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41 Posts
Dear EVers,
I have a bit of a tricky bit of manoeuvring to do to get my EV project registered in the UK. The project donor car is a 1973 car (Lotus Elan +2). I picked up the original car as a barn-find with no engine/transmission and a rusty fuel tank. All of this, coupled with its low weight (fibreglass) made it an ideal starting point for a conversion. Unfortunately, as it had been so long in a barn, hosting generations of ducks and snails, it had fallen off DVLA’s records and I had no idea what the reg. plate was. I have the VIN plate and provenance certification from Lotus but no V5. Lotus have no record of the original registration either.
So... I spoke to a few people at DVLA and they informed me that the best I could probably hope for is an age-related plate. Not too bad, I thought. If Lotus themselves don’t know its not the original plate then no one will.
However, in order to get an age-related plate I need to run through the points system to prove that it actually is an Elan. The Lotus car club have offered to help me through this process but it is not going to be straight-forward at all. Although I could theoretically get an age related plate through the points system without the original engine and box (relying on the original chassis, steering, axles etc.) this would only be possible if the car is fitted with replacement engine/box of original spec. (Not possible with a motor and inverter).
Registration will only be possible on a car that is pretty much complete. I was hoping that I could start from the ground up (the car is completely in bits) but I will need to complete it as an ICE just to get it registered before dismantling and converting. Gah!
What’s more, the twin cam engines and original transmissions are not common or cheap and even if I could sell it after it is a big outlay and a huge b***ache. I wouldn’t even be able to use a Zetec and Ford MT75, which are much more common.
Does anyone have any useful tips or trick to help me navigate this quandary?
Is a Q-plate that bad?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Alec
I have a bit of a tricky bit of manoeuvring to do to get my EV project registered in the UK. The project donor car is a 1973 car (Lotus Elan +2). I picked up the original car as a barn-find with no engine/transmission and a rusty fuel tank. All of this, coupled with its low weight (fibreglass) made it an ideal starting point for a conversion. Unfortunately, as it had been so long in a barn, hosting generations of ducks and snails, it had fallen off DVLA’s records and I had no idea what the reg. plate was. I have the VIN plate and provenance certification from Lotus but no V5. Lotus have no record of the original registration either.
So... I spoke to a few people at DVLA and they informed me that the best I could probably hope for is an age-related plate. Not too bad, I thought. If Lotus themselves don’t know its not the original plate then no one will.
However, in order to get an age-related plate I need to run through the points system to prove that it actually is an Elan. The Lotus car club have offered to help me through this process but it is not going to be straight-forward at all. Although I could theoretically get an age related plate through the points system without the original engine and box (relying on the original chassis, steering, axles etc.) this would only be possible if the car is fitted with replacement engine/box of original spec. (Not possible with a motor and inverter).
Registration will only be possible on a car that is pretty much complete. I was hoping that I could start from the ground up (the car is completely in bits) but I will need to complete it as an ICE just to get it registered before dismantling and converting. Gah!
What’s more, the twin cam engines and original transmissions are not common or cheap and even if I could sell it after it is a big outlay and a huge b***ache. I wouldn’t even be able to use a Zetec and Ford MT75, which are much more common.
Does anyone have any useful tips or trick to help me navigate this quandary?
Is a Q-plate that bad?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Alec