Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello,
I am new to this forum, so thank you for any help. I bought a Morris Minor Convertible about a year ago and am just at the end of its restoration. It had a convertible conversion by R and C Motors of Martock in Somerset. Unfortunately, the V5C was not changed from Saloon to Convertible years ago when it was converted. I am awaiting a V627 from the DVLA.
Does anyone know if R and C Motors still exist so I can ask them for information related to my car? If not, does anyone know if it will be a long drawn out affair regarding the DVLA?
Thank you for any help.
Best Regards
Russell

Do not send original docs to DVLA, they will not be returned, send photocopies

Ah! They have already been sent. When I telephoned the DVLA, I was advised to circle the word 'saloon' and write 'error' next to it and also to write 'convertible' in the changes to current vehicle- wheel plan/body type. It was supposed to be a quick change. However, now the DVLA are sending me a V627 form. I have found from previous experience with the DVLA that everything is red tape and drawn out. I wonder how long it will take this time?!

R & C Motors (Martock) are still listed as operating.
Great Western Rd
Martock
TA12 6DT
tel: 01935826393.

Thanks Phil. I will give them a call next week. The next problem I have is there is no engine number as the aluminium plate has gone. Does anyone know if I can find what the engine number was from the chassis number? Thank you.

I am pretty sure that you can find the original engine number of the engine fitted when the car left the factory by cross referencing the body/chassis number. Have you tried a DVLA search for details of your car? If it is listed on that site it should give the engine number. No doubt someone on here will tell you how to do it or provide details of another way to find the engine number.

Thanks Phil, I found a scan of the log book that I did before I sent it away, so have the engine number now. I just hope that the DVLA won't take long now!

I did the same on my elan a few

years ago i just filled in the relevant boxes on the reg document and sent it off came back with no problems.

Sometimes DVLA need proof that the vehicle is one and the same.

Should be okay with documents you have.

Hope you get better "advice"than I did when I asked a similar question on here a couple of years ago.If you search my username you'll see whats involved.Suffice to say that it needed an inspection at my local DVLA office(these have all disappeared but I think VOSA premises are used now).The inspection was free.All the tester wanted to check was the body/chassis numbers,the areas on the body that had been changed etc.Wasnt interested in the engine.It took about 7 minutes the car kept its original registration.From start to finish as I recall it took maybe 3 months but I didnt send the form off for the inspection until I was ready as I wasnt in a rush.Inconvenient maybe but more peace of mind than driving about in a car with incorrect V5 details that would give the insurance company cause to not pay out in a claim.And they kept my V5 until it was all done but sent out a new one correctly amended afterwards.

Thanks for your advice everyone. I'll send off all the information and wait and see. Cheers Russ

With the last conversion I did, the DVLA offices had already closed, so when the owner sent off the V5 for change of body typw they sent back the forms for special vehicles and kit cars where you have to declare the source vehicle for every major component - axles, engine, shell, etc. the owner found it all a bit offputting so I filled it in listing the same original vehicle registration number for each component, and stated something like 'converted to original factory spec convertible using proprietory set of new parts' and included a photo of the finished car (sans hood but still a convertible).
The amended V5 came back within a few days.
I guess a handful they will pick out for inspection but with less venues for inspection these days, it will just be a handful. Anyway, don't be put off by the horrid looking form thats really intended for hotrodders and kitcar builders - most of it doesn't apply and its easy just to fill in the bits you need.

Photo of the chassis plate helps also.

Yes it would. Much info as poss to make it clear for them really. It will probably be dealt dealt with by someone who doesn't know much about cars, never mind the world of Minor convertible conversions so clear helpful and easy to deal with and you should be ok.

Its interesting really because every time I have declared a change of body style to the DVLA they have asked for photos - I send a letter with photos with the logbook now and it comes back changed...

Matt, to be fair DVLA deal with MANY types of vehicles.

Taking photos of key id numbers,V5 AND the vehicle itself isn't THAT
much of a hardship.

Have to look at it from THEIR point of view.

I was referring to the fact that people are being asked to fill in "complex" forms whereas I have only been asked for photos and a few other minor details...

Thank you, that is good news to see. I have sent back the forms to the DVLA and hope to have the log book returned without any further problems. Cheers Russ

Looking forward to the outcome of this.

I sent off the form to the DVLA . I put down the vehicle registration next to each component and sent photos off including one of the chassis plate. The amended log book came back in four days and there was no need to get it VOSA inspected. It turned out easier than expected. Thank you to everyone for their advice.