Is it a tax exemp spitfire

John Reed ( snipped-for-privacy@hextol.freeserve.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

BMIHT

: I have been offered a spitfire which was registered in January 1973.How can : I check if it qualifies for tax exempt status?

You'll almost certainly be OK. British Motor Industry Heritage Trust can tell you for sure. Canley Classics may know anyway.

Ian

You'd need a certificate of manufacturing date from British Motor Heritage. There's a fee attached of around £15 I think. Worth it to get the free tax.

British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Archive Department Heritage Motor Centre Banbury Road Gaydon, Warwick CV35 OBJ

It will probably not be exempt. When I retaxed my 1973 E-type at the beginning of the year when it would be 25 years old, the reminder fom DVLA contained a message saying that part of the taxation would be refunded when it reached 25 years old. Unfortunately a Labour government came in and changed it to, (I quote from the DVLA letter dated 18 march 1998) " As part of the Chancellors Budget, exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for vehicles over 25 years of age will be replaced by exemption for vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973.

The letter then goes on to say that as their records show that my vehicle was constructed on or after 1 January 1973 and it will therefore not become exempt at the end of the year but will continue to be liable for VED.

They also go on to say that if I can produce proof that it was constructed before 1/1/1973 by producing a certified extract from the manufacturers records or evidence of date of manufacture from an appropriate enthusiast's club, I can apply to license it in the "Historic Vehicle" class Hope this is useful Keith

Keith Barker ( snipped-for-privacy@greyshouse.plus.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

I'd be amazed if it wasn't - first registered in Jan 73? They didn't whip 'em straight from the end of line to the waiting customer in five minutes flat...

They'd base that on the registration date, not the construction date. DVLA don't have the construction date.

For your Jag, like the OP's Spit, you'll be wanting the self same BMIHT wot's been mentioned several times before in this thread...

If it's Dec 73 reg, it's unlikely to be 72 build, though, I'd think.

If that's the same place that does the Mini ones, they're £28 :-|

-- Howard Rose

BMIHT will also provide a simpler dating certificate. Not sure of the current price, but they used to sell for £10 when the full trace was £25, presumably they've gone up in line with everything else, Cheers, Bill.

And it's still cheaper than paying for the road tax for the first year, and gets to be more of a bargain every year you keep the car.

Mike.

My 2000 was first registered in September 1973. When I contacted the Historic Vehicle Register to find out the manufacture date, they told me it was April 1973. So if yours was registered in January 1973 it is a pretty good bet that it was manufactured in 1972 and can be exempted provided you obtain a certificate of manufacture date.

You would have to pay the HVR for a certificate, but it would be worth it.

Jim

Don't give up hope - I have a Nov 73 registered Avenger and free tax - mine was a special colour that was designed to sit in the showroom for a while

As BMHIT make it so easy to find out it's got to be worth a punt!

Mike

Wasn't Grasshopper green was it?

(I'm considering an Alpine with an August 73 date of registration, and would just LOVE it to have sat around for... oh, say 9 months... ;)

How quickly did E-types sell in 1973 though? If there was a waiting list it could have been made in early Jan and regsitered by the end.

No it was metallic lilac - with a matching interior!

Mike

Mike Phipps ( snipped-for-privacy@coolmanwithbeard.co.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

It's not *always* wrong - I've seen a Jensen Interceptor soft top in metallic purple. The seats were very pale brown leather, but they had lilac piping around them! It also had a tasteful pale hood, and I have to say it's a very good candidate for my most wanted car...

;) K

You should buy a copy of February's _Classic and Sports Car_

They have a review of 70s GTs. They conclude that the Jensen Interceptor "presses most of the buttons most of the time." They rank it a close second to the Citroen SM, "all the expense of a Ferrari, but without the social stigma."

Break out my polyester leisure suit, Gladys. It's time to party.

I was watching one on a Robbie Williams video last night - one of those daft mini-movies with him pretending to be Michael Caine. There was rather a nice Mk1 Transit in it as well, along side the Interceptor.