CLASSIC PARADES ANNOUNCED FOR NEC SHOW
Richard Shackleton, who owns an award-winning ‘barn find’ Volkswagen split-screen pick-up, is asking Classic Car Weekly readers for help in securing the vehicle’s original registration number, following three refusals from the DVLA.
Richard found a 1969 tax disc in the VW – which was stored off the road until 2006 – during a sympathetic restoration.
‘2113 HX’, a Middlesex mark, was issued to the VW on 18 February 1960; the last time it used this number was in 1969, when its clutch failed.
Richard found that the Greater London Council later destroyed county vehicle records, so has had to turn to supporting documentary evidence in the hope of getting the VW’s number returned. Lettering found on the VW denotes that it was used by European Cars Limited, a VW distributor based in Middlesex and London, that marketed the Slumberwagen caravanette conversion.
Richard’s VW was voted the Split Screen Van Club’s Van of the Year and generated a lot of interest when it was shown at the 2019 NEC Classic Motor Show.
Urging anyone with old European Cars Limited documents, images or anecdotes to come forward, he said: ‘Despite all this, the DVLA is still not moving the registration. ‘I only hope that someone out there may be able to help with information.’ Richard is currently having to run the vehicle with a different DVLA-allocated number.
Anyone who can help should email Richard, who is planning to attend the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Club’s Club Expo on 25 January, where a DVLA forum is to be held.
Nick Larkin
❚ richard@shackleton.me