Ask the expert
SHORT STUFF
Q I’ve just acquired a part completed ‘shorty’ Mini project. Before I start to spend any more time or money on it, I need to find out if the car will be road legal once it’s finished.
The car has passed through the hands of several owners in its current state, and I only took a chance on it as it was so cheap. I’m now wondering if the previous owners failed to get it on the road because of bureaucratic reasons. The work that has been done to shorten the body looks to have been done to a high standard.
How road legal are shortened Minis? Once it is complete and running, does it just need a normal MoT, or am I going to be faced with something like the IVA test that kitcars are subject to? Am I going to need an engineer’s report on it?
Luke
A It must be possible to get a shorty Mini on the road as we’ve seen many over the years. Obviously, the car would have to be safe and meet all MoT criteria, so it would follow that it would be a good idea to have an engineer’s report. Some MoT stations have
