Do I want to be here?

Hi,

Do I want to be here? Of course I do! But I registered for a specific reason, but more of that in a minute.

Me? John Williams, but I sign as "602" which was the "last three" of my old RAF number (it helps me recognise my own mails). Born just before WW2, and have been interested in quirky cars since soon after I discovered girls ... maybe the film Genevieve got me started. My main interest is old Land Rovers, scarcely been without one since 1972, I currently have an almost finished 1959 LWB. I spent the last 45 years in South Wales, but moved to near Kettering in Northants about a year ago, for family reasons. Civilisation is quite painfull.

Old Land Rovers are like horses. Great fun, but not ideal as a form of transport ... which is why I'm here.

I want a small "bivvy" ... sleep two, room for loo (It's my age!). I resent the idea of paying for accommodation that becomes valueless when the foundations fail an MOT. Thinks! The Scamp has a sturdy chassis that could be galvanised, and came in long wheel-base versions. That seems to be a good base for a small camper. Is there anybody here has been down that road? Are there any long Scamp projects looking for a new home? Could a short Scamp be stretched without running foul of "Friends of the SVA"?

HTH

John Williams (hereafter 602)

Hello John.
It's a bit quiet on here, I think a lot of people use the Facebook page now.

If you have a look through the pictures for the various versions of Scamps people have done all sorts to them over the years.

http://www.scampownersclub.org.uk/old_pics/old_pics.html

The most important things is having a properly registered Scamp but there isn't any way for the DVLA to say what is standard or not as people built them how they wanted. There was the option of having a six wheeler but that would have to be stated on the logbook.

I remembered spotting this picture and wondered if it was a camper of some sort.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for reply.

My understanding (which might be flawed) is that an kit-build vehicle, prior to 1998, had to be inspected and recorded at DVLC BEFORE 1998, else it would need an SVA before being gifted a Q-plate. The "Special Notes" section on the V5 would state that the vehicle was " built from parts, some of which were not new". ... or something like that.

I do not know what details DVLC kept on file ... maybe that note on the V5 is now a "cart blanche" to do whatever you like.
I have the broad Yellow Streak of Honesty, so I'm unlikely to find out,

Vehicles built after 1998 would have required an SVA, and I think, been awarded a Q-plate. Maybe there are exceptions?

The exceptions were kits built onto the donors unmodified chassis, eg Beach Buggy built onto unshortened Beetle chassis. In theory a shortened VW chassis would need an SVA.

Were Scamp chassis numbered? The Imp club have problems with Davrian body shells. They cannot be built up and registered (without an SVA) as the bodies have no provable identity.

Are Scamp chassis still being manufactured?

HTH

602

What you have said is right as far as I know but I have only really found out the options available when the MK2 was current.
From what I have found out all Mk2's were issued with a kit number. This was normally used as the chassis number on the logbook but some Scamps were given LVLO numbers. I haven't found out the reason for this but it might be just those that were inspected by the now closed local DVLA offices at the time.

Chassis plates on earlier cars were could be in the form of riveted on plates or hand stamped numbers. Later cars had the kit number welded onto the chassis. Not all cars had chassis numbers on them and some might have just fallen off if they are the hand riveted type.

Pre 84 Mk2's would use the doner cars reg number. After after that until testing started in 98, they could have either the doner reg or a Q plate, .

Looking at the Scamp Motor Companies website it seems you can still get new chassis from them but would imagine they are intended to be replacements for Scamps too badly damaged to be repaired.

I hope this helps a bit, you basically need to find a correctly registered Scamp. I don't know how much work it would take to get one through the current test, the Anderson Cub has so it might be possible.

Hi Steve,

I looked at the Scamp manufacturers web-site. It seems that ALL versions of the Scamp are still available in kit-form, but expensive (but hey, what do I know?)

The SVA should not be difficult ... provided you know what is necessary before you even sharpen your pencil. Adapting a pre-SVA chassis may be more difficult.

It seems that what I want is a defunct Mk.1 or Mk.2, pre-1976 (to avoid VED) with a V5. It can then be fitted with a NEW chassis, and retain it's original identity and exemption. In reality, I'd be surprised if a new chassis was necessary. I think my problem is going to be finding a long wheelbase version.

Whatever, I have a tanker load of concrete to lay (which won't be this week) before I can move any more vehicles into the garden. In the meantime, I'll put SCAMP into my Ebay Wish List.

602

Good luck with finding one John.
There have been a few on Ebay recently, plus a couple of similar kits.
Shame you still aren't in South Wales as this is down there:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252181897771?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT