Seeing a Marlin Roadster on the road yesterday, I built and ran one myself a while back, set me thinking about "Q" plates and how they are used- if at all with the modern reg' plate format (AA04 ABC) Is there some new provision for qualifying vehicles or have they carried on the old A 123 ABC style?
|
|
I would have thought they'd stay in the old format. Hardly worth changing them to the new one when they don't convey the age of the car anyway.
|
|
|
99% sure they don't exist anymore. All kit cars built from scratch, get SVA test, a sort of mega thorough MOT. Certain kits can keep original SINGLE donor reg but very strict rules and checks. SVA alos applies to imports. The odd vehicle thats gets a Q plate cos its age cnnot be defined would be Q123ABC format.
JIm
|
Cars that have been rebuilt using more than the maximum number of key components are given a Q number, because they are then regarded as ageless and no longer the "original" vehicle.
When I registered my 1949 tractor many years ago it was allocated a Q number because all trace of the original number had been lost. That system no longer applies. It could have retained the Q number, but for authenticity I opted for the new system whereby an appropriately aged number (like ABC123 or 9871AA)is allocated to proveable aged vehicles who have lost their original numbers or never had one.
This might be important for other than mere vanity, eg to qualify for Historic Vehicle classification.
|
I would agree with this action. Before the free road tax at a rolling 25 was intoduced, I rebuild a 1972 car, with a 1978 registration.
It had got this registration through being UK registered, used for a bit, exported, and subsequently reimported and given a new UK number (this was done in the past). Glasgow local DVLA checked the original number was not re-issued, agreed I could prove entitlement (I had the old UK registration document) and got it back for me. I was even trusted with a replacement tax disc for the new number, while I still had the old valid one. They just gave me an envelope to send it back!
While I should have free tax anyway, a 1978 plate would always have aroused questions. Also the car is eligable for some forms of age related motorsport, where the same applies.
|
My kit got a Q123 ABC reg last November, but just because it contains bits from a variety of different cars.
Most kits that have the majority of parts from a single donor vehicle get a reg of the same age, but for some reason not the actual reg from the donor.
Kits built from all new parts or with one refurbished part (eg. engine) get a current reg.
More info at www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/regrebil.htm
|
There are some weird anomolies at that DVLA site, to my mind.
If you rebuild an old car using a brand new chassis and body it still counts as the original car as long as enough of the other bits like engine etc are original. But if you use an authentic old chassis/body from another car of the right age it is given a Q number.
If over the years you replace enough of the components to total 8 points, but keep the original chassis body, in theory there comes a point when it magically stops being a 1926 Bloggs possibly with interesting historical connections and becomes just a faceless Q-car. If they find out.
|
|
Thanks for the replies everyone. My own Marlin kept the donor car registration because nearly all the non "kit" parts came from the donor car. That was in back in 1985 but it sounds like that is still the procedure and from Salem's experience still in the old format. Ta Steve.
|
|
|
|
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/c6c16ae624eb6bf79a6a9c9e56707b7c/8d2939c7a56b547885872a8bb7bb7373.jpg)
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/4af4bed11c14b7e182c03276e2ad6f5f/670cd6be88d773800b931beb7636ef4f.jpg)
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/8ee59bc7a36fca65c7e48a1dc3883292/11e415993b600fa992e5dea0d8beeff3.jpg)
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/7daef931211005bbf2af2bfdb3a0377f/74f29a562e313445b139291888eea4d8.jpg)
