Perhaps an odd question, but stick with me. Cars are expensive to insure. Performance cars more so and modified performance cars even more than that.
But kit cars are cheap. So, how far do you need to go before a car can be counted as a kit car?
A typical kit uses an original design of chassis, probably with some fibreglass, to which bits of donor car are added.
Porsche Speedster replicas are basically a beetle with the roof and sides cut off with a new body and interior.
There are MX5 based cars where they unbolt the wings, bonets and bumperskirts and add new.
Then there's the Tallon 100R which is a metro with a big engine and some suspension changes.
How much of a car would you have to change for it to be thought of as a kit, rather than just modified?
Best to get it in writing from the DVLA I reckon
My thoughts are that if it needs an IVA it is a kit, if it doesn't it isn't
I believe if you weld something to the chassis (that's not a repair) then you need an IVA. So a Cinquecento, for example, with a bit of welded in chassis stiffening would need an IVA, so would be a kit car? Personally, I'd say it was just modified.
Best ask the insurer........
I drive a spitfire (Triumph, not Supermarine before anybody gets clever) fitted with a zetec/T9 and extensively modified rear suspension (but still
uses the original spring, and uprights)
Insured as a modified classic. However, I know that some with such cars have insured them as kits. I suppose the insurer or underwriter decides what
they will insure.
Seems some of the classic insurers are stopping modified cars, but Adrian Flux and other specialists seem to be stepping in. Guess it is becoming a
"hobby car" type market.
"My thoughts are that if it needs an IVA it is a kit, if it doesn't it isn't "
Not correct, sorry, as pre June ish 1999, all that was required was an engineers letter to confirm that the car was a self build, or not a mainstream
manufactured car
IVA/SVA had not come into force at this time
steve
I work with a guy who had a V8 capri which he claimed was insured as a kit car (And possibly had an IVA) as it had structural changes.
On a similar note could you do it for Tax to avoid the top rate emissions test?
quote:
Originally posted by cliftyhanger
Best ask the insurer........
I drive a spitfire (Triumph, not Supermarine before anybody gets clever) fitted with a zetec/T9 and extensively modified rear suspension (but still uses the original spring, and uprights)
Insured as a modified classic. However, I know that some with such cars have insured them as kits. I suppose the insurer or underwriter decides what they will insure.
Seems some of the classic insurers are stopping modified cars, but Adrian Flux and other specialists seem to be stepping in. Guess it is becoming a "hobby car" type market.
Hi,
We don't as such have a definitive definition for a kit car to be honest. We can cater for complete one off vehicles or replica vehicle where
they just use bolt on panels. Vehicle don't necessarily have to be subject to an IVA to qualify for our schemes.
Regards,
Dan.