Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi to all on this beautiful sunny day
Hope someone can help. I would like to do something like the rear arches in the below picture I am trying to find out the legalities of this as I really like the look. I know it isn't to everyones taste but I love it. Is it legal?!
Regards
Ben<br><br>

I understand wheels have to be covered for road use. My brother got pulled over in his mini once because his wheels slightly protruded the body work. It was for this very reason later mini's had those plastic arch extensions on when fitted with the 13" wheels. The way Caterham get away with it, is by fitting those bike like guards around the wheels. Whether this would be acceptable on these cars I don't know. Also there shouldn't be any sharp exposed metal incase pedestrians catch on it if ran over by you.

Suppose it depends on your definition of 'covered'. I'd say it's covered if you can dangle a plumb bob off either end of the guard and it doesn't hit the tyre, which looks like the case here. But after that it would depend on the mood of the law custodian, and on your passing the 'attitude test' during ensuing discussions.

I think you need some form of arch but not fully covered, this car below (Grinnall Scorpian IV) has very small arches and is road legal.

As long as the wheel is fully covered then its legal as far as I know..... i.e. as per tonym's plumbob

I heard that the wheel must be fully covered in terms of width, ie the arch or wing must extend to the outer edge of the tyre, but, they dont specify the length of the wing so technically you could have a wing only 1" long! (like a bracket really).
Also its not an MOT requirement, so you shouldn't fail a test as mudgaurds and wings arent testable items (only sharp edges and if they don't exist they wont have any sharp edges!). It is however in construction and use regulations, but the Hot Rod and Custom car folk seem to get away without them. I guess you just take the risk of explaining it to the policeman at the roadside from time to time...
Far as I can see the car in the pic is fully legal with those wings. Number plates a different matter though....

The other thing you can do is to fit a guard and then stick tyre tread on it so its not immediatly obvious...........

Blimey, that brings back memories! People actually used to do that!

It's not the tyre that should be covered - it's visible tread. Now work that one out - where do you view it from?. Most Police don't have a clue - some will do the 'plumb bob' test, whilst others will use discretion?
Look at the VW scene with their stretch tyres - tread is covered, but there is 2 inches of sidewall protruding.

Pete

Thanks for all the responses to this guys, its very helpeful . I think from this the general consensus is to use my discretion. Pete, I have seen the stretched tyres so I may use that reasoning if and when I get stopped. Another question, where should I put the lights? Same as the one in the photo? Any suggestions?
Cheers
Ben

Is it me or does that car have no rear springs?

I see they have used the holes from the rear bumper bars to hold some of the lights, that's a good idea if you're not having bumpers, possibly saves on welding

Sidney'61 wrote:Is it me or does that car have no rear springs?

Probably got a Jag IRS in it

Fuel tank has been moved also so I imagine a heavily modified floor area underneath.....

As I have no rear bumper this does seem logical. Is there a minimum/maximum hight the lights have to be?

Yes there is - you will need a copy of the SVA handbook which gives all the regs for lights, mirrors, exhausts etc etc... I'm sure it will be online somewhere if you Google for it.....

Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but when I built my kit car, I was told that to be legal, wheel arches have to extend to cover the width of the wheel rim. So, I guess on a car with 14" wheels, the arch must cover a diameter of that size. If you can get hold of a copy of an SVA manual, this will confirm it. Hope this helps (& makes sense!)