Restoroing Mk1 Escort - VIN?

That's not actually legal.

However.....

Mini and Land Rover owners have been transferring VIN plates from vehicle to vehicle for years.

It's amazing how many old RS Mexicos had the chassis rust away where the number was.

The chassis number was on the top strut mount on all Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts, and that was always a prime place for them to rot. However, on the RS models the top strut mount was reinforced with another place spot welded to the original - and so that had the chassis number instead of it being stamped directly onto the inner wing..

.. basically meaning the valuable RS's were easier to ring than a bog standard ones. Class!

VW did a very similar stunt with the Mk2 Golf by stamping the chassis number onto a very easily removed bulkhead, so it wasn't just Ford who were idiotic on occasion.

"Mark" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

It's been in a field for 12 years... and even before that was a scrapper...

^^^^^^^

You can't.

You _could_ transfer the plate, but the donor car would need to have passed an MOT in the last 18mo. You can't transfer the VIN. Not legally.

My old Escort still appears on the DVLA database and is registered to my name and address still. After looking at my old car I am thinking it would be better to find another mk1 Escort and get the DVLA to transfer the reg across.

So as I have the original V5 and ownership was never transferred to the scrapper, can I just buy another Mk1 Escort and ask the DVLA to transfer the reg to it?

Mark

"Mark" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Yes - if you have an MOT (expired at most 6mo previously) for the donor vehicle, which needs to be available for inspection by the local DVLA office. They'll be checking it for signs of ringing.

Do they need to see the old car at the scrappers too? I don't really want to get him involved unless I have to as he's a busy man. I've downloaded and printed the form to transfer the registration (V317) but as with most of these forms they as clear as mud.

Mark

"Mark" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Umm, that IS the donor - the one the registration's coming FROM... The MOT man'll need to see it before DVLA do, though.

Oh, and unless you changed the old-style V5 for a new-style V5C a couple of years ago, you'll find that it's not on the current DVLA record any more.

It's been sitting in a scrap yard for 11 years! Your comment about it needing an mot within the past six months made me think you must mean the donor car is the replacemnt one. I thought I made it clear the original car has been in the scrap yard since 1997.

I had the old V5 but it IS on the DVLA. The public database that you can check online.

Mark

If the scrapyard's hung onto it this long, are you sure they don't have plans for it? And are you quite sure they haven't registered it in their own name?

That doesn't necessarily mean that it's still officially in your name and even if it is, the car belongs to the scrapman. I don't see how you can do anything without talking to him first.

"Mark" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Quite.

But what is that car "donating" to this transfer? That car's the recipient.

I think you must have missed my implied point. Apologies for the subtlety. I shall be a little more explicit.

You've not got a hope in hell of getting a Mk1 'scrote bearing that plate back on the road _legally_, not without spending a FORTUNE rebuilding it from the utterly rotten heap of scrap it undoubtedly is.

If you want a Mk1 'scrote, buy a Mk1 'scrote, and get over the "sentimental value" thing about that particular combination of letters and numbers on a piece of plastic stuck to each end. Or bite the bullet and ring it...

Old-style V5s ceased to be valid a couple of years ago. Do you have a V5C for it?

He is happy and we have discussed a price to get my old car back or to change details if it's too much to restore, which is what it looks like having been standing in a field for the past 11 years.

Mark

Yeah would help. "donor" is rathe rambiguous especially as its obvious the "donor" won't have had an mot for a very long time. 94 I think.

I think many would have something to say about calling a Mk1 Escort that awful name. Who are you to tell me what I should feel or do. Damn cheek. I know damn well what work needs doing hence the comment about taking a few years resoring it. I have many old Escort parts and panels in my garage and the rest I will fabricate and weld in myself. I fully understand the work involved.

As usual I get the feeling you don't really understand this fully else you would have given a step by step answer saying what to do. Got I hate know-all's. Oten they know the least. I'll go and ask someone who has actually done it and know's from experience.

Mark

"Mark" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

As I said, I apologise for the subtle implication... I'd have assumed the word "donor" would be fairly clear. Except you probably, being a typical Ford driver, assumed I meant a kebab.

Get over yourself.

It's a Ford 'scrote. Oh, look. Anagram. Just like Crapi. They've been called that since they were launched.

Good-oh.

Just one question - is there anything left to weld to?

I just did, you precious little petal.

You just did, then preferred to throw your toys out of the pram. DILLIGAF?

We'll have another try, this time in nice simple words. If you want the plate, you have a choice. Restore that car or ring another one. If you want the plate legally, you have no choice. Restore that car.

IME, most of the people referring to Scrotes, Crapis, etc, do it out of affection and familiarity. Hardly something to get upset about.

I suspect what Adrian's trying to point out is that a project like this will never make sense when seen from an unsentimental viewpoint. It'd be common sense to follow his advice. Of course, if everyone allowed commons sense to cloud their judgement, there wouldn't be any classic cars left, so good luck with it!

Willy Eckerslyke gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Affection? Me? For a _Ford_? God, no. Although a Mk1 'scrote is about as close as I'm likely to get. The scene tax, though, is just ridiculous.

See if you can find up-to-date details from the DVLA about what parts are required for a car to retain its identity. You may find that a replacement bodyshell with the original running gear would tot up enough points for it to officially be the same car.

Which may involve finding a working one & using almost all of it as the donor.

"Duncan Wood" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying: