Looks fantastic, Raymond!

Thanks for the kind comments, gents - much appreciated

I took my registration application form to my local DVLA office today to be told that as it's closing in September they are not accepting these applications any more so it should be submitted to DVLA Swansea. AAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sent the lot off by Special Delivery and now I'll just have to wait - it will probably take longer than if the local office was dealing with it but that can't be helped. My concern is that the insurance cover note was issued using the chassis number and a registration number must be provided within 14 days. It gets harder and harder to do things in this darned country with closures everywhere and what about the poor guys and gals who are losing their jobs? I feel a rant coming on

Anyway, regarding my steering wheel, it's a Momo which I bought second hand. It has a collapsible boss (actually a Mountney) and the spokes are padded with no holes in them so it meets IVA needs and goes half way to meeting the collapsible steering column requirements as well. It had a Honda badge which I covered in carbon fibre film to match the rest of the interior.

Thanks. The DVLA are hopeless at the best of times, good luck with your paper work.

And I thought I'd have trouble getting my (merely 14 years old) Libra through an IVA test! Mind you, it ain't finished yet, but I have renewed hope and enthusiasm.

Movement of sorts today. I had a phone call from DVLA asking for the original invoice from GTM to prove that the kit was new and to verify the chassis number... Apart from anything else the chassis number has now been changed from the original 3 digit one to a 17 digit as now required. I had already explained on the paperwork that the kit is nearly 27 years old, has had several owners and that I did not have the original invoice, just a receipt from the previous owner. It was then suggested that I should go back to GTM and ask for a copy When I said that GTM no longer existed I was told that they could only issue a Q plate rather than an age related one even though everything else regarding parts from the donor car is in order - I even sent the V5 for the donor which is on SORN in my name. It made no difference that the chassis number was the first thing to be checked out at the IVA test.
Somehow, I kept my trap shut and didn't lose my temper with them. At least the car will get on the road before winter comes (I hope) and once the paperwork comes through I might be able to appeal. What a piggin' carry on Never again..............

Still waiting for DVLA to come up with a registration number and tax disc so no Rossa miles for me this weekend Their own paperwork says that they will issue them within two weeks of receiving the application and that was yesterday so I rang them after the mail came at midday to be told that 'That department is closed this afternoon and you will be able to get an update on Tuesday' - for Pete's sake!!! Apart from the sheer frustration the tax disc will run from the beginning of August and I'll be lucky to get a weekend out of it before the end of the month at this rate

I also found out that my application is first checked at one desk then it goes to another one where reg. numbers are allocated before being passed to the one where tax discs are issued and it will have waiting time on each one My true thoughts on DVLA are unprintable but if this is typical of how a Government Department works then it's no wonder that we're deep in the brown stuff. I bet it would be a different story if they wanted something from me though..... It used to be much better in my day when there were motor tax offices everywhere - I must be getting old. Sigh..............

And now the posties are on strike too.................

Still waiting...

Still waiting... and getting really mad now

“Patience, grasshopper,"

"Good things come to those who wait."

This grasshopper has completely run out of patience with bureaucracy Today I received a V5 from DVLA which is good news, the bad news is that this is supposed to come a week or so after they send me a tax disc, a form to allow me to get plates made and also return the original documentation that I sent to them for ID etc. These include my driving licence and were apparently sent off on Monday by 2nd class post (the numpties ) so what has happened to them? Lost in the post? Now I have a V5 but still can't drive the car because I have no tax disc. I suppose I'll have to start another round of phone calls with DVLA if they don't turn up in Monday's mail. It is now 10 weeks since I first applied for the IVA test and for 8 of these the paperwork has been lying on somebody's desk waiting for attention and when finally something does get done it gets lost in the post. I can't take much more of this...


PS: I know I'm a moaning old git but is it any wonder???

My sympathy goes to you.
I am in a similar predicament.
12 weeks ago I ordered some forged pistons ad after 4 weeks they arrived with piston rings that did not fit them.
I sent the rings back 5 weeks ago and was promised prompt replacement. I still don't have them, I am told that they are sitting in UK customs - but who knows. I have a half built engine and it is absolutely infuriating.

David

A kindred spirit! Sorry to hear about your problems but I'm glad of the company too I forgot to mention that the V5 has no less than 4 mistakes in the chassis number (all the 1's are missing) so I'll have to send it back.... If there's no joy this week I can use the V5 to get plates made and a replacement tax disc from the Post Office but I'll still need to apply for a replacement driving licence. The other options that I had for ID were birth certificate, marriage certificate or passport - surely they wouldn't have sent these back by 2nd class post, or would they I expected better because VOSA used 1st class recorded to return the photos I sent them. You live and learn.

Keep Your chin up
Just goes to prove what a productive move it was closing the local offices 《grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr》

At last! At long, long, long, long last! Nearly 26 years after it rolled off the production line (!) another Rossa is on the road I was all prepared to try and get a duplicate tax disc from the Post Office today when my missing paperwork turned up in the post at lunch time. My application was processed on 2nd September and I was assured several times by DVLA that the papers were posted to me on the 3rd at the latest (the V5 was processed on the 4th and I received it on the 7th) so it seems very strange to me that the envelope is postmarked the 9th Obviously, it takes DVLA 7 days to put some papers in an envelope and post them. What a totally useless bunch of cretins However, it's all done now except that I need to get the mistakes on the V5 corrected so it will hopefully be dry tomorrow for my first run (some hope ) and the car does does look strange with number plates on! The finishing touches are GTMOC key fobs and window stickers (thanks Bob!) to match the alloy gear knob Now I can build the car I want as opposed to a car to pass a test and the list of jobs for the winter is growing fast At the moment I'm cleaning up the soft top and am going to get it professionally repaired - anybody got a rollover bar for sale?

As a matter of interest, it took nearly 11 weeks to get through the test and registration process and cost an eye watering £790 made up of IVA Test £450; IVA Retest £90; New Car Tax £55; 6 mths road tax £77; Insurance (Graham Sykes) £102; Insurance fee for amending policy to add registration number (because DVLA took so long) £16. Also, there was fuel etc for getting to the IVA station twice and the cost of countless phone calls to VOSA and DVLA to try and get some action. At least I won't need an MOT for 3 years so that more than makes up for having to pay New Car Tax. And then there's my garage which is chocko with things that I've bought and never used due to a change of plan eg overhauled rear drums which were removed to fit discs so I'm going to have a good clear out and try to recoup some cash through good ol' fleabay. Watch this space...

well done fella