General Practicalities

[scottydog]

Hi all - having not done anything like building a kit car before there are a few really basic things I'm not clear on so am hoping for a little guidance. 'Fraid some of this is REALLY basic :-)

I don't have room in my garage to work on a car so would not have any choice but to build a kit outside under the car port. The car, when complete, will also have to be kept under the car port. Assuming I keep it covered up when not working on the build (and not using the car when built) is this going to be much of a problem? During the build will I be able to get build insurance? I don't live in a bad area but nowhere is completely safe from the scum element of society these days! Also, will I end up with a heap of rusted metal after 5 years?

Re.. donor cars. I have been looking at eBay and it looks like I can buy Cat C/D's for £700'ish and reasonable cars for around £1k. In a way it seems a shame to break something half decent but I figure that for an extra £2-300 I can get something with fewer miles and use it for a month or so. That way I will know what parts are good and what is not up to standard. Also I might have some better quality parts to sell on eBay and make some money back. So, when I have removed everything I want from the car I need to get rid of what's left. Am I going to need to get a trailer (no tow bar on car either) to dump the donor car, also do I need to collect the kit from MEV or RTR on a trailer? And am I going to need a trailer for getting the car to a station for the IVA test?

Lastly, is there much welding / fabrication involved in building a Rocket?

Thanks !

[Scott]

Scottydog,

Many questions, i will try and answer a few,
If it wont fit in all you can do i make sure it's well covered and any parts at least painted in something to stop the rust, the chassis should be fine with a good powder coat finish,
I think mightlad has got cheap build insurance as his is being built.
Donors, Personally i would just be looking for a low mileage Cat D, and really a ghia model or something as the returns on the bits on ebay will be greater, (shiny chrome trims etc,,,) which ever you get when you strip it you will know if some parts are not up to standard which is unlikely,,
With moving vehicles always a pain, but most Scrap dealers will collect from you with crane as scrap is worth a few quid at the minute, For collection i think if you hire a large van this will accommodate the kit??
And I believe for testing I would always take on trailer, but I'm sure i have read that you are allowed to drive a unregistered vehicle to any compulsory test that is required to get it on the road, (don't quote me you will need to check)

there shouldn't,t be much weld/fab work all depends how far you stria away from the build with your own ideas,,,

hope that helps a bit,,

Scott

[scottydog]

That's really helpful - thanks Scott.

I want to be spending money on the car and not transportation of parts / donor cars etc.... Looking at trailer hire prices (and places that hire them seem limited) the fewer times I hire one the better - but it makes sense to use one for going to the test. Really useful to know scrappies will collect with a crane - that one was my biggest worry - how to shift a half dismantled vehicle.

My garage is my workshop so is not full of junk that could be shifted one day. The car will be outside permanently. I was wondering about galvanising the chassis (power coating can chip and once water gets in rust will start) and using stainless bolts etc... Would there be any problems doing this - does galvanising weaken metal and are stainless components weaker?

My plan is to take my time with the build and end up with something a little special. It's probably the only time I'll do this so it's gotta be good :-)

[mightylad]

Hi scottydog,

Just to confirm what scott was saying - I picked up my rocket chassis (and all the bits) using a ext wheelbase van - it all fitted perfectly!

galvanising shouldent have any affect on the base material (it only adds a zinc layer) i guess if you can find a supplier with a big enough plating bath then you should be away!

Cheers Ol.

[scottydog]

Thanks Mightylad.

[scottydog]

Looking at eBay there are quite a few Cat C's for reasonable money.

If I were to buy a Cat C would this cause me any problems when I come to register my completed kit? This is on the assumption that someone else has already repaired the car and the VIC has been completed and a V5 issued.

What I don't want is a Q plate on my completed car, especially as a Q plate car can't have a personal number plate.

[mastarforth]

HI there

I have read somewhere on one of the forums, if not here or allcarclub, then must have been on Rhocar, where the fact that it is CAT C is nto a problem evene in its crashed state, as you are basically destroying the the car anyway.

Stands back and waits to be shot down by those more in the knowledge than me.

I have used a CAT C donor so if you can wait a month or so I will tell you if I have any problems.

Andrew

[dinosaurjuice]

cat C is potentially a headache.

in order to register your MEV on the donors year you need to have the donor V5. not all cat C's have a V5.

If the donor doesnt have a V5 it needs to be VIC checked at the local dvla office and must be trailered there. And just to be really annoying they will not inspect any car with broken glass or 'damage'. You may end up having to repair a focus only to take it to bits again.

might be possible to apply for a new reg if you buy a new engine from somewhere like great british sportscars.

Will

[MevST]

HI guys,

Good voerview

Cheers

[Scott]

I think it's just a personal preference thing, but i belive i doesn't help with the value of the Vehicle, as some people could be concerned that it could of been built with a selction of parts from any old veichle etc,,

That just my thoughts, anyone can shoot me down too if they like,,,,,,,

Scott

[dinosaurjuice]

scotts right, a folder full of reciepts and photos will have more influence on value than the number plate.

If you have a receipt for the donor car you maybe be able to convince the dvla to give you an age plate. every local office has a different level of competance and tolerance.

Will

[mattsmev]

Hello Rutter

This was a question I asked about when i built mine. The only problems a Q plate gives that I can see it that you can't put a private plate on (as several Moggers have) and if you are building a replica it gives the game away, your DNA 360 ferrarri replica looks rubbish with a Q plate on it!.

So as these issues did not bother me I bought a Class C write off as my donor with no V5 documentation. However, when i went to the DVLA, I was able to prove the age of the engine and all other donated parts by showing the photos of the donor and being able to tie this to a manufacture date by using the ford serial number and some information on the internet.

despite not having the V5 the DVLA said that they held the documentation as the car had been written off so they gave me an age related plate

I guess my point is
you can tie the parts to a date by using the VIN
The DVLA may hold the docs
I can't see a problem with a Q plate on a car that is obviously a kit, and not a replica
who wants a private plate anyway

Cheers

Mr W004WHK

[scottydog]

So, maybe not quite consensus just yet Possible headache / but OK in some peoples experience. It doesn't sound like a definite "no no" though and the worst case is ending up with a Q plate, although that would be avoided by ensuring I have the V5.

Personally I wouldn't buy a car without a V5 - not even when all seems OK and I supposedly just have to apply for one. I don't really understand what the circumstances would be where the owner doesn't have the V5 so it would ring alarm bells for me. Maybe my lack of experience / knowledge but every car I have ever bought has had it's previous owner in possession of the V5.

From what I have read a Cat C has to be fully repaired before there is any chance of a VIC being completed and the V5 being issued - so an un-repaired car is out of the question for me.

I'm asking because Cat C's seem a lot cheaper and I looked at a "clean" car yesterday that sold on eBay for just under £700 and it was an absolute dog and even the components I'll need didn't seem good enough. How much would I have to spend to get something useful!

Is it fair to say that as long as I have a V5 I won't have any significant problems?

[mattsmev]

Hi Again

Just to be clear, I never saw the V5 for my donor, and I never took the focus for a VIC check (it was barely moveable anyway).

All I had for the DVLA was some photos, the receipt from the scrapyard and evidence that I had destroyed the old car properly (receipt from the scrap man that took it away).

The car had been properly 'registered' by the insurance company as a cat C so the V5 did not exist. I was also worried by the lack of V5, so i rang the DVLA and asked for a replacement form. They confirmed that it was cat c and could not be registered without a VIC.

that car is still scrapped and will never see the road again, I think my age related plate was due to the evidence of the VIN Number and photos.

Its certainly not clear, and different DVLA centres will obviously do it differently, but ford engine numbers also give the date of the engine. It's worth checking on the internet for the details - that may be enough

Cheers

Mattsmev

[mastarforth]

I have been in some discussions with dvla today!

It sounds like it is down to the local office to decide whether it gets age related plate etc.

My argument is that we have been better for the environment by recycling the parts from a scrapped car that will never hit the road again.

or that's my stand point anyway