Coil sprung series Chassis

is it possible to switch to a coil sprung chassis while retaining classic status and therefore stay tax exempt?

According to the following page:

Rebuilds and the law - by Glencoyne 4x4 (Thetford)

The chassis and suspension count separately as far as the law is concerned, so switching to a coil sprung chassis for a series vehicle would count as changing both the suspension and the chassis and therefore make the vehicle ineligible for retain its tax exempt status?

I hope somebody could help me clear this up.

No, you can't

If you're swapping the chassis, the vehicle has to take the ID of the chassis so it definitely wouldn't be legally tax exempt (say you use a cut down disco chassis under your series, you'd be running it with the disco number plate or a Q plate).

If you want a coil sprung landy why not just buy a 90?

Considering the chassis is considered the major componant of the vehicle and the vehicle ID is tied to it then it's not possible to use anything other than an identical replacement without altering the ID anyway....never mind the points system

Because of my age, i couldn't get insured on a Landy that doesn't have classic insurance.

My question seems to have been answered. I guess it's going to be a switch to parabolics then

I appreciate the help.

Alimoff said:

My question seems to have been answered. I guess it's going to be a switch to parabolics then

I appreciate the help.

Click to expand...

Parabolics are good Got a set on mine, just make sure you get good ones! (GB springs are supposed to be really good)

Yeah I think I eventually settled on GB springs. Not sure about which shocks to go with though - I've heard good and bad things about most.

I had a series when I started driving and then had two defender 110 's but have gone full circle back to series three on GB Springs. So much more character and fun to drive! And GB Springs are excellent.

L4ndyTom said:

I had a series when I started driving and then had two defender 110 's but have gone full circle back to series three on GB Springs. So much more character and fun to drive! And GB Springs are excellent.

Click to expand...

Agreed... I use Procomp ES3000 extended dampers with mine and love the combination.... others don't - down to your personal choice and what you use the landy for really?

"insurance because of my age" If you coil sprung a series the insurance would then be for a modified vehicle and may be higher than a 90. Nothing wrong with well greased standard springs, providing they are not totally shagged to start with. Plenty of time spent getting oil and paraffin in them followed by spray grease makes for a very supple ride for around £5 worth of grease. Just motivate yourself to grease up 3 of 4 times a year.

Alimoff said:

My question seems to have been answered. I guess it's going to be a switch to parabolics then

I appreciate the help.

Click to expand...

My series on good old leaf springs rode better than my old Disco 300. Yes the Disco was knackered but still, leaf springs are simple and you don't have as many bushes, rods, balljoints and arms to worry about.

The vehicles you may see on coil chassis with tax exempt status are either modern conversions done without properly informing the DVLA and are therefore not lawfully registered, or they were converted before the new points system came into place (I think it was early 90s back?). I looked hard at a Series 3 with coils a few years back and almost bought it, but I live in Swansea and just got worried that even though it was 'probably' done before the points system came in, I had no legal proof of this and with the few thousand DVLA employees here, I may have ended up in a sticky situation with no way out.

So just stick to your leafs. Note that some cheap parabolic springs can be different heights and generally of poor quality. Refurb you current ones for free by taking them apart and using a wire brush on a grinder, a paint brush and pot of old engine oil or similar, to keep them freed up. Change the bushes at the same time and the whole system will be good as new (almost!)

My leaf springs are knackered though, will end up changing ten for GB parabolics.

"my leaf springs are knackered though" with a good clean oil drive around for a week, repeat then spray grease and use the motor for a while mine came up 1" + on ride height.

I don't doubt that they did. I am very glad you had such success.
I will however be changing to parabolics anyway, they seem to be a popular mod.
I will keep my current springs in the garage should i want to switch back.

I appreciate the input from all of you. Have a very Merry Christmas.

No.
BG or RM springs are fine.
Merry Christmas!

It was possible up to 96 but no longer, I have a series that was rebuilt on a 110 chassis..... causes some headscratching but totally legal as was done in 1988, V5 even states registered 1988 but in special info on front declared manufactured 1963.... only original bulkhead was used and even that has now been replaced but as body parts carry no points its not an issue.... since SVA / IVA came in this would no longer be possible / legal

cheers steve