It is my understanding that the new IVA rules require photo evidence of various stages of a build. As I did not take hardly any until after it was built, would I need to strip it and start again taking pickys along the way, or is there an alternative. Would they notice if I used some archive pictures. What do you think?

It's all about proof, get it wrong i.e they don't believe you, and you will not easily get a pass.
Give them what you have, receipts, emails, threads on this site, all add up to evidence.

I suppose you could try finding a very similar car to yours and use the build pictures, but it might be quite easy for the VOSA testers to spot minor inconsistencies. You might be better to ring the test centre and get the opinion of the testers - it might be that they will take an understanding view or they might tell you exactly what you need to disassemble to get a photo of.
I am under the impression that they want photos to ensure that it is an "amateur build" and to allow them to see welded seams in difficult to see areas like the backs of the seatbet mounts.

Cheers
Dave

So how would you stand if you brought a 90% completed car.

A mate of mine is in the process of buying a nearly finished car from the previous owners of a well known manufacturer (cant go into to much detail as he hasn't picked the car up yet)

I am going to finish it of for him ready for iva, i have asked him to get a receipt stating it was part built by them & have pictures of the car in the workshop.

Sorry if this could be seen as a thread hijack, hopefully any info on the subject is relevant to anyone reading this thread

Dave.

I think this may also relate to my current situation.

I'm about to buy my first locost , its 99% complete.

I obviously didnt build it and I don't think the previous owner has any build photos... so whats the best way around this?