MOT Consultation - 40 Year exemption.

[Stuart Giles]

So based on these changes if approved, if I was to build an Austin seven Ulster replica after May 2018 i'm assuming I wouldn't be able to lower it as per the bowed axles/suspension to create a hillclimb/track car?

I think you'd be OK on the front axle as it could be argued that it is original. 

However. Copied and pasted from this Government document released today......

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...idance.pdf

The criteria for substantial change. A vehicle will be considered to have been substantially changed (and hence not to have been historically preserved or maintained in its original state and to have undergone substantial changes in the technical characteristics of its main components) if it meets one of the following criteria. Such vehicles will not be considered of historical interest and will be continue to be subject to vehicle testing.

 Criterion 1 If a vehicle has a power to weight ratio of more than 15% in excess of its original design, unless such a modification took place before 1988. 

Criterion 2 If a vehicle: 
 has been issued with a registration number with a ‘Q’ prefix; or 
 is a kit car assembled from components from different makes and model of vehicle; or 
 is a reconstructed classic vehicle as defined by DVLA guidance; or 
 is a kit conversion, where a kit of new parts is added to an existing vehicle, or old parts are added to a kit of a manufactured body, chassis or monocoque bodyshell changing the general appearance of the vehicle. While reconstructed classic vehicles and kit conversions can have age-related registration numbers that are more than forty years old, they are not VHIs.

So, don't fit that high lift cam and big carburettor, if it's going to increase the power to weight ratio by more than 15% - that's 18 BHP  vS. the factory 12 BHP if you still have the standard bodywork the car left the factory with. In the case of a Ruby based special, where the resulting car will be  substantially lighter than the factory car, you'll need to de-tune your standard 12 or 17 BHP engine to bring it into the Historic class.