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I sent off all the paper work in the first week in January.
You are no longer allowed to change the manufacturer. After much thought I selected:
BMW
Z300S Barchetta
I get a phone call from them saying the name was wrong because it was too long. Apparently you are only allowed 16 characters for the model name.
I thought quickly counted up the letters and there are only 15. I thought I would point this out to the lovely Welsh lady. She explained that the 16 letters had to include the words Kit Car.
I said that the car wasn't a kit car and that there was nothing on the website saying this was a requirement.
She pointed out that the Tribute invoice I had to provide stated mentioned the word 'Kit'.
I pointed out that it was a body kit - a bit like fitting a spoiler to a car.
She said that the Tribute company was making replica Ferarris so perhaps she should call it the BMW Z300 Ferarri Replica.
I pointed out that that name was more than 16 letters and my car wasn't a replica Ferrari.
She asked what it was.
I explained that it was an homage to sports cars for the 1950s such as the Maserati 300S which is why I had asked to register is as a Z300S Barchetta.
She asked why I wanted the word Barchetta.
I explained it meant little boat in Italian and was used to refer to convertibles.
She said she thought it sounded like that fancy toast with tomatoes and olives (I think she was thinking of bruschetta)
At this point (about 20 minutes on the phone) I asked if she could just do what I had originally asked for while I got back to work. Mistake.
I just got the documentation back and am now the proud owner of a BMW Z300S Replica
I just got the documentation back and am now the proud owner of a BMW Z300S Replica
Oh dear. As a Welshman I feel I should apologise on behalf of my fellow, and very bureaucratic countrymen.
Especially as the new name is more than 16 characters, and doesn't include 'kit car'.
A problem with numpties is that they think they're right and won't be convinced. It might be helpful to others suffering as you did, when getting nowhere, to make an excuse, hang up, and phone again in a couple of hours when hopefully you'll speak with someone more helpful.
But the name's ok, if factually inaccurate, and I don't understand how DVLA are allowed to keep the original manufacturer's name without BMW objecting.
I suppose because what lurks beneath is actually a BMW?
Personally, I think BMW engineering is excellent and a superb base* for Chris' masterpieces. Rather I was wondering what BMW must feel about their designs being chopped about and potentially misrepresented as something else but still using their brand name.
I'm sure the DVLA naming convention will change again sometime soon once manufacturers realise what's happening.
Sorry to hear about that WCA, hope you get it sorted! So you're no longer allowed to change the manufacturers name eh.... time to reign in the imagination then...
I feel your pain WCA. I was deeply worried about this aspect when my G46 project stalled in Poole, after the body was bonded on this was objective No 2. I thought the DVLA might change the bloody goal posts (things are still shaking out Europe wise) to the point where ALL conversions might have to go down the IVA route.
The biggest delay was after the bloke GJ used in VOSA at Poole left and it took Chris at Tribute Automotive some time getting the new guy up to speed, who then promptly left, Chris had to start again with his replacement.
I can only suggest you speak to a supervisor at VOSA (or whatever they are called this month) or maybe Chris might have an inside track on this...
