Changing V5 Car Name...? (UK)

[Losi19]

Hi all, first time posting here.

My dad owns a Q plate Ford Escort RS Cossworth. He's the second owner of the car and has owned it for around 20 years now, it's all original, white, with the smaller turbo - 30k miles.

He's the second owner of it and the story goes that a local businessman (very, very wealthy - he had Lamborghini's, Ferrari's etc etc) one day wanted a Ford RS Cossworth, so he paid a company to build him one with original used parts but a new body shell and externals. When the company came to register the car, it had to be registered as a Q plate because the interior was used (although near perfect condition). Because the car was registered on a Q plate, which the owner didn't like, he got fed up with it after a few years and sold it to my dad.

Fast forward 20 years, my dad has driven it a little, it's perfect condition with all original Ford RS Cossy parts. However, on the V5C document classes the car as a "Ford Escort". I've been told by my Dad that it's impossible as it's 4 wheel drive and the externals simply wouldn't fit on an original box standard Escort chassis.

I'm pretty sure this effects the value of the car massively, so my questions is. Can the model of the car be changed on the V5 document? If so, does anyone know the process and/or has anyone done this process before?

Thank you for your help.

Joe

[c20tbo]

Nope cant be changed from a Q i dont think.

why did the wealthy business man not just buy a gen one from the beginning, something fishy there id say

[Potter]

Mine is on a Q, it was stolen recovered. However on my V5 it states Escort Cosworth, I guess due to it originally being a 'Ford built' car.

The only shred of hope in my opinion would be to have a SVA test by the DVLA, I am not sure if it would work but if it's all original cosworth they may then recognize it.

I could be easily wrong though...

[Potter]

Ps. Car looks lovely by the way.

[Clipper49]

I don’t mean this in a nasty way, but you’ve basically got a replica, or a kit car. You can never change that from a Q plate this is to prevent people building replicas and registering them as the real thing. I’m a bit of a pessimist when it comes to things like this and agree the story doesn’t add up. Unfortunately you’re right, a Q registration car will always be worth substantially less than a vehicle with the correct year registration. Yours may well also be worth more in parts than it is as a car, don’t let that upset you though as parts are worth a fortune. But I’d advise you use the vehicle and enjoy it.

[Losi19]

Nope cant be changed from a Q i dont think.

why did the wealthy business man not just buy a gen one from the beginning, something fishy there id say

Oh no, i'm not trying to change the Q plate, i know that genuine from it's past. I just want to change the 'Escort' to a Escort RS Cosworth.

[Losi19]

Mine is on a Q, it was stolen recovered. However on my V5 it states Escort Cosworth, I guess due to it originally being a 'Ford built' car.

The only shred of hope in my opinion would be to have a SVA test by the DVLA, I am not sure if it would work but if it's all original cosworth they may then recognize it.

I could be easily wrong though...

Thanks for the info, the SVA test was/is my only option i thought too.

[Losi19]

I don’t mean this in a nasty way, but you’ve basically got a replica, or a kit car. You can never change that from a Q plate this is to prevent people building replicas and registering them as the real thing. I’m a bit of a pessimist when it comes to things like this and agree the story doesn’t add up. Unfortunately you’re right, a Q registration car will always be worth substantially less than a vehicle with the correct year registration. Yours may well also be worth more in parts than it is as a car, don’t let that upset you though as parts are worth a fortune. But I’d advise you use the vehicle and enjoy it.

I completely agree with you on the Q plate opinion, however i am not trying to change that. Just the name on the V5 from Escort to Escort RS Cosworth.

[PABRST]

You can’t change it to “RS Cosworth”
Ford went to court in the day.
DVLA were instructed not to register a car built up from a new shell as a RS Cosworth but as an ESCORT (No model) only.
if you look up 909 Motorsport Shell you will find plenty of information.
I would not worry about it at all.
It will have an effect on its value but it would have been cheaper 20 years ago !

Cheers Pete

[Losi19]

You can’t change it to “RS Cosworth”
Ford went to court in the day.
DVLA were instructed not to register a car built up from a new shell as a RS Cosworth but as an ESCORT (No model) only.
if you look up 909 Motorsport Shell you will find plenty of information.
I would not worry about it at all.
It will have an effect on its value but it would have been cheaper 20 years ago !

Cheers Pete

Hi Pete,

That makes a lot more sense as apparently the shell was a new motorsport shell, although with a sun roof. I'll ring the DVLA anyway just to see if they can do anything but sounds like you're right.

Thanks again.

Joe

[PABRST]

If you can take a picture of the boot floor you can tell if it’s a MS Shell as the fuel tank will have a riveted plate above it.

[Losi19]

If you can take a picture of the boot floor you can tell if it’s a MS Shell as the fuel tank will have a riveted plate above it.

Strange, they don't look riveted to me. More like factory weld or glue.

[The Radman]

back in the day there were loads of built up ones , usually built from various cosworth models, mainly saphs,i can understand ford not wanting a half escort/saph registering as a proper es cos, do you have any receipts for any of the parts used as that would help a bit come resale time if you coukd prove new es cos bits were used

[The Radman]

any pics of engine bay and interior?

[Losi19]

any pics of engine bay and interior?

Yep, please see below. We do have the turbo and engine/cam cover but just not attached.