Question for all the Bobtail/hybrid Owners

[Staffy]

I have recently bought  a 3door v8 manual Disco to build a bobtail for serious off road fun and challenge or rtv events. But earlier I was browsing through difflock and found this thread http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php?p=157357#157357

How are you all solving the issues involved in it?

If it's too much hassle i'll have to get a 90.

Cheers
Phil

[corrosiverob]

First i av heard of it going to read up on it.

[Paul]

If your just going to bob a Disco there is no need for an SVA  :?

Heres Mine  :D

[carbore]

My limited understanding comes form

A) Mate who built a kit car
B) Scrappy races

The key thing is chassis modifications, if you modify the chassis on an existing vehicle then you need to have a "self build car" which I think involves spot checks or build diary. On Scrappy races the crap mini thing and 3 wheel monster both had spot checks form the DVLA man.  The range rover based ice cream truck needed nothing other than a valid MOT as it was only "bodywork". This is not exactly horses mouth stuff but the item on builds on scrappy races was quite detailed.  If you build a kit car then the chassis is "known" but the manufacturer so you dont need the spot checks.

Now. If a bob tailed range rover or disco has a cut chassis then I assume its self build and therefore needs spot checks and  paperwork.

If you ask an official  they always err on the side of caution.

Just becuase an MOT tester passes it, doesent mean its legit 100%.  Not not all mot testers know every detail of every car in the uk so wont necessarily know?, whilst others will pass it provided its safe.

Sorry I think this is potentially bad news, but will only ever come to light if you have an accident, get pulled by a very knowledgeable/jobsworth copper, take it to a landrover dealer for an mot!

[TDi90]

doesnt it all work on a points format?

[landrover598]

When i built my hybrid, i solved the problem by getting it SVA tested and registered on a Q plate  8)   It's not a big deal, but the only option for a legal vehicle.

VOSA / DVLA are catching up with more and more non legal vehicles.  If your not willing to SVA it, doesn't that say something about the build quality ?

[Paul]

I can understand it if you do a 'Cut n Shut' and change the wheelbase, but if you just chopped a bit off the front or back of the chassis I didn't think there was a need. :shock:

I'm off to do some research :?

[Staffy]

I don't mind the SVA part of it, I have worked on cars for a long time and put together some strange things in my time. Not 4x4's tho.

The part that got me about the post was this :

Then, as it's got a new chassis number, it no longer qualifies as being merely a "modified" vehicle, it now falls into one of two classes, or rather it falls somewhere in a grey zone in the middle...

1) It's a "new" breed of vehicle and would therefore have to seek type approval and I'd have to supply one for them to slam into a wall to check it's passenger protection rating and all that... so that's not an option.

2) It's a "self built" vehicle and would have to go down the whole kit car type of SVA approval... hmmm, only it's not a self-built vehicle, as it's 90% ( Laughing ) Grand Vitara...

I agree with why to a point it is being done like this, for safety etc.. as there are some very dubious (to say the least) things on the road, by doing the "right thing" sometimes makes it harder and right royal pain in the arse for others.

But full type approval  :shock:

Stripping down the whole car and rebuilding it!

For me if I decide to go ahead would not be a problem as I could do a build diary and go down the sva root and get a 'q' but those who are on the road now :( And the many I see on the forums being built I think they need it pointing out to them.

Cheers
Phil

[carbore]

Interesting re "chop bit of front or back"

Perhaps like you said its chassis mods between the axles thats the issue?

After all how many Series are knocking around with replaced rear cross members? (mine for a start) and no one thinks they need re registering (I hope)

I think we need a big legal book of stuff to figure this one out for certain.

[Staffy]

I think that it is modified from the manufacturers spec.

Allowing repair to standard. so replacing cross members etc.. is ok.

Or that is what I have read before.

Phil