Morris Minor Owners Club

Currently on Ebay;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... NA:GB:3160

My understanding is that the 'Donor' vehicle has to obtain an MOT before registration trasfer is possible.

Quite right,to transfer or apply for retention certificate both vehicles need to have mot,and to have been taxed in the last 6 moths.that how they have prevented all the old basket cases being sold for the reg no. Allthough the dvla has removed the need for mot prior to 1960,they deliberately left all the old regs re transfers,to prevent just this.The no is WORTHLESS in its present state.and anyone on here who has placed a bid should think again,unless they intend rebuilding it first.

i think maybe what the seller is trying to say is that the number is "transferable" as opposed to "none transferable" as some plates (such as the one on my MO) are. Obviously this car will need to be MOT'd before the transfer can occur but if the number was none transferable it does not matter the state of the car the number can not be transferred, this (as i understand things) is usually applied to re-registered cars where the original number was taken for another car or where the car was not registered at some point in the history ( i.e move to DVLA centralised records) and has been given the correct number back after a search through the history of the car.

how they have prevented all the old basket cases being sold for the reg no.

It doesn't prevent this, however to be legal you need to restore, MOT & Tax the basket case before transferring the number.
This does actually happen, and in some cases the car gets back on the road as a consequence of someone wanting the number plate. In the other cases, something much less legitimate occurs.
As a result, DVLA can ask to do an ID spot check on vehicles restored after many years off road (so i'm told..) I've not had to get one done myself despite doing quite a few basket case Minors, but I've heard of it happening on Stag's, Minis & Land Rovers etc..

It is very easy ring a minor as they have no fixed VIN number and get a MOT that way.
I disappointed that the DVLA do not have system for you to report it.

There's a haulage contracter in Radnorshire who buys any vehicle with an FO registration to transfer onto one of his fleet of lorries - I'd guess this one went in that direction. I've had a couple of cars (A35 and Land Rover) very cheaply off him as he just wanted to get rid. Will look out for the Minor!

IaininTenbury wrote:. Will look out for the Minor!

Well here it is:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Morris-Minor- ... 662wt_1190

Apparently Taxed & Tested until Feb 2015!

Of little comfort to the driver when the cab floor collapses and he/she
falls onto the tarmac of the M40 doing 50mph!

HURRAH for MoT exemption!!

I MAY end up dead or in a wheelchair, but I DO save £50 a year!!

Mr.Bonkers

Oh wonderful. Doubled in price.... Much more tempting now.
Yes MOT exemption is a really silly idea. I've just taxed my grotty Austin A30 which hasn't been onthe road since the late 70s just to check out the system. No problems. I've had several enquiries from folk wanting to buy the car as it looks basically complete and usable and no MOT worries. No spring hangers either which is why I wont sell it but no doubt they'll find another pre 60 death trap.

well theres no way that car can have a genuine MOT,it obviously needs a rebuild .Just looking at the engine,how has it ever been driven to a testing station.

kennatt wrote:well theres no way that car can have a genuine MOT,it obviously needs a rebuild .Just looking at the engine,how has it ever been driven to a testing station.

Over the years, I have bought many classic cars with MOT's that are dubious to say the least!

The trouble with the MOT exemption is not your average classic car owner, who will make sure that the car is maintained. But people who know nothing about mechanics (and have no intention of learning) and just simply buy a car because it does not need an MOT and has free road tax and go about using it despite the fact that the car is a death trap.

qwerty165 wrote:The trouble with the MOT exemption is not your average classic car owner, who will make sure that the car is maintained. But people who know nothing about mechanics (and have no intention of learning) and just simply buy a car because it does not need an MOT and has free road tax and go about using it despite the fact that the car is a death trap.

If I've said it once, I've said it lots! What is needed is a different kind of MOT for older cars - simples! It's just a basic check on safety issues without the mass of silly stuff that has been recently added in to the standard MOT - like clean pollen filters Oh, and it can be cheaper than a modern car MOT as less testing and checking is needed.

rogerowen wrote:

qwerty165 wrote:The trouble with the MOT exemption is not your average classic car owner, who will make sure that the car is maintained. But people who know nothing about mechanics (and have no intention of learning) and just simply buy a car because it does not need an MOT and has free road tax and go about using it despite the fact that the car is a death trap.

If I've said it once, I've said it lots! What is needed is a different kind of MOT for older cars - simples! It's just a basic check on safety issues without the mass of silly stuff that has been recently added in to the standard MOT - like clean pollen filters Oh, and it can be cheaper than a modern car MOT as less testing and checking is needed.

Couldn't agree more. Well said!

well there are dubious MOTs and outright criminal ones,which this is,I wonder if the seller would show a photo of the mot so I could see where it was tested,then I could report it to the dvla(which I would without hesitation),they would love to get their hands on the ticket and the car,by by mot testing centre,and a hefty fine,Anyone taking bets that if I asked the quetion he would put the certificate on the listing,no chance,mind he may just mmmm
Just asked him ,not holding my breath

rogerowen wrote: What is needed is a different kind of MOT for older cars - simples!

Well its not that simple the major problem is that people in the MOT testing stations today are not taught how to deal with such cars and so the vast majority would need to be re-educated and now there is a big expense.

Got a reply............It dosn't need an mot...............................So its not under a current mot as stated in listing,I have advised him to make that clear on the details,and directed him to the regs from dvla,will see if he amends the description,if he leaves as it is may contact ebay,totaly false and misleading description.

Having sold my reg recently,a much better and more namely one,for less mony,I can't see how the number is worth that sort of money anyway,even with an mot,and looking at the condition of the car worth about £150 for any spares.

qwerty165 wrote:

rogerowen wrote: What is needed is a different kind of MOT for older cars - simples!

Well its not that simple the major problem is that people in the MOT testing stations today are not taught how to deal with such cars and so the vast majority would need to be re-educated and now there is a big expense.

And that is probably exactly why the powers that be have decided to relegate the need for an MOT for cars built before 1960. The lunatics are running the asylum! In my mind, a safety check for an older car really would not be that difficult. We are talking structural integrity, brake efficiency (mainly brake balance), steering efficiency, plus lighting, wipers, horn, tyres - the same things that appear on modern cars without too many enormous differences.

I suspect, reading between the lines a little that this car is not MOT tested! I would guess that the owner insured and taxed it hoping for a quick return on the value of the reg and then discovered that you still need an MOT to transfer it, so decided to call it a day and sell as is. Bidding first got to just over £400, he then ended the auction saying it was sold (you have to choose a reason for ending an auction and "bidding hadn't got high enough" is not a valid reason for ebays rules - its costs extra to put a reserve on). It was then relisted at a fixed price of presumably what he thinks its worth.
When you list a car on ebay, if you enter the reg it prefills some of the details for you and I'm guessing with the new pre60 MOT rules that it defaults to saying its tested on the same day it was taxed hence the slightly misleading details ont he auction page. Nowhere in his description does he say it is tested and if it was, by whatever means, surely the plate would have been sold on by now...

well he now KNOWS it will need to have an MOT for the transfer,if he has taken any notice of my reply to him,so we'll see what he puts up now.Trouble is some unsuspecting punter is going to bid for the number and get a right shock when they try to transfer it to their pride and joy.