flea bay tonight

[neil parsons]

a nice white phaeton 

a subaru impreza 4wd beast . not a dutton but has a space frame with a dutton v5

[Adrian Southgate]

Shiny ...

white... 

but that isn't a phaeton anymore. It's lost the unique character given by the pointed nose cone, be a really nice car with the proper bonnet.

As for the abortion powered by the subaru engine, DVLA will stitch up whoever buys it when its called in for a vehicle inspection, plates will be confiscated, ID removed and it will have to go through an IVA at the buyers expense before it can be used on the road. The only thing 'dutton' on that car is the reg number. 

[James Doulton]

I'm with you on these Adrian. I am not a great fan of the Phaeton's front styling and there are some nicely modified fronts on club members cars, but that white one is just dreadful. If he'd gone for the cycle wings then it might be okay but as it is ... yuk! White looks good on a Melos but it doesn't look quite right on that car.

That Subaru buggy is faintly ridiculous. I would respect the builder's right to make what he wants, and he has obviously put a lot of work and skill into it, but it is rather strange. Using a Dutton registration is criminal. Personally, I do not like Subarus because I do not like the sound of them - they always sound to me like they are misfiring.

[Paul Sheridan]

A misfire indeed !!!    Shame on you  :-)))))

[James Doulton]

There has been a lot of on-line debate about why the Subarus sound so different from VWs, the firing order is different but so is the cylinder numbering, I think. Some people talk about the Subarus sounding like a 3 cylinder. One suggestion is asymmetry in the exhaust system making the pipe lengths on one bank longer than the other. Whatever the reason, I prefer the VW sound and the Subaru performance.

[Adrian Southgate]

Phaeton

Thing from hell

[Adrian Southgate]

That'll be a pile of round steel tubes and a set of number plates then...

[1midz0wwbl268]

What i find hard to understand is this  , looking at what the builder of the thing from hell  has fitted and the costs involved, it must have cost a lot of money, i would have thought that someone who spends that amount of money  should have been able to afford an iva test . at least thats what i would have expected 

[James Doulton]

I guess it was not the money so much as the potential problems with getting the design and all of the features approved and all of the paperwork. Much easier to not take the chance of having to rework it.

There was a recent programme where some guy gave up with his Cobra replica because of changes to emission regulations that had come in since he started his kit. He sold it at a huge loss. I don't think it turned out to be difficult to sort out in the end. But use an old V5, that is simple.

[Adrian Southgate]

I'm guessing 'easy way out' too. Simple fact of the matter is when it gets inspected it isn't a Dutton and if the DVLA come to Daryl or me as they usually do then what are we supposed to say? Telling the truth isn't going to help him keep it on the road is it.

[1midz0wwbl268]

I Totally agree, its not what the V5 sayes, and thats the end of it,  we as a club have no option in cases as clear as this but to tell the truth,  i feel sorry for anyone that buys it, because they are the innoncent party and will be the ones who end up having to pay and re do anything that fails , unless the DVLA decide to issue another v5 for it,  but thats not the clubs problem. thats down to what the DVLA decide , but it should not be on a Dutton V5. 

[Adrian Southgate]

Its happened before, owners clubs are the first point of contact outside the official circles for identity queries. I have been contacted by the German, Dutch, French, Belgian and Australian equivalents of the DVLA since I have been doing this job. In most cases I have just been asked for info on what uniquely identifies a 'dutton', in some cases I have been asked very vehicle specific technical questions too. In only one case could I honestly say 'yes, that is a dutton' hence I get a bee in my bonnet about this subject. I'm asked not to give vehicle specifics when talking about it but I can tell all of you that the various foreign authorities are catching on quick, probably quicker than the DVLA did.

The construction and use of vehicles on british roads is governed by VOSA not the DVLA, DVLO's are being phased out and inspections will fall to either a nominated VOSA operative or employee inspecting the cars. This could be a good thing if you car is 'straight' and a nightmare if its been modified (and I don't mean the addition of a few strengthening gussets). Things like this Subaru powered vehicle will be history as it blatantly falls way outside the 'dutton' bracket no matter how you look at it. I'd love to know the registration just to find out what its actually registered as. 

I've also said many times before on here that should the club be informed of improvements to a members car then we can support that if ever asked, clarifying any official queries that may arise and avoiding issues with the authorities by acting on behalf of club members. My legerra has modified bodywork, it's still a legerra. The white one is still a phaeton even though it has a nosecone grafted on. 

[Dave Adams]

The sad fact is that despite the clubs best efforts this is all too common. on another forum i frequent which is moderated by police/magistrates/insurance they are firmly of the opinion that no problem exists. they have stated that they prefer a modern “remake“ on the road to a poor 70/80‘s kit car.