a v5 and use the registration and v5 from your current shell, do you get what I mean?

 

If you get a different shell with a different v5, you will have to insure, tax and mot that shell with that v5. Not your old vehicle details and v5, as this is illegal.

[TheMiniDream]

Yeah I think I get you, so say someone is selling a shell with v5 and plates, I have to use the v5 that was sold with the car?

[Simont]

yes

[TheMiniDream]

Sweet

[Dan]

  Technically you have to use the shell and at least 2 major assemblies (I believe front and rear subframes count as 1) from the original car and retain its V5 and identity, and not use huge amounts of second hand and un-reconditioned parts to rebuild the car.

[Cooperman]

Of course, there is, in reality, no way of knowing whether most, some or any of the parts are original when restoring a classic car. That is the frailty and nonsense of this ruling. For example, once the engine plate is removed from an A-series engine there is no way of establishing whether it is the original or not. With a late body-shell, the identity is the number stamped in the lip on the scuttle panel. Now the scuttle on later cars is normally so rusty that it has to be replaced which means the number disappears. That just leaves the VIN plate which is riveted on.

At a guess over 50% of Mk.1 Coopers & Cooper 'S's have been re-shelled with other Mk.1 shells and this is still happening. It will continue to happen in order to keep true classic cars like the Mini on the road. With the Mini we are lucky in that new late-type shells are available (but not early type ones), but if you own a Lotus Cortina or Escort Twin-Cam a new shell is not an option and many such cars have been re-shelled with shells from more basic models within the range.

Do what you need to do to keep your classic car on the road and to original specification, but if re-shelling just don't talk about it.

[mab01uk]

You could sign the Classics Monthly 'Reshell Or Die' petition.........

http://www.classicsm...n-our-petition/

 

http://www.gopetitio...42909/sign.html

 

[The Matt]

The petition is a good thing.  All that worries me is having some way of proving that the decent second hand shell isn't stolen.

 

In answer to the original question, re-shelling in itself isn't illegal.  Using a second hand shell on your car means that you would lose the original ID of your car.  You can't really use a new shell and retain that as Dan has said.

There are loads of grey areas with this though.  You've got no way of knowing what parts are original, second hand, new etc. on any 30/40/50 year old shell that you've not owned since new anyway.

 

Personally, I wouldn't reshell a car unless it was with a new shell of the original spec. That's not an option for most people (nor for most marks of Mini).

[surfblue]

Unless youre trying to fake a valuable model like a Mk1 Cooper, I'd say go for it. Use what ever shell you like, Put the chassis plate from your existing car on it and keep your reg number. With regards to original assemblies, how many minis havent had at least one subframe or engine changed in their lifetime?

[Dan]

  That's mostly irrelevant, new unused parts count as original and a car with a history of maintenance is considered original even if second hand parts are used.  No-one is trying to stop you maintaining the car. It's changing everything at once for second hand stuff that is an issue.  If you fit a load of used parts from one other car, to the point that there is more of that car than the original, then which car is it?