Coil chassis from very old Range rover.

My series 2 has a very old cut down range rover chassis.

The chassis still has the self leveler and the shocks are facing opposite ways, as did the early Range Rovers. It's possible that the chassis is 1972 but I have no other proof.

This conversion was obviously done a long time ago. All nuts and bolts are imperial.

My dilemma is this:

1: Do I buy a series 2 chassis and convert it back.
2: Goto the DVLA (or who ever it is), and try to re-register it as a Range Rover with a SII top, but argue the fact it might be either a pre-73 chassis or it was done a long time ago.
3: Sell it and get a real SII

What shall I do?

Do you want to run a hybrid bitsa or a leaf sprung series? Only you will know the answer. The coiler chassis may be a good basis for building a trialer.

I like it as it is, but I'm just worried that it's not strictly legal is it?

I don't want to spend money on it, only to find one day the DVLA would want to crush it.

does it have a chassis number?

There's a plate on the bulk housing inside the cab but the number is too faint to read.

thats the series vin anyway not the chassis number

So wheres the chassis number?

front of drivers leg

On the Chassis I presume? Can't say I've seen one there, will this matter? I've heard some series land rovers haven't got these.

they all do when they leave the factory but once the front dumb iron is changed its rarely stamped back on

So what should I do? like I say, I like it as it is but I don't think it's stricktly legal. I don't want it crushed so should I:

1: Do I buy a series 2 chassis and convert it back.
2: Goto the DVLA (or who ever it is), and try to re-register it as a Range Rover with a SII top, but argue the fact it might be either a pre-73 chassis or it was done a long time ago.
3: Sell it and get a real SII

Could get an engineers report from a friendly garage saying it was made before 95 and then delete all this

or just rechassis on the correct series chassis

So are we saying if the friendly garage thinks it was done before 95 it's ok? Or are we saying really and technically the DVLA would have to agree it was probably done pre 95?

has it got any reg plates? v5?

parchwba said:

So are we saying if the friendly garage thinks it was done before 95 it's ok? Or are we saying really and technically the DVLA would have to agree it was probably done pre 95?

Click to expand...

Get them to write you a report then get the paper looking a but old and ratty. Photocopy and send in with a letter explaining it was made and the V5 wasn't updated by the last owner

if you want a leafer I would sell the one you have on and buy another. I am sure you would have a few interested parties.

If it was done before a certain date (I think sometime in the 90s, some one will be along in a bit and elaborate) then I believe its legal, if it was done after that then you need a q plate. Sounds like yours is a very old conversion so could well be legal, its just finding out the date it was done

Depends how helpful your dvla employee is but its very possible they will not acceppt a build age without proof such as date that v5 was altered, receipts or other reports . In that case your shafted unless you can rego it on the unknown mysterious rrc donor! So not much scope other than crushed in that scenario.
I see loads of these vehicles on ebay. Its the tax exempt ones that attract attention as dodgy. Land rovers are notorious for people doing hybrids and attaching tax exempt regos on them. Just flog it and buy one that wont give you restless nights!
Theres also a reason you dont see many coiled series vehicles on this forum, people dont want to shout about it I reckon.
Have a browse here
www.the-ace.org.uk

Well food for thought, thanks everyone for your views.
When I bought the car it was really only to get us down the end of our 2 mile rubble drive, as we left the car at the end. But now we got a disco

However I think driving a Land Rover is great fun, not to mention the amount ive learnt fixing it.

I was told however by the previous owner that he knew who converted it. Before I sell it I will see if I can get any proof of the conversion.

Yes, got the V5 and plates.

Thanks again.

What's it down as on the V5, rangi or landy. local to me a fella runs a disco body on an original 1970 rangi chassis and it's tax exempt. Plod keeps checking but it's good.