Questions & Answers

Q

Hello Jackie, have you any idea where I can purchase a bicycle rack for my Beetle. Is there one that could double up as a ski rack, too? And does it have to be a roof rack - or am I right in thinking there's a contraption that fits on the back of the car? I would appreciate your help. Many thanks.

Yours, Dena M. Sprigens

Q

The new format of Wheel Spin is greatly improved. I was about to cancel my membership when you took over but have decided against that now! Keep up the good work.
Could you recommend a company in the London area - preferably around Bromley in Kent to install an alarm in my Beetle. I currently have a cheap Argos alarm for insurance purposes but ..

a. it doesn't work very well (and isn't very loud), and

b. the more work I do to restore my pride and joy the more interest it seems to attract in terms of screwdrivers in the locks, etc.

Ideally I would like some sort of immobiliser as well but the electrics need some work and I'm not confident about fitting this sort of device by myself.
I would be gratefully for any suggestions...
Thanks

J Lile e-mail: crlile@aask.co.uk

Q

Dear Jackie
Is there any truth in the rumour, that if I replaced the chassis on my beetle for a Historic chassis (pre 1972) the car then assumes the identify of that chassis old plates etc and I dont have to pay road tax?
I would appreciate this confirmed thankyou

Rick Setter

A

A chassis swap would only result in a Q plate if the date of manufacture wasn't proven. This is easily done by either getting a letter from VAG or a VW club. You can swap a chassis (legally) and avoid paying the road fund licence.But you must reregister the vehicle to the new chassis number and either use a Log book that came with the chassis or get proof of the date of manufacture and then take the vehicle to a testing station i.e. Honeypot Lane.

Max Morley

but that’s not the end of it, Del Bicknell has dug the following up from the DVLA website
Here's the word from the DVLA web site covering re-built cars & re-registration.
http://www.open.gov.uk/dvla/regrebil.htm

When a vehicle is first registered, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency allocates a registration number. This remains with the vehicle until it is broken up, destroyed, permanently exported or the mark is transferred to another vehicle. Sometimes however, a vehicle needs to be rebuilt and this can call the identity of the vehicle into question. Is it the original which has simply been repaired? Or have so many new or different parts been used that the original vehicle no longer exists?

Vehicles which have been substantially rebuilt need to be examined by a Vehicle Registration Office [VRO], to assess whether the vehicle can retain its registration mark. This will depend on whether enough of the components come from the original vehicle. In order to retain the original registration mark the vehicle must use :-
Cars and Car-Derived Vans

Original chassis/body shell or a brand new one of the same specification as the original (supported by receipts from the dealer/manufacturer if it is not original).
[ Please note: if a second-hand chassis/body shell has been used the vehicle will be automatically allocated a Q prefix registration number]. And two other major components from the original vehicle

Suspension (front & back)
Axles (both) Transmission
Steering Assembly Engine
Radically Altered Vehicles

These are vehicles which are substantially altered from their original specification, but not usually kit conversions. The major vehicle components have been assigned the numerical value set out in the table below. To retain the original registration number the vehicle must score eight or more points:

Chassis/body shell (original or new) = 5
Suspension = 2
Axles = 2
Transmission = 2
Steering Assembly = 2
Engine = 1
Pick the bones out of this lot!

A

In reply to the Golf query in the August edition of Wheelspin (Golf Revs), Alex Tinniswood thinks that in all liklihood the car has a carb that is running too rich, hope this helps.
Also has anybody got any ideas or information to the other two queries in the August WS, two queries from Malcolm Bird in Denmark and a query concerning model car collecting from Peter Sturges-Allard. I think ther is a club for general car collecting but I’m not aware any any specific to VWs
Please send in more questions and answers.
Louis Henwood