chassis

[Specky]

Here's a question that I require a little advice on please...

If I put an old chassis on a different car, how do you get round the VIN No?

Can you remove it?...

Can you weld a plate over the top?...

Also if you fit a new chassis what happens then?

TTFN

[theelanman]

Ive had this dilema before...on my 67 elan
after consultation with the DVLA the VIN goes with the body rather than the chassis.......
to quote "the chassis is just bracket to hang the rest of the car off"
if your talking any other car where the chassi is part of the car the chassis number doesnt exist....as its part of the car
lotus owner have a problem as the chassis, body and engine all have numbers....
what Id suggest is having a word with lotus and finding out how they numbered their spare chassis....
if they had no number then take the number off and tell the next owner its had a replacement chassis......
if they had numbers then u better talk to the DVLA......altho Id leave that as a last resort......
what info is on the V5...cant remember and Ive not got mine to hand......
doesnt it just show VIN (body)...and engine.....
think you should be ok with a chassi with no number if (when you sell it) you say its had a replacement chassis...

just a thought

[bobbrown]

Quite tricky and it would be best to talk to DVLA

My understanding is that if a new chassis is used then you can retain the reg but if it is a second hand one then the car ends up on a "Q" plate, and I think they have to be examined at vehicle registration office to see if the original registration can be retained.
This may help http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Bu ... G_10014246

Bob

[Specky]

Cheers...

I'm aware of the issues with the older Elans............. and Spyder for manufacturing the new chassis. I believe they have now made 1000's and it's perfectly acceptable to change the chassis.

On another front, I don't have to change the Chassis it slightly dented here and there, but it's perfectly useable

Also my chassis doen't appear to have a VIN No marked in the normal place, Lotus are aware and recommended it's stamped as and when.

TTFN

[Specky]

This is the reason for me asking....

I have a slightly bent rear X-member, If you look at the Pic it's bent up at the righthand side...

There are several solutions on repair, but I have replacement in my back pocket...

TTFN

[dapinky]

I'm on nights so was asleep when this first got posted.......

....Gareth is mostly right, Bob is partly right, but with slightly missleading info, and you dont need a new chassis anyway!

Basically, the difficulty on the info so far is that they have all been correct at various points of time in recent history, it is not right to say that Spyder get away with it on the +2 (1967) so it is right - the rules from 1967 were changed!

Basically, for a 1989 vehicle, it will have a VIN (Vehicle Idenbtification Number) which will be 17 alpha-numeric characters - this is often referred to as a 'chassis number', but that is what you would have on an old type elan, europa, herald, vittesse etc. Originally it started because the chassis was the 'standard' part of the car, and then the bodywork was attached by various coachbuilders etc - just think how many different companies put boddies onto Austin 7s.
When the 'norm' was to produce vehicles with a monocoque construction, the term chassis number was dropped in favour of VIN.

There is no legal requirement to have the VIN on the chassis for a non-monocoque car - but they often are (You'd have to ask Lotus).

If you chose to use a second-hand chassis, it will not affect the VIN of your vehicle, or the registration, as long as you use enough of the original parts (or new items if 'service items' from the old car - each component is given a number of points by DVLA, and you need to ammass a certain number of 'original' or 'service' parts points to retain a registration.

These rules are irrellevant here, and would only become valid if you were trying to (for example), fit a second-hand chassis and then pass the car off as the other vehicle identity. (ringing a stolen car etc etc) or trying to make a car look older/younger than it is for financial gain.

If you had a second 'frost silver' elan which you were trying to pass off as IB3, you may be accused as trying to make a gain, but as it is the actual car, you aren't.

The whole thing is a bit of a minefield, and i can't explain it very well in a few paragraphs, but if you need any further info, drop me a line and we can have a chat - it's easier in a conversation.

Suffice to say, if you decide to fit either a new or a second-hand chassis, or repair the original, it will not affect anything.

If you use a chassis with a number already stamped, you are legally allowed to either remove, cover or fill the number, and then either stamp the correct one in or not as you wish.

Be aware though, that you should retain all paperwork, otherwise, should someone ever do a full examination on the vehicle for either crime, accident or any other reason (provenance?). if the chassis displays a number different to the VIN, you will need to prove the discrepancy to avoid someone thinking that you are on the fiddle!!!!! (assuming they would either know where to look, or just happened across it).

[theelanman]

Quite tricky and it would be best to talk to DVLA

My understanding is that if a new chassis is used then you can retain the reg but if it is a second hand one then the car ends up on a "Q" plate, and I think they have to be examined at vehicle registration office to see if the original registration can be retained.
This may help http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Bu ... G_10014246

Bob

mmmm thats all possible and highly probably........however I bet there are thousands of lotus...(and I mean thousands)
thats are not on their original chassis......and Im not sure the replacements for the newer have numbers....certainly the older replacements didnt.........from that perspective if a chassis has no number (ground off or otherwise) then whos to know......?....
ask dico...hes done a full chassis replacement and Im 99% sure hes not told anyone...just got on with it and changed out the old......
pinkster should know too....

[Paul.P]

Having done exactly this, i can confirm Dapinky is right. My car went to VOSA for a VIC test, & to try & get around the chassis number thing ( car had a second hand one, with different VIN no.), i put down that it was a rear subframe. After the inspector had done his bit, he told me to grind the existing VIN no.off the chassis & get a new plate welded on with the old VIN no. on, & that this was quite satisfactory.

[theelanman]

good point pinkster....
Id forgotten about the regulations....kit car things....
with kit cars you need to retain a certain percentage of the original car in order to keep the date related plate....
hence the lotus 7 type cars with some on 'q' plates and other on normal plates....
well spotted that man

[theelanman]

on pauls reply....doesnt it only need to go backto VOSA if its been written off???....and your trying to put in back on the road??....

[dapinky]

on pauls reply....doesnt it only need to go backto VOSA if its been written off???....and your trying to put in back on the road??....

Yep.

Cat 'C' write off needs a Vehicle Identity Check, but in this case, a straight swap can be done (with certain provisos as discussed with Dave by PM )