72 Bay with oval rear lights

[68_early_bay]

Saw this just down the road from me, thought it was the bus from this thread...not the case but the same issue it would seem, M Reg circa 1974?!??

It's an earlybay, 1970, must have just been registered later

Dvla say


Vehicle enquiry
The enquiry is complete.
The vehicle details for OTO 529M are:
Date of Liability 01 10 2013
Date of First Registration 19 11 1973
Year of Manufacture 1970
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1584cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour YELLOW
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
Please be aware that if the vehicle has recently been relicensed or a SORN declared, these details may not yet be updated on the vehicle record.
If you think that the details on the vehicle record are incorrect please write to:

 

[Trikky2]

Import?

 

[dlscott1974]

Mine was imported in 1980 so is registered on a w plate quite common back in the day

 

[jamesabell1978]

All, good news and bad.......

So I took the vehicle to Cambridgeshire Police vehicle inspectors on the Friday earlier this month and they had a good look over it, confirming that the VIN/Chassis plate was indeed a fake as expected.

Since then they have been doing an investigation comparing characteristics of the van with vehicles stolen going back a fair way and thankfully I have confirmation today that although they cannot determine the identity of the vehicle they do not believe it to be stolen

On their recommendation I have not driven the vehicle as the status of the ownership and MOT was effectively unknown, although the MOT was conducted shortly before i bought it so I had a bit of faith in that.

I am now left with a van with no identity and the next step is for me to register with the DVLA on a DVLA Chassis number, not ideal but better than losing it and the money I spent.

I have read from the DVLA that with a supporting letter from recognized owners club you can apply for an age related plate, I am not sure if this is achievable as there is no identity at all and I may be left with the dreaded 'q' plate.


Does anyone have nay experience of this?

 

[Trikky2]

Was there nothing underneathe the plate that had been welded over the original chassis number emplacement?

 

[jamesabell1978]

Pretty well cleaned up, nothing the Police could get an ID from

 

[Trikky2]

Pretty well cleaned up, nothing the Police could get an ID from

Pity There is one thing you could try. Its called acid etching - theres a bit more info here http://www.chevy-camaro.com/faq/chevy-camaro-engine-code-restoration.shtm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Might be worth a try if you would like to see if you can get the original number.

As for an age related plate, in your situation I would have a word with Clem on this forum. There are likely to be some parts on the bus that will enable you to establish what year it is if you cant go the acid etch route. Some components occasionally even have date stamps on them which could help.

 

[Bigbear]

I wouldn't worry about it being on a Q plate, if you drive,use and it enjoy it for what it was designed then what does it matter what plate it has? I know it might effect the selling on price but what price can you put on the memories you would have created?

Get out and enjoy it mate. 8)

 

[jacks906]

Thats great news and I would of thought that you'll be able to get the correct plate for it well age related one......

Id look at engine codes, gearbox codes, remove interior panels check them for date stamps....

Hopefully you get the correct age plate, looks like a 71 to me but may be wrong......

Good luck

Dave

 

[jamesabell1978]

Mattyd72 mentioned a while back that some of the panels may be date stamped.

"There will be a date stamp on some of the panels.

The doors have them, as does the roof. "

Anyone have any pictures they could share of this to point me in the right direction? I could nto find any on initial search and this will help date it.

Thanks

 

[67westy]

Mine had a date stamp on the tailgate

 

[jamesabell1978]

Thanks that is great, will try to hunt one of these out on the main body.

 

[superfunkyfresh]

I might be speaking out of turn here, it was me I wouldn't be looking any harder to try and find a VIN though. Age related marks and a possible letter from a club would be fine, but if you did manage to find the actual VIN, then its likely that it would then be tracked and traced and you could end up worse off.

In the situation you are in now, you still have the vehicle and can have it reg'd and plated accordingly whether that be by Q or age related. Build up all the evidence you can reference lights/hinges/flared arches etc.. Then submit and hope for an age related mark.

Then hopefully you will have some trouble free camping coming up...

 

[rickyrooo1]

well at least you're getting somewhere, as said there will be date codes somewhere, there is also a way to date the glass on some vehicles - certain dots under certain letters if i recall? not sure if that's applicable to all vehicles but it may be worth asking at a windscreen place - one of the older hands?

 

[marco]

Mine had a date stamp on the front valance.

 

[BARKING MARK]

I might be speaking out of turn here, it was me I wouldn't be looking any harder to try and find a VIN though. Age related marks and a possible letter from a club would be fine, but if you did manage to find the actual VIN, then its likely that it would then be tracked and traced and you could end up worse off.

In the situation you are in now, you still have the vehicle and can have it reg'd and plated accordingly whether that be by Q or age related. Build up all the evidence you can reference lights/hinges/flared arches etc.. Then submit and hope for an age related mark.

Then hopefully you will have some trouble free camping coming up...

Wise words here from "sperfunkyfresh",take note.
Glad to hear you have been able to keep the bus. Whatever registration mark you get,try and put this experience behind you and enjoy the bus....ITS YOURS.

 

[jamesabell1978]

Oh, yes totally agree, just trying to prove the age to the DVLA now so I can get an age related plate if possible and hopefully maintain tax free status

 

[jonboylaw]

So who was the seller and where did it get messed with ?

There is no way you should ever be put of pocket, but to me this feels like someone along the way tamped with the van with a view to making money. Or the worst case scenario, tampered with it to cover up a stolen van.

James, you have to be commended on trying to follow this through, but I am gob smacked at the lack of interest shown by the law enforcement authorities. Just because there is a possible case of fraud, it should not mean the police leave it up to the insurance companies to deal with it.
Kind of feels like it is brushed under the carpet, like identity theft and online fraud, cynically I believe this is done to keep the crime figures down, the insurances high and the bankers rich (by allowing them to keep a flawed system running because it is too expensive to fully investigate and remedy).

Come the revolution, that is what I say ))


Sent from my GX64 SatCom phone using Tapatalk

 

[jacks906]

So who was the seller and where did it get messed with ?

There is no way you should ever be put of pocket, but to me this feels like someone along the way tamped with the van with a view to making money. Or the worst case scenario, tampered with it to cover up a stolen van.

James, you have to be commended on trying to follow this through, but I am gob smacked at the lack of interest shown by the law enforcement authorities. Just because there is a possible case of fraud, it should not mean the police leave it up to the insurance companies to deal with it.
Kind of feels like it is brushed under the carpet, like identity theft and online fraud, cynically I believe this is done to keep the crime figures down, the insurances high and the bankers rich (by allowing them to keep a flawed system running because it is too expensive to fully investigate and remedy).

Come the revolution, that is what I say ))



I know what your saying but when my land rover got stolen and my mate found it on ebay in bit by the time the police went to arrest the dude that took it, call me check it was mine (I still had a copy of the v5 for my files) engine number check revealed it was mine.... he got arested went through court etc...... his lock up was full of stolen goods...... when the officers got in contact with me to tell md the out come it came back as he'd said he "found them in Liverpool like that"...... case closed.... he got community service but not jail.....

I wasn't best pleased but thats the law...

As said tho time to enjoy the bus once your out in it all this will be worth while


Sent from my GX64 SatCom phone using Tapatalk

 

[jamesabell1978]

Official Response from Action Fraud around my 3 page statement on this provided 3 months ago............. absolutely pointless reporting this to the Police through the official channels. All I can say is thanks to the two officers at Cambridgeshire Police who responded to my direct letter and at least enabled me to satisfy myself that it was not stolen and now apply for a new chassis number and registration.. As such it does not look like there is any penalty for removing VIN numbers and M-Plates from vehicles and replacing with fraudulent ones.




Dear James Bell,



Apologies for the delay in responding to your update request. We can confirm your report has been sent by Action Fraud to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), which is run by the City of London police, the lead force for fraud.



After assessment by the NFIB, it has unfortunately been determined that there is not enough information at this time to progress your case further. Your report will be kept within the intelligence system at the NFIB where it will be regularly reviewed and assessed against other reports to help boost wider crime investigations, building a more complete national picture of fraud.



If more information related to your report becomes available, either from yourself or by another source, your report will be re-assessed to determine its viability for investigation. If your report meets the requirements for investigation it will be sent to the relevant police force or law enforcement agency for investigation. The recipient force will determine when and how this may occur and will be in contact with you to discuss that.



We recommend that if you do have any further information related to your report that you complete an update on the web reporting tool using your police crime number and password, http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/how-to-update-my-fraud-report" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. If you would like assistance in how to make a report update please use the “web chat” service on our website or contact our contact centre on 0300 123 2040.



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