Hi buggyheads, with all these latest changes regarding mots/v5s etc, it has made me wonder something, ... i have knowledge that my buggy was built as it is now in 2010 as i have the original for sale ad from volkszone saved... BUT i dont know wether it was a beetle beforehand or another buggy ? It is registered as a convertible, so for all i know, it could of actually been a buggy for 30yrs

Darren.

A question I have been getting asked a lot of late

As far as I am aware . . .

If it shows CONVERTIBLE on the V5C and your chassis number is not derived from a Kharmann Convertible (ie a genuine VW one) then it is fair to assume(!) that at some point a chat with DVLA has been made and the documents revised to show CONVERTIBLE. This would have been done subject to the rules and regs at the time, and DVLA would have had to have been happy with the criteria given in order to do this, so rest easy.

But it does raise a serious question.

You can apply to DVLA for a History of your car, a fee is applicable and I think that there is a form online to fill out - I seem to recall it disappeared for a while, but I am led to believe that it has emerged somewhere else online now.

One of the goals I am hoping to achieve here is to change the way DVLA view us by asking for an approved amnesty where we can tidy up all of the log books into a more standardized format so that the description of our cars, irrespective of age, can no longer be called into such scrutiny and the words like Beetle and Saloon are removed. I am actually asking for CONVERTIBLE to be changed too, so that we all end up with a more generic term of BEACH BUGGY.

If that goal is achieved, then it does mean that we can then apply to DVLA for some History without any fear of retribution 

Thanks Dave, and it's been said many times but you're a credit to our community.

Thanks Dave, and it's been said many times but you're a credit to our community.

Thanks mate, but I just head up the website - You guys make the Community 

The dvla used to supply you with a folder full of photocopies of everything in their archives about the vehicle, old V5s, changes of address etc forms but stopped this last September when the MOT consultation finished (I think). I guess that they were expecting a deluge, All they'll give you now are limited details if you've got good reason, eg tracing a hit and run driver or a nuisance parker.

It used to be a formality to change 'saloon' to 'convertible' with them, probably stemming from the 80s and 90s when people were making shonky convertibles from Beetles by hacking the roofs of and fitting hoods made from duct tape and bin liners. You'd just change it on the V5 and they'd just send it back amended. It was seldom that easy getting 'Beetle' taken off though.

'Convertible' would be fine for 'body type', maybe with 'VW' for 'make' and 'Beach Buggy' for model. I think that would be my ideal. Including the brand, eg GP or Doon etc could complicate things if a car needed rebodying at a later date for whatever reason.

'Convertible' would be fine for 'body type', maybe with 'VW' for 'make' and 'Beach Buggy' for model. I think that would be my ideal. Including the brand, eg GP or Doon etc could complicate things if a car needed rebodying at a later date for whatever reason.

Now this I disagree with . . . .

Far too many hard tops about for us to be called CONVERTIBLE any more, and what about the LDV Buggy? That had a moulded Roof?

Make VW?  Again, if you look at Siva Bug, the MIni Bug, the Ford AngleBug - ok scrub the Ford one, that was a bit of a monster, but it does show that the hardcoded manufacturer name is probably still relevant - just not always VW.

You could go for the Bodyshell name, GP, Doon etc, but with so many shells being swapped about it is easier to go for the "Generic" name as they did with CONVERTIBLE all those years ago. To the uninitiated, if hey looked at any of the cars we have mentioned thus far, the term BEACH BUGGY probably better describes them than any other, and certainly better than CONVERTIBLE.

My ideal would be  MAKE:VW/FORD/MAKE OF DONOR     and     BODY TYPE: BEACH BUGGY    with everything else blank for the generic ones amongst us, and those who have attained SVA/IVA accreditation can go into more detail with names etc.

Exactly, I meant for the 'average' buggy on here, if indeed there is such a thing

Oh, and you forgot about the wonderful Imp based 'Nymph' and the beast-like 'TX Tripper!'

Brigalo,

The recent letter received today (see can of worms thread) also adds considerable weight to "us" soon being able to self certify, verify and authenticate in an official capacity as a DVLA approved Club, so it makes the Historical Register that is underway even more important than ever as a reference archive for our Registered Club Members should any provenance ever be called into question.

Things are looking quite promising at the moment

Some positive reading Dave.... I'm itching to know who joshua norton is though 🤔?

Some positive reading Dave.... I'm itching to know who joshua norton is though 🤔?

Don`t mess your mind with him - Best ignored 

Oh, and you forgot about the wonderful Imp based 'Nymph' and the beast-like 'TX Tripper!'

ManxDave.... Do you have any photo`s of one of my all time favourite beetle conversions   The "Bonito" ?

This I thought was a superb shape for a car.

It was quite nice

Brigalo life's a long education....

I Googled 'Joshua Norton' and was interested to learn he was quite a character. I'd guess an ancestor of Trump as he proclaimed himself the first Emperor of America and got through life by issuing his own currency, giving suppliers pieces of paper saying they had provided an imperial service, dining for free in return restaurants could say he endorsed them but ultimately dying in poverty as public gullibility only went so far in providing his daily lifestyle. Seems to have been an Englishman from Kent who went to San Francisco realising the American psychology was slightly more credulous viz he claimed he was going to marry Queen Victoria which appeals to their fascination with royalty.

Reading about the weird behaviour of Norton made a change from trying to understand the machinations of disfunctional buggy's!

It was quite nice

Pretty sure but with an asthmatic 1200 four banger in the rear...nein  danke!