Road legal cars?

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Apr 20, 2003 | 01:56 PM
  #1  

Just wondering, how are some cars non-road legal? I'm talking here about things like that Westfield XTR-2, and the Radical, and stuff like that. Ok, you probably wouldn't want to drive them on road anyway, but what aspects make them track-only?
Can't be the speed/power or whatever, as you can get faster road legal cars then that...well some, anyway...!
Or is it just whether or not you register them with DVLA?....
Someone tell me!
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Apr 20, 2003 | 02:01 PM
  #2  
as far as I know if it passes an MOT then it's road legal

so things like mirrors,indicators,treaded tyres, wheels inside arches of sorts and lots of other things that you take for granted when you get your car MOT'd

I may be wrong

Craig.
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Apr 20, 2003 | 02:32 PM
  #3  
A kit car has to pass an SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) test then its road legal. Kit car’s still has to have this test even if it’s built the by manufacture for the owner because it’s still classed as an amateur build.
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Apr 20, 2003 | 02:58 PM
  #4  
Kit cars can be road load legal. In fact, a hell of a lot are.

I know Ian and Craig's XTR2 IS as they drove it back from the SVA

Like any other car, you can have one as a track day only and hence not road legal. Yes there are a lot of cars that have a faster top speed than the XTR2, but on a standard circuit, there are also a lot of bends, and they have such a low centre of gravity and good road handling that they can **** on some cars on the bends

Acceleration is also superb due to a very good power to weight ratio.

Oops, just re-read your question and that doesn't really answer it at all I suppose not getting the SVA will make it non-road legal, but as to whether it needs to pass some other checks to be allowed in motorsport I don't know. I would think it would all come down to the SVA and MOT.

How many are driving with a car with full decat? Is that road legal?



[Edited by Hanslow - 4/20/2003 3:00:18 PM]
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Apr 20, 2003 | 03:35 PM
  #5  
Don’t think you will find many road cars that will have an XTR-2 on the road or a track.

Nearly all kit car are built for use on the road the only reason they have to go through an SVA is because they are VLV (Very low volume) vehicles and have to be inspected to make sure the build quality/safety is up to scratch for use on the road because they are amateur built, once it has passed you get your MAC (Ministry Approval Certificate) which you produce at your local DVLA office when you are registering your car. The SVA test isn’t that old I think they only introduced it in 1998 before that I think a kit was only subject to an MOT.
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Apr 20, 2003 | 03:48 PM
  #6  

True enough - not many things faster than the XTR-2.. I was just thinking of stuff that's about the same speed. McClaren F1 etc. (acceleration wise, that is.) They're road legal, as are various Caterhams, Ultimas, and so on.
I don't have any of them, by the way! just interested...
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Apr 20, 2003 | 05:55 PM
  #7  
go on you know you want one
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Apr 21, 2003 | 01:41 PM
  #8  

I might be persuaded....someone send me £600000, and I'll take the McClaren.....
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