Oh......?
I could probably get the original chassis number, but I'm wondering if the original chassis number won't correspond to my engine, because all the engines go to get overhauled before going into the new buggies, and years ago I remember seeing a shelf full of newly reconditioned engines.
Do you think this would pose another problem?

Knowing the number is not enough. You need some official documentation to show that the chassis number was replaced by another, else there is nothing to prove that any chassis number you know actually belongs to the physical chassis you have under the Buggy.

There is still a huge potential for this to go badly wrong though.

Although you may end up being able to prove that your car is indeed "old" and worthy of free tax, there is still the problem of a declaration that the car was constructed in 2002. Now because this was done in another country, and there is documentation that this has been carried out to the correct standards and requirements of that country, DVLA have allowed it to be imported here with an age related plate and no further questions asked.

However, you must remember that if you wish to dramatically alter its identity whilst its in the UK from the one DVLA have newly assigned, then they may well wish to inspect the car and would then understandably question why it may not conform to full 2002 UK spec, and I would be highly surprised if the question of SVA/IVA did not then raise its head.

I`m stunned you managed to import the car whilst retaining a 2002 plate, and whilst there is a very slim chance of getting it re-registered with an older age related plate, for the price of a tax disc each year, I do not think its worth the risk.

At the end of the day, your car is indeed CORRECTLY registered, and this can only be a good thing - Now get out in the sunshine and enjoy it 

Could the original vin number be traced via the old SA reg number anyway? Just a thought. 

Glen... I have, and sure you have also, seen groups of people plodding out towards the sea despite all the warnings and they seem amazed as within seconds of stepping on  the murky bits they are knee deep and still going down. 

Yeah Dave
It all sounds like far too much of a serious waste of time...... I'd already given up until you said "Not sure I would give up just yet . ."
LOL 
So yeah, life's too short, as I mentioned, it's not taxed the whole year anyway, this was only suggested to me to try.

And Manxdavid, that would be another joke, I'm sure it could if the documents could be found. The guys in Cape Town do have records apparently, but heck..... That just sounds like even more beer time wasted!! So that's it....  done, to be honest, I don't even remember what the tax is for the year, all I know is that's it's more than my 2 litre diesel  but then they send a cheque for the balance when I stick it on a sorn.

And Paul1953, I actually haven't seen anyone sinking knee deep in the mud or doing anything stoopid in the muddy bits..... Besides me of course.
But I keep saying that I can't make too much of a peanut of myself up here because I think I'm the only clown this far north with a beach buggy
😂🤣

Quote from: Glenn on January 25, 2018, 11:05:14 PM
because I think I'm the only clown this far north with a beach buggy
😂🤣

There are quite a few would regard you as a southerner

Oh?
Not according to the members on here. In this area it looks like the closest bug to me is Manchester?
That's why I'm really keen to meet up this year at a few get to getheres.

We have s fair few Scots registered and active on here.
Many people don't put a pin on the map

Quote from: Doon L001 on January 26, 2018, 06:34:24 AM

Quote from: Glenn on January 25, 2018, 11:05:14 PM
because I think I'm the only clown this far north with a beach buggy
😂🤣

There are quite a few would regard you as a southerner

Oh I get it now why you said that 
I meant in the Lancaster and Morecambe area, because if a buggy is seen playing silly buggers where it shouldn't be....... It'll be difficult to blend in, because the closest bugg to me is hours away

Quote from: Doon L001 on January 26, 2018, 07:49:16 AM
We have s fair few Scots registered and active on here.
Many people don't put a pin on the map

It might be getting off the topic now for this topic, but how do you add a pin on the.......I've tried a few times, clearly I'm missing something

Something has just occurred to me regarding S\A Beetles.  All the ones I have seen have not had a VIN number stamped on the tunnel top or anywhere else on the chassis. It is therefore possible that your chassis has never had a vin number on it.  I can say that in my chassis there was no evidence whatsoever of a VIN number ever been removed and replaced by "blank metal". No heat markings to the metal top or bottom no ground weld markings top or bottom. No pin holes, dimples etc top or bottom. No evidence of the paint not being original. Is there any one on the forum who can say definitively whether Utenhage stamped some of them or not?

With reference to Vin number stamping & DVLA and speaking from a little experience... In order to legitimately "stamp a VIN number you firstly need a written authorisation from DVLA which gives the number.
You need to present this to an approved party who carries out the stamping to the required standard. As you can guess this is not a cheap process.

I have tried contacting Utenhage directly and South African buggy clubs.  The unfortunate fact is that Utenhage records have immense gaps and I am told directly by the individual who heads the VW Museum records "department" that there is little to no inter-communication with Utenhage with regard to past records. If you are a young person you may find this strange however it is not.

If anyone on the forum has had any actual experience with the SA plant or SA bugs and has been more successful than I have in retrieving written confirmations of build dates, engine number dates, vin number confirmation etc I would be truly grateful for any advice as with regard to iva the engine emissions test requirement are now very specific and degree of testing is progressive in complexity.  Jan 1975 is the cut off date for "smoke test only" After this date the testing for emissions become more complex leading up to the need for a cat with lamba sensing etc. (Don`t ever use a Mexico Beetle from the nineties etc for a donor).
It would seem that at actual presentation to VOSA of a VW air cooled engine and the examiners interpretation of an "original" engine is a minefield.

Yip you're correct!
Don't bother trying to find any records from Uitenhage, everything was on paper, which probably no longer exists. My chassis never was stamped, they originally had 3 plates on the vehicle stating the chassis number.
All the components were sent to South Africa in "those" days, then constantly unpacked onto a shelf as they constantly arrived.
So as they were being assembled the relevant components were removed from the shelf. So by the time they got to the 70's, they were heading towards the back of the shelves, that's why the 70's beetles down there are made up from pre 56 parts.

And I'm South African...... So I can well believe it..... 
I struggled like made last year to find all the correct parts that I wanted to replace. If I remember correctly, my front drums are '48 and my rear drums are' 56, if I get hold of the chap Rob, at GSF Car Parts (he was SOOOO helpful) where I bought all the parts, he would know. Bearing issues as well, because he kept going in circles (excuse the pun) trying to figure out what I needed, I don't remember how many things I posted back to him.......... It was really fun and games, but all sorted now!

Wondering if its worth contacting one of our members on here,  Pine  - as he is based in Sedgefield, South Africa

May be able to throw some extra light on things   

Glen.... Cheers re-Rob... ( I started secondary School ...King James 1st Grammar in 1964 and in those days History was a big thing with regard to teaching. I still remember well the events from say mid 1800`s with the British involvement in the Nile wars up to the 1900`s and the subsequent issues between South Africa and Europe, especially the UK. Shocking how the UK simply dumped S.A. in an "hour of need". Guess that`s politics for you).

Dave... Thank you I will have a word..   Weird world isn`t it?   I live about 10 miles from the UK Sedgefield, (Tony Blair`s ex- constituency) 

Quote from: Dave DND on January 26, 2018, 10:05:38 AM
Wondering if its worth contacting one of our members on here,  Pine  - as he is based in Sedgefield, South Africa

May be able to throw some extra light on things   

You could probably find him on Facebook if you go there, Adriaan  Pienaar.