What makes an RS an RS?

[katana]

Whilst I still have my RS for sale (at a reduced price btw!) someone looking at pictures said 'wouldn't touch it as its had a 're-shell' and the engine isn't original', so DVLA will be all over it on a V5 change! It had a pinto when purchased that got stolen and has been on SORN for 13yrs + DVLA have its life history prior so I can't see the problem especially as engine swaps aren't un-common!

Now, this got me to thinking, its 44/45 yrs old, has had 20+ owners and I guess was road rallied at some time, and likely received damage sufficient to require a re-shell (or it was easier back in the day to just swap ?) I always thought this was the case, little bits not jelling but It didn't worry me as I was just prepared to use it as-was. The shell has all the RS reinforcements and chassis pieces and things like the gearlever hole are rough cut just like factory with no sign that a non RS shell has been modified. I suspect it was maybe a 'Mexico' that has been used to rebuild an RS2000 ? I know it'll never achieve top notch money but how much does a re-shell devalue a car (to the point it makes more sense to break it and sell parts which obviously have significant value?)

Discuss!

[BIG G]

There are very few cars that aren't what I class as triggers broom vehicles, the trouble is that the internet allows people to comment that have no intention in purchasing and this pisses me off, back in the day of autotrader if someone rang in response to an advert to spout it would be odd and you'd just hang up, 

All decent cars have a history and the more stuff you know thats happened to a car makes me more personally interested and as long as you're open with proper buyers then happy days. 

The problem is that the 30k + buyers now want these cars that were once worth £250 to never have been thrashed and bodged and treated like a 30k all of it's life.

[Ray]

i have now twice been on the end of the DVLA creating problems over a V5, and once where they just issued it, so to a large degree, with anything modified, altered or changed, you now have a potential problem, i know others that have also had problems, on the 2 that i have had involvement with, ive had to re assemble one car back to standard and show in excess of 40 pictures, inclusive of vin no stamping, vin and body plates inc their riveting, the other car was purchased part restored, and had to be completed prior to them issuing a v5, as there was no prior pictures, and they again wanted lots of pictures, again very particular over the vin plates and stampings, and in both cases the cars had to be to a large degree how they rolled off the line, and the latter had to have an MOT on the car prior to issuing the V5, it seems to be a little hit and miss who they pick on tbh, but the problem is there

[colr6]

I must have been lucky, the cortina from America altered to 2.0 on the log book v5 two weeks. Harrier no issues, didn’t have a log book for that one . Off the road , not sorned again a few weeks log book. I’ve also done 14 bikes done  going over to historic class nothing, all came back. I have a 46 BSA that was on an old buff log book, incorrect frame number that one with a bit of evidence and a letter from the BSA owners club - v5 issued. Transfer of a private plate that I’ve had for 25yrs from a car in my name over to another in my name…………refusal ! It had to be inspected by someone who had no idea about the weather never mind a bloody car. 10 weeks later after letters/ phone calls eventually got it done. Just the luck of the draw if you get someone who knows there stuff or just an awkward box ticker.