(I)
"We see so many restored Mk1's in MM/MW that have eg 1997
shells!!! How?"
There are two ways of keeping the same plate.
The first is down to the DVLA points system. So many points for the shell, so
many points for the front subframe, so many points for the rear, so many for the
engine, etc. Obviously you can't use the same front subframe for the
new MK5 shell so that's out of the question if you're being honest. Basically if
it was just a reshell you could keep the original V5 and the plate.
The other way of keeping the plate is to scrap the MkI and transfer the plate
onto the new car. Which obviously means you would run into problems with MOT
regs and stuff (you'd need a cat for a start).
So I think what most of these 'restorers' do is bang the MKI hardware into a new
shell and front subframe and call it a reshell, and the DVLA believe them.
(II)
The points system can only be used if you are
transferring into a brand new shell - thats what the DVLA say. If you are
transferring into another shell (not new) it all gets a bit blurred! What
I reckon is people just don't say anything and hope not to run into
problems.
I'm reshelling my GT at the moment. I'm using a mayfair shell which is in A1
nick. I going to cut the front off and flip front (this will give it the clubman
front) Once all this is done will anyone be able to tell if its the original
shell or not - I doubt it, stick the plates on and shut up. Obviously Mk1 shell
to new shell is a bit more of a problem - obvious design changes etc.