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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Frogeye shell on eBay with free gift horse?

Just seen this on eBay but can't decide if it's genuine. 6 months ago Les Rose bought or sold something to/from this guy but not sure if it's the Les Rose on the BBS.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384453509597
Rob
MG Moneypit

If that's not a scam it's a bargain!
GuyW

If it's genuine AND you have a basket case Frogeye with V5 to restore then it's cheap. I wouldn't want it on its own without a V5.
Bill Bretherton

I don't recall buying anything from this person.
Les Rose

It looks like he bought from you - Mk1 gearlever?
Dave O'Neill 2

Les, I searched his feedback and saw someone I thought might be you but couldn't find out what it was that was bought/sold.
I hope it went to someone who genuinely needs it, not some dealer who will sell it on for a quick turn around.
Rob
MG Moneypit

Hi

Do not worry, another one has popped up:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324834492970

Bit more work required…

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

Get the two together and you have a viable project!

Although this recent one is in better condition than my project one was originally!
GuyW

Still no V5 though!
Bill Bretherton

It's got a chassis plate and maybe one of the tags on the A posts. Must be possible to get a V5.
Rob
MG Moneypit

Hi

I may have got the wrong end of the IVA and licensing stick (so please do not beat me with it) but is secondhand shell without a VIN plate and current registration logbook not useful for rebuilding another vehicle? New replacement shell fine, old one with a previous ID not?

Cheers
Mike

PS I am not commenting on the items for sale, what they have or not, this is a question in general.
M Wood

My understanding is that if you have a vehicle with no V5 then you have to get it MOT worthy, have it inspected by a member of a nominated club (there is a list) to confirm it is what it claims to be, and then submit documentation to DVLA to get it registered.

So shell with tags should be good, providing they are not leftovers from a reshelling activity of an existing vehicle.

For a shell without VIN plate you would have to prove it was once a running car, not just a collection of newly assembled parts.

and, reading the question again, if you have a current V5 then none of this applies!
AdrianR

Mike, you are right in what you say, you can’t use a good secondhand shell to restore a rusted or damaged car. You can use a new replacement shell from BMH etc as that is classed as a replacement part.

When I say can’t I mean by the letter of the law you can’t, it’s obviously physically possible and has gone on for years. In the rallying world it was commonplace, especially in the days when a riveted on VIN made it easy.

Apparently the DVLA are quite hot on it these days. They monitor places like eBay for old V5’s people are selling as ‘collectors items’ and if a vehicle suddenly ‘appears’ from a barn and needs re registering they take a dim view!
John Payne

As John points out, when you use a Heritage shell to re-body your car, you keep your car’s original identity. But if you use a used shell to do it, your car assumes the identity of the used car, the DVLA concludes that you are using the parts from your car to restore the donor shell.

In this case the used shell does not have an identity so if you bolt all your parts on to it including your chassis plate and A post tags, who is to tell that it is not your original car? I know that strictly speaking it is “ringing”, but you are not doing it for financial gain so where’s the harm?
b higginson

Having taken another look at that first rolling shell which sold for £2450, it strikes me that it could well have originally been a recently restored car that has been stolen and dismantled in which case, a crime has already been committed.
The fact that a car that good has no ID and it sold so cheaply smells very fishy.
b higginson

Ah yes, I did sell two restored gear levers. Things of beauty.
Les Rose

This thread was discussed between 18/10/2021 and 03/11/2021

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