Would a Re-shelled Disco be Recorded?

Next week I'm going to look at a Disco TD5 which was re-shelled a couple of years ago. Presumably it must have been a write-off at some point for that to be done, but the owners brother (hmmm...) who is selling it claims it isn't recorded. I've done an HPI check and it comes back okay... Can this be right?? I'm a bit suspicious.. Anyone in the know?

It could have been re-shelled by an insurance/accident claim if so it will not be recorded and is still worth the book price in the eyes of an insurance company, whereas if it where a total loss and recorded it is only worth the scrap value if a future claim is made against it. Or it could have been a third party repair which would also not show up on the register, having been in the trade for over 35yrs (panel beater/manager) re-shells done by a reputable establishment are normally better built than the factory as you are getting a hand built vehicle.

Thanks Stig, errm, could you be THE Stig...?? The one who went off the aircraft carrier...!! Anyway, in the meantime I've had a reply from the company which did the check..
Although AutoCheck is as comprehensive as is currently possible, it may not reveal that the vehicle has been declared a write-off if the owner was self insured or third-party insured or if the vehicle was not covered by its insurance policy at the time of the incident (and the AutoCheck Report Insurance will not cover this risk). If you are still worried about the vehicles status we would advise getting the vehicle physically inspected.
That confirms what you wrote. It has passed three MoT's since the re-shell so it can't be that bad. If I buy it I'm getting a body only half as old as the rest. Many thanks.

No I am not the stig from TG, it is a nickname that I have had for over 35 years as i used to rally SAAB's and then went to Sweden building them for the factory team (oh to be young free and single again). If the Disco looks ok it will be well worth it to get a younger body than the chassis, just have a look at the "depth" of the paint on each of the panels as sometimes shells are supplied painted to colour code and then the "old" panels bolted on, or if it was a shell in primer they may have painted all the panels to ensure colour match, this may show up as masking marks around rubbers/door handles etc.

Thanks for that.. I'll have a look.. Only kidding about The Stig, but one of them has a website as he does after-dinner talks.. If we were 'young, free and single' again, we'd only end up in the same boat, but with someone else..