Probably a lucky escape as my Buggy when picked up from a trader had a one week old mot that passed with a fog light (not required) that was fitted but no wiring. If it is on there it has to work.
A caliper bolt was missing, about 30% of.the other bolts were loose, many were obvious as if you rocked the car you could see the washers move.

So if he can't even be bothered he either doesn't want your cash (not likely) or he knows it's a duff one

Does give you a chance to find a yellow one as well

All the best
Dave

unfortunately you are not alone with problems like this, a mechanical failure after purchase is one of those things but you expect it to be near enough road legal.

On the historic tax free front even a new build LWB should retain it as the running gear and floor pan (has to be unmodified) are still from the donor, it is only a body swap and body style change.

Good luck with your search.

[date that DVLA were notified]

The powers that be have made it all so confusing

Tax exemption is from the day the Chassis was "born" from the factory - thats the registration date on the V5

However, MOT exemption has nothing to do with this date, and is calculated on the date that DVLA were notified that it became a Buggy

If the V5 says "Saloon" then DVLA have NOT been told its a Buggy (unless you have a LVA inspection record pre 1988), so it still requires an MOT irrespective of how old the chassis is

And for those wanting to notify DVLA of a change, PLEASE talk to us first !!   

Confusing is not the word it is unfathomable,

"Acceptable changes" may be a way out of having an MOT as you cannot buy a new beetle shell and the only difference would be the steering column mounting and post 65 seat belt mountings to the body as the rest is all part of the floor pan.

Acceptable changes
It does not count as a 'substantial change' if:

1)changes are made to preserve a vehicle because the original type parts are no longer reasonably available that is us you can buy parts but not a whole beetle body.
2)they are changes of a type which can be demonstrated to have been made when vehicles of the type were in production or within 10 years of the end of production  us again from 1965
3)axles and running gear have been changed to improve efficiency, safety or environmental performance  buggy upgrades
4)changes were made to vehicles that were previously used as commercial vehicles, and you can prove the changes were made when the vehicle was used commercially.  nothing to do with us.

Then they put a proviso in,

In addition if a vehicle (including a motorcycle):
• has been issued with a registration number with a 'Q' prefix; or    some of us have these
• is a kit car assembled from components from different makes and model of
vehicle; or  not a problem if you had a donor beetle
• is a reconstructed classic vehicle as defined by DVLA guidance; or  nothing to do with us
• is a kit conversion, where a kit of new parts is added to an existing vehicle, or
old parts are added to a kit of a manufactured body, chassis or monocoque
bodyshell changing the general appearance of the vehicle;  changing the general appearance is us but then you cannot buy a replacement beetle shell.
it will be considered to have been substantially changed and will not be exempt
from MOT testing.
However if any of the four above types of vehicle is taxed as an "historic vehicle" and
has not been modified during the previous 30 years, it can be considered as a VHI.
This guidance is only intended to determine the testing position of a
substantially changed vehicle, not its registration.

But as it is only about the MOT exemption why bother it saves between £35 -£50 a year and if you have a friendly garage you get a chance to have a good look underneath to see where the rust is starting and any dirty bits that need work.

Thanks for all the above info. everyone - wish I'd joined before I made the decision to buy.

Never mind, as you say, they'll be another some day.

Cheers

Hugh

I wasn't looking for another buggy, honest, but I came across this while idling around on eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vw-Beach-Buggy/283242709543?_trkparms=aid%3D333200%26algo%3DCOMP.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180409081753%26meid%3Dace1bb062873468cb8805f16bdb97948%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D173626533148%26itm%3D283242709543&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219.
Bargain, or run away? 'cos if it's any good I'll need to be quick

Currently SORN, MOT expired Dec. 2017 but seller claims it will come with a fresh cert.
I don't mind tidying it up as long as it is legal and safe.

Cheers

Hugh

Others are  better informed but for me if it the engine runs without smoke or odd noises, the chassis isn't rotted and the switches all do what they are supposed to - then you're getting a great platform to play with.

A slight coincidence that the latest Newbie (Veedubjay) has also just acquired a Koyote to build.

Fingers crossed others have astute steers for you.

Always check the V5 for what it is registered as, and whilst anything that isn`t ideal would never be a dealbreaker for me, it is certainly a good bargaining chip. Check for rust and rot in the floorpans, and just about everything else can be replaced with some spanner work.

But . . .  And this is a very serious one . . . 

I do not like to knock other peoples Buggy's as they are all precious to me . . .



But, unless you are "Getting down wit yo homies . . "  Please put some better rubber on those wheels   

Thank you Hugh (sounds strange, like thanking myself).
The thing is, I am mechanically incompetent; I can deal with points / plugs / oil / brake shoes etc., and replace bits that I see have fallen off, but not much deeper. So any engine work would probably be a garage job with a VW expert.
Bodywork, I can manage fibreglass repairs and make some rear seats.

At that price it may well be a steal as I haven't much money laid by, so get it legal, get it home and sort it out properly next year?

Sorry, I feel I'm going to be a pain in the neck to you before very long...

Dave, thanks also
I will get some more info. re:- V5 as I've already learnt that one, and plan to source some more genuine wheels as those things look distinctly Chinese

Cheers

Hugh

Sorry, I feel I'm going to be a pain in the neck to you before very long...

That will NEVER be an issue on here as its the daft questions that keep this place thriving   

Mot expired Dec 17 so not quite a year ago and the milometer does not work or the speedo is inop as it has had the same mot mileage since 2011. Assume it will need work and go from there, check what the others have said before but it is a reasonably cheap buggy and very possibly a good base for putting your mark on it.

Yeah I noticed that - maybe the odo is jammed as it seems to jump forwards or backwards a mile from year to year?
Either that or he's been driving it backwards

Cheers

Hugh

Dave is 100% right about daft or 'simple' or repetitive questions - although the latter can sometimes be found in old posts through searches. Mind you ever issue/problem seems new when it happens to you.

If Snoopy says its reasonably cheap then your back stop is to get as far sorting it as possible yourself, and then ask Snoopy if you can trailer it to his drive at Evesham for a look over....you'll find he and Mrs Snoopy the nicest most helpful people out there (plenty others throughout the country but the Midlands has many buggy friendly experts available for the price of a packet of biscuits) and Snoopys VW CV means if he can't fix it he'll know who can.

Currently awaiting replies re:- V5 details and floorpan condition, but this is such a friendly community - thanks

Cheers

Hugh

When you start asking all the questions, that's when school starts. There is such a wealth of information available from the collective community on here and it's free tuition! Having had my buggy garaged for 33 years and moved house with it 5 times, as I didn't know how to finish it, within 6 weeks of joining this club it was mot'd and on the road. That was in 2016. Since then I've met loads of great like-minded fools who love tinkering with buggies and most of all who love driving them. I've been to weekend events all over the UK and to Germany for IBW - we're going to Holland in June 2019 for IBW this year which is a must do if you can.
Welcome Hugh 2 (Hewtoo )