Manky's Pop.

[kapri]

NOW for the REALLY big decision, what style and type of number plates ? Knowing all the regulations and penalties for non compliance etc I know what I would chose;)

[Manky Monkey]

Back online again!
Scottie, (TikiMunki), & I were actually in a supermarket carpark around the corner from the DVLA office in that pic -watching the trains cos we'd arrived early.
When we got there, there was another recovery truck outside, causing chaos with the traffic. It had a huge 1930s Bentley tourer onboard. Apparently there'd been a mix up with hand written documentation many years ago & it'd been running on the wrong registration number ever since!
The guy doing the inspections was maybe only in his 20s, but very chatty & helpful. Said he couldn't see any problems & that it was nice to see something a bit different -he pointed out one of his colleagues admiring the Pop from an upstairs window!
He took my phone number & will ring me tomorrow morning to confirm the paperwork's underway. Then hopefully I can nip back into London when I finish work tomorrow afternoon & collect it. Job done.
Kev, I've been looking at the legality of pressed aluminium number plates on various forums. Very mixed opinions on whether they're allowed or not. I'd like to fit them, purely cos they'd suit the truck, but having gone to all this trouble to get the thing completely legit, it'd be daft to get pulled over for something like that. So it'll probably be bog standard persplex ones. 

[kapri]

Pressed ali are legal IF they have the correct size digits and latest BS number. I bought mine from a ex copper who ran a number plate business and he wouldn't sell them if they were illegal !

[kapri]

These meet the font and size requirements of BSAU145D

http://www.pl8s.co.uk/ReflectiveDuoPlate.html


Framptons is now owned by one of the large plate suppliers ( not sure if it's Hills or Jepsons ) and as such they will not sell dodgy plates either . Plate will come with required BSAU145d spec stamped into proving the plates met requirements.

The Police are trying to prosecute anyone who doesn't have a perspex plate simply because they don't understand the regs . They believe that ONLY perspex is legal when in fact the reason perspex covers 99% of the market is simply they are easier for your local Motor Factors to make as they don't require a press. Usual Police comment is that they are not MADE of retroreflective material ,well neither is perspex ,it has a film added behind it just the same as the ali plates have a film added to the front of it !

In fact aluminium plates far exceed the durability standards required by BSAU145d!!

Framptons can also make square rear plates, far more 'correct' looking on a commercial .

Information from 17 years selling number plates for a living!!

[kapri]

As Manky knows I'm extremely anal about getting legislative issues correct

So here is a link to a statement from British Number Plate Association that ALI plates ARE legal ( as I said above )  and why.

http://www.bnma.org/faqs.html

[poprodder]

great info there kev. cheers.

[Manky Monkey]

Okey doke. Well as I've been dutifully following your advice all the way through this registration process Kev & you've yet to lead me astray, aluminium plates it is.
The front one will be square & the rear's a regular rectangle, (already got a recess in the bodywork for it). I'll contact them tomorrow.

So here it is- the little scrap of paper this has all been about. A fully legit tax disc. 
Jason, the guy who did the vehicle inspection yesterday, rang me this morning to say Nice DVLA Lady Michelle was finishing the paperwork as he spoke & I could call in to collect it this afternoon. So as soon as I finished work at 2.30 I headed up the A3 into London again. As I walked into the waiting area he spotted me from his desk, grinned & waved an envelope at me. I could've kissed him when I opened it, (maybe that's why there's a glass screen across the counter). My tax disc, registration number & letter authorising the number plate manufacture. The logbook, (or V5C document as they are now), will be posted to me.
Can't believe it's finally over! We've turned a pile of old scrap into a car & the authorities officially recognise it as a legitimate road going vehicle. Yes, I'm chuffed!
We've still got a lot of work to do -most of the bodywork's only tack welded together & everything's in bare metal. The engine's misfiring & not picking up cleanly when you put your foot down. It's gonna look unfinished for most of the summer ...but now we can legally take it out for a spin. How cool is that!
As I said, it ain't over yet, lots still to do, but to all you guys who've leant a hand, given advice, donated parts etc, (you know who you are), a big sloppy kiss on the nose to every one of you. Couldn't have done it without you. 

Manky Monkey Motors
Mankymobile
Registration Q--- UGF.

[Manky Monkey]

I have to say, looking back on it now, although I got seriously stressed out over the SVA test, (took us 3 attempts to get through it & we just scraped through before they phased out the commercial vehicle test), the actual paperwork side of things was remarkably simple really. Half a dozen forms & a 10 minute vehicle inspection at the DVLA office. Nice DVLA Lady Michelle & her colleague Jason were genuinely enthusiastic & chatty people & a pleasure to deal with. Michelle told me a while ago that she often browses car forums -so if you see this -thank you! 
Think I need some time off from the workshop to wind down now!

[Olds]

It's been a bit hectic for you, so you deserve a bit of time off.



Right thats enough, now get back to it.

[morrag]

Nice one Mr M, a very satisfying result I should think, Morrag

[scannerzer]

well done MM,i'm sure your looking foward to your first roadtrip now

[merv]

A big well done 

[Manky Monkey]

Why's that bloke stood next to that broken down hotrod grinning like an idiot?
Cos he's broken down while out ...driving his hotrod.

[poprodder]

hooray, think i'll pass on the sloppy kiss mind.

[Manky Monkey]

Ohhhh.