looking for a shell for my escos project and wanted to know what i'd need to do to get it on the road.
one of the shells i'm looking at is an ex rally car shell, the owner said just use the i.d off the donor mk5 escort but i'm unsure of the legality of doing that.

any help would be greatly appreciated

 

You can use the id of another car as long as the rally shell had never been road registered. see a few escort cosworth's about with rs2000 id or even xr3i. just to be correct needs to be rs2000 2.0 turbo 4x4 or something like that

 

so i need to find an rs2000 4x4 turbo, I better get on the phone to ford and make them produce one of those then haha.
so would have to find an rs 2000 4x4? i'd hate to use one of them considering how many there is left on the road

 

If it's a used shell, which it most likely is, then putting the ID off another car on it would be ringing it technically, which is obviously against the law. Though it is very common in rally circles to be honest.

It's that or a Q plate I should think. Some people don't like Q plates, as it seems to have a bit of a stigma to it, but it does have good points. Lack of a proper emissions test come MOT time for one!

 

they dont issue Q plates anymore.

Why not just register it on a escos id if you can get hold of one - maybe from one of the breakers

 

i have no problem against it being on a q plate would't that mean i would be able to get kit car insurance as that would be alot cheaper than insurence on a cosworth

 

What happens with kit cars and the like these days? Cars that are built from parts and can't be given an age related plate?

 

that would mean buying 2 shells wouldn't it?

 

not if you can get just the id

 

The thing is, by doing that, you're still ringing it, so still breaking the law.

However, I suppose it is partly down to whether or not you get caught. It's common practice with rally shells, just seems to be overlooked really.

 

yeah if i can find one if not would about going down the sva dvla route would that mean it would be technically a kit car ?

 

yeah i would rather be on the road legitimately to be honest as if i did get stopped i wouldn't want them seizing and crushing something that i've spent the best part of 20 grand modding

 

would the car qualify as a kit car then?

 

What i meant was. People use rs2000 id. Then you can inform the DVLA that the car is now a 2.0 turbo and is 4x4. You could use a 1.3 bonus id if you like but it would then become a for escort bonus 2.0 turbo 4x4. People tend to use rs2000 id as it still technically an RS

 

firstly i would go for a rally shell as although it should be strengthened almost guarantee it has had a few knocks and backs along the way especially if it was forest spec. also a rally shell should already have its own identity as rallies require a full mot and a log book. we have a works shell and they were all LHD for fron diff sizes. and used that to build up from and is now on a q plate. as for going the SVA route it would be a kit car and therefore prob high insurance etc but you will get a plate relevant to the year it passed the test. ie if was done now would be on a modern style 61 plate

 

So if I built a kit car, using a second hand, unregistered, chassis, second hand engine, suspension etc etc, it would now go onto a brand new plate, even if the bits were 20 years old? That seems a bit odd!

 

the insurance for me is 600 quid as just got a qoute so happy to pay that as for a normal cossy would be nearly 10 times that much. so looks like i'm definaty going to go through with the project just gotta find a donor saff cosworth for the parts

 

You don't get a new plate unless you can show all the major components are new (you are allowed to use one used part which must be reconditioned to as new.)

If you use a new shell and sufficient parts from a donor car you get an age-related plate appropriate to the donor.

If you use a used shell, you either use that car's original reg and just get on with putting it back on the road or, if it doesn't have a reg you get a Q.

 

Do you really have a problem though? Rally cars have MOTs and log books (taxed most of the time 2), so they are road legal anyway aren't they?

 

as far as i'm aware the shell i'm looking at has no i.d whats so ever been told to get a donar escort and use the i.d off that or go down the sva test and get it on a q plate so think i'm gonna do either of those

 

Remember that the SVA test stopped in 2009 and it is now an IVA that you need.

Don't know much about that but I'm told it is tougher and more expensive than the SVA was.

Using the wrong id is ringing so puts the car at risk. Going down the IVA is correct but gives a Q. No other shells that you can buy without the ID headache?

 

yeah i could buy another shell its just finding one thats the main problem and if i'm honest i like the sound of 600 quid insurance compared to 5 grand insurance on an original cosworth if i did it on a road shell. plus i get a welded in cage for the same price or around. plus i would get away without running a cat as it would be a q plated car.

 

Sorry but that's just not true!

 

martin i know you got the answers as your done the same with your escos what is the right way about doing it from your experience?

 

THe legal way is to declare it all and take the Q plate, they will want recipts for it all though. As already mentioned you could use a donor ID but its not legal.. It all depends on how you feel about a Q plate.

 

On that last bit, your emissions would be relevant to the age of the plate. So if you went for a specific doner car, and re-shelled it, it could remain on the original plate subject to an inspection and your emissions would be relevant to the age of the engine (or original reg) I think. ie post '92 would mean a cat is required. If you Q'd it, (ie used shell and used parts) it would be tested on emissions for the age of the engine once again. If you went the 'new' route with all your parts, to go for a current plate ('61) then it would be tested on emissions regs for the current law, ie like any new car with cat required etc.
Cheers
Iain

 

I also forgot to mention, that the IVA now tests cars differently depending if it's home built or built by a garage. I can't recall exactly how it differs, but if a pro has built your car (or even had a hand in it) the standards are tougher. The IVA test requires you to submit documentary evidence of a home built car, to the extent that you will need to show photo's of you actually doing work on it! Camera timer at the ready...
Have a look in the kit car mags - they're full of IVA type info most months.
Cheers,
Iain

 

If you are assembling a car to be a replica using standard manufacturers parts or popular aftermarket parts on a standardish shell, I.V.A is no problem apart from the cost.

It's when you start with the 7 style with unenclosed suspension it starts to get tougher or home built / modified chassis.

The biggest problem is sharp edges and exhaust noise.

 

going to be using a sierra cosworth 4x4 donor so pre 91 so ecu wouldn't be programed or engine built for a cat in the first place so the cat wouldn't be required.

 

i'm happy to go down the q plate route as like i've said it would be cheaper to insure the car.
Ł600 for it even a 1.3 would be double that cos of my area and the lack of no claims bonus.
just make sure you ready for when i start cos i'm gonna be on your case for parts from reyland and the odd tip as well

 

cars a rally escos so full rollcage thats the main mod to the chassis

 

My understanding of Q plates was that the emissions test was nothing more than a visual smoke check?

 

yeah thats what i thought like the pre cat days