DVLA make a decision - at last

[Stuart Giles]

Interesting point about the Reliant OHV engines, but these have been around since 1962, with the 600 and 701cc  the 750cc (1973) and 850cc (1975) engines could be counted as over the 30 year thing, but I wonder it a later version of the same engine would be eligible?

Don't think the age of the engine comes into it. Was the car modified (by fitting the different engine) within the last 30 years?

I believe that the 'has the car been modified in the last 30 years' question will relate to defined "substantial changes" only, not whether you've recently fitted a non-original radiator muff or whatever. From my reading of the quote below taken from the revised document, a 750cc Reliant motor would not count as a "substantial change", as it is an alternative Original Equipment motor -The document seems to imply that an alternative OE motor would need to be of the same capacity. Whereas the "alternative capacities of the same basic engine" statement appears to apply to someone who has a 1200cc Beetle or Ford Cortina to install a 1500cc motor and still retain VHI status.

Engine – alternative cubic capacities of the same basic engine and alternative
original equipment engines are not considered a substantial change. If the number
of cylinders in an engine is different from the original, it is likely to be, but not
necessarily, the case that the current engine is not alternative original equipment.

Overall though, this revision is a vast improvement on the draft, especially as regards the removal of the virtually unenforceable 15% power increase provision.