New member New Scamp Owner No V5c! Please Help

Hello everyone,

Back in November I purchased a Mini based Scamp on a whim on Ebay.

When I went to collect it the seller, a car dealer, had the V5c registered in the previous owners names. Now, nearly three months on, the new V5 with my name on it has not yet arrived from the DVLA. I have received the V5's for other vehicles I have bought since then so the only explanation I can think of is that the seller has not sent the counterpart off.

I have the new keeper supplement for the Scamp but the application form for a new log book asks for the VIN number which I cant find on my Scamp. There is a small metal tag with a 5 digit number on it under the bonnet but it doesnt look very professional. Could that be the VIN number?

How would you go about applying for the log book for this car?

Hi, it's possible that the metal tag is the number you need. If it's an early Mk2 Scamp the factory issued a kit number and it was down to the builder to attach it, apparently this was how a lot were done.
One way to check the details are correct without involving the DVLA is to do an HPI check. Unless you have access to a trade HPI this won't give you the vin or chassis number but if you offer the number they can confirm if it's correct or not.

Have you tried contacting the seller ? If there was any problem with how the old logbook was filled in they might have sent it back to him.

Unfortunately there are quite a few posts about logbooks on here so it's worth having a bit of a read.

In the days before VIN numbers (is that an example of RAS syndrome?), you had a chassis number. Robert Mandry provided only a 5-digit serial number: it was up to the builder to mark the chassis, usually by stamping the number onto a rivetted-on ali offcut

In that case that 5 digit number fits your descriptions perfectly. Thanks chaps.

Ill send that in and see if it produces a log book.

Fingers crossed.

I think if it's correct it should start with 20 and then the build number.

There have been more then a few case where Scamps haven't been registered properly, if it's on a Q plate there probably won't be a problem.
If you type your reg number into here it will come up with what your Scamp is listed as on the logbook. You don't have to pay anything. A Scamp could be listed as a Scamp or Austin Scamp to name a couple.

https://www.theaacarcheck.com

With the listed make you can then go onto DVLA's website and check the tax details and MOT history. You can also get an HPI check done to make sure the chassis number is correct.

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

Armed with the knowledge that you have the correct details an they match those the DVLA have getting a logbook should be fairly straight forward. If things don't match the DVLA will start asking lots of awkward questions.

Yes it is a Q plate and the body number is five digit beginning 20 .

The first thing that catches my eye is that after typing the reg into the AA's car check shows date of first registration as 1970 although my new keeper supplement shows 15 05 1987. Apart from that the AA site states "Robert Mandry", which corresponds with my new keeper supplement.

The second thing is that entering ROBERTMANDRY and the reg into the DVLA site does not show any records of that vehicle at all.

Is that reg date or the anonymity of the DVLA details anything to worry about before I go any further?

Thanks for your support with this, it is very much appreciated.

The first registered date might be when the doner Mini was first registered.
Having Robert Mandry written on the logbook is one of the best things to have. Does it not work if you type it exactly as it's written on the new keepers supplement, perhaps it will work if you try entering it a few different ways ?

At some point when all the car info was put on computer a person had to enter all the details, there is no telling if is was someone doing work experience or someone who knew exactly what they were entering so it's hardly surprising there are a few mistakes.

That might explain the dates, it was an earlyish mini the donated its bits to this Scamp.

Tried as many other variations of ROBERTMANDRY as I can think of along with AUSTIN, MORRIS, SCAMP, MOKE, MINI, MANDRY, ROBERT, R MANDRY and still no joy.

Will an HPI check definitely provide the right VIN number if the DVLA have no info on it? Shall I just send the New Keeper Supplement in and hope for the best?

That does sound a bit odd, no joy just putting a space between Robert and Mandry ? THis might be the probelm you will get with DVLA. If they type it in and it isn't right first time they might not bother.  I wonder if the numbers off the new keeper slip would bring up the info if you tried to tax it online ?

If you do an HPI check they won't give you the number but as with mine if you tell them the correct one they will confirm it.


Just had a look and you can apply for a new tax using the new keepers slip using the reg number and reference number. This should bring up the vehicle details so you can at least check things before sending anything off. It's also worth sending anything to DVLA recorded they can't say anything has just been lost in the post then.

Just a thought, has the car been off the road for a while ?  Could be that the MOT details aren't on the system ?

I've sent a private message if you haven't already spotted it.

The AA appear to be slipping - Q plates weren't introduced until 1983.

Quick update,

DVLA issued replacement V5 within days of me applying for it.

Clearly your advice was sound. Thanks again chaps.

Glad to hear it. Hope to see you at one or other of the Club meets.

Is the car on the road BTW?

Sadly I think it's the one for sale on ebay at the moment, hopefully the new owner will come on here.