Dvla, logbooks and insurance

[Jacktegla]

Try a classic policy as they can be more realistic prices but you dont get no claims.

It's easyto tell the difference as pinto and cross flow the inlet and exhausts are on different sides. (Carb drivers side on Kent, passenger side on pinto)

Better off sticking with a cross flow anyways as a 1.1 screamer is much more fun. I do miss my old 4door 1.1 gl, beat the hell out of it and just kept on plugging away.

I've found i will struggle to get classic insurance until I'm minimum of 21 maybe even 25

 

[mike os]

I suspect age is a major factor, I would suggest a proper broker as a starting point

 

[zx9]

IMO an 18 yearold is safer in a 2.0 mk2 escort than a brand new fiesta ST... it's easy to forget what speed you're doing in a modern car, and that's what kills people

I can't entirely agree with that, a modern car will do a lot to keep you on the road and out of trouble.
My Mk2 1600 sport was very tail happy even on good dry roads my current BMW, also rear wheel drive, has three or four times the power of the old Escort but is packed with safety features fun avoiding computers.

 

[stuvy]

I can't entirely agree with that, a modern car will do a lot to keep you on the road and out of trouble.
My Mk2 1600 sport was very tail happy even on good dry roads my current BMW, also rear wheel drive, has three or four times the power of the old Escort but is packed with safety features fun avoiding computers.

at least you can turn it off unlike the mercs

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Keep it as a 1.1 for a couple of years and then when you are older / have driving history / no accidents / accrued No Claims then fit the Pinto.
A modified car at 18 is going to cost thousands to insure - if you can even get somebody to cover you.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Keep it standard looking with decent tyres. A roll cage, wide wheels and arches and you are just asking to be pulled by the police

If you modify, with even something like a spoiler, and don't tell your insurance then Police can check with them and you will find yourself with invalid insurance so automatic ban for the first couple of years after passing your test and then find it very difficult to get anyone to insure you in the future.
My advice is get a 100% standard 1.0 car like a Corsa, Fiesta, Getz etc for time being and keep the Escort until you are older and can afford premiums. Once you reach 25, and have been driving for a few years without accidents or points on licence, then insurance can come down significantly.

 

[Cobbler]

Some insurance companies now consider a tow bar a mod. The strange thing is, when I told the insurance I had a tow bar on our camper, they said they were not interested & didn’t consider it a modification, with my car when I rang them, it reduced the premium, figure that one out. I asked the girl on the phone & she said it’s strange, but they will look at accident statistics & perhaps people with tow bars have less accidents

 

[Munkul]

I can't entirely agree with that, a modern car will do a lot to keep you on the road and out of trouble.
My Mk2 1600 sport was very tail happy even on good dry roads my current BMW, also rear wheel drive, has three or four times the power of the old Escort but is packed with safety features fun avoiding computers.

I agree with you that modern cars are a lot more stable and safer. Trouble is, they're so stable and smooth, that 100mph in them feels boring. So lads around here seem to have to drive crazy speeds everywhere to get their fun. Two have died in the last couple of years on the road where I used to live.
A mk2 escort will feel sketchy as all-get-out at 100mph, even full rally spec it will feel exciting.
Crashing around a corner at 30mph losing control is a lot safer than crashing at 60mph, and it gets that first crash out of the way without any real hurt, and gives a better appreciation of the 4 contact patches on tarmac.

I dunno... just my personal thoughts.

 

[Morrisman]

Not always illegal, if you can get away from the call centre side of things and arrange a visit from Mr DVLA common sense prevails. I had an inspector out and they are not adverse to what he described as"progressive change" without the need to re register, he was of the opinion that small progressive changes over the years on an older vehicle are acceptable. Example of this would be an axle change where the original was no longer serviceable or available and an alternative was fitted, then at a later date the same thing happens to the front suspension.

Bob

Case by case basis I think, but buying a bare and rotted body shell and then building everything else, that was one fairly steep progressive change curve.

 

[bricol]

I am only 18 and have a 1976 mk2 escort which I'm currently restoring into a road rally car, the log book currently says it a 1.1L and I want to put a 2lt pinto,

At the moment when ive tried to get insurance quotes the only modification they're not happy with is the engine swap which I've declared.
Do you know if I change the engine and then apply to change it on the log book do I still have to declare it on the insurance as when they put the reg in to check the car it would come up as being a 2lt.

Hope this makes sense, thanks.

Into a road rally car? ie you are a member of a motor club and want to compete? If not, then look first - you may well find a modified car either puts you into a silly class, or you aren't allowed to use it anyway. If you are starting, then a boggo standard modern car will suit you better and you can just add on event insurance each time - it'll be cheaper and easier. If you are just starting, engine size won't be the limiting factor to position in the results anyway - you'll be thrashed by more experienced drivers/navigators in one litre micras

 

[sako243]

Age will be the biggest thing against you.

Although quite a few years back now the biggest drop I saw was when I turned 21 and then 25. Since then it's not been significant changes but then I don't have any standard vehicles . The Defender has different seats, locking diffs, winch etc. Although when speaking with A-Plan my brokers I queried what affected the premium and they said - well if you add say a hundred horse power to the engine then we might have to up the premium a bit but other than that anything goes. I think when I asked them to quote from changing from a ~80hp engine to a 265hp engine the premium went up £50...

The other vehicle, well we won't go there - it's got an extra axle for one...

 

[hooblah]

I'm not one to talk, but a 2l in a tail happy car for a noob is asking for trouble. I've had my fair share of mishaps at your age. Didn't help that I thought I was Colin McRae through the streets of London lol. Ask yourself if it's really a car you don't mind crashing. If you have the means to rebuild or replace it then no problem.

 

[the snooper]

Gonna need to check if the 1.1 has the same brakes as a 2 litre, if not they'll need to be upgraded aswell

 

[zx9]

I agree with you that modern cars are a lot more stable and safer. Trouble is, they're so stable and smooth, that 100mph in them feels boring. So lads around here seem to have to drive crazy speeds everywhere to get their fun. Two have died in the last couple of years on the road where I used to live.
A mk2 escort will feel sketchy as all-get-out at 100mph, even full rally spec it will feel exciting.
Crashing around a corner at 30mph losing control is a lot safer than crashing at 60mph, and it gets that first crash out of the way without any real hurt, and gives a better appreciation of the 4 contact patches on tarmac.

I dunno... just my personal thoughts.

I am still in two minds, which is why I said that I can't entirely agree.
My mk2 was the most fun at moderate speed of any car I had owned or have owned since, I do miss that car.

 

[bricol]

I'm not one to talk, but a 2l in a tail happy car for a noob is asking for trouble. I've had my fair share of mishaps at your age. Didn't help that I thought I was Colin McRae through the streets of London lol. Ask yourself if it's really a car you don't mind crashing. If you have the means to rebuild or replace it then no problem.

Crashing a Mk2 these days isn't going to be as cheap as it used to be when they were just old cars. Panels are easily obtainable - but cost proper money.

Cheapo modern - panels still cheap from breakers. And cheapo modern liable to have ABS . . . on a road rally, when you are trying to maintain a decent average, in the dark, wet, over roads out in the sticks, with crap (literally) all over them . . .

 

[bricol]

I am still in two minds, which is why I said that I can't entirely agree.
My mk2 was the most fun at moderate speed of any car I had owned or have owned since, I do miss that car.

Yep, heavy steering, crap demisting, noisy, rattly, cramped . . . compared to the car you are using now. Rose tints are really good these days

 

[Jacktegla]

If you modify, with even something like a spoiler, and don't tell your insurance then Police can check with them and you will find yourself with invalid insurance so automatic ban for the first couple of years after passing your test and then find it very difficult to get anyone to insure you in the future.
My advice is get a 100% standard 1.0 car like a Corsa, Fiesta, Getz etc for time being and keep the Escort until you are older and can afford premiums. Once you reach 25, and have been driving for a few years without accidents or points on licence, then insurance can come down significantly.

No I already have a car i drive every day this is just one of my project cars that I'm working on

 

[Jacktegla]

Keep it as a 1.1 for a couple of years and then when you are older / have driving history / no accidents / accrued No Claims then fit the Pinto.
A modified car at 18 is going to cost thousands to insure - if you can even get somebody to cover you.

My plan is to build it how I want and I can see its going to take minimum of a year especially at the price of parts and then if I cant insure it I'll just take it to trackdays until I can.

 

[Jacktegla]

I agree with you that modern cars are a lot more stable and safer. Trouble is, they're so stable and smooth, that 100mph in them feels boring. So lads around here seem to have to drive crazy speeds everywhere to get their fun. Two have died in the last couple of years on the road where I used to live.
A mk2 escort will feel sketchy as all-get-out at 100mph, even full rally spec it will feel exciting.
Crashing around a corner at 30mph losing control is a lot safer than crashing at 60mph, and it gets that first crash out of the way without any real hurt, and gives a better appreciation of the 4 contact patches on tarmac.

I dunno... just my personal thoughts.

I completely agree my current car is a 1.2 corsa and it goes ok as my first cad but I'm also insured on my dads vauxhall nova sport that is standard historic class rally car so not many mods and none on the engine and doing 60 in that feels like your flying, also I dont even think it would hit 100 so thats safer again.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

My plan is to build it how I want and I can see its going to take minimum of a year especially at the price of parts and then if I cant insure it I'll just take it to trackdays until I can.

You can always get day insurance for the odd time you want to go out to play but that is still going to be expensive