SEMI-STAR LETTER
VIN diesel
Your magazine is a constant source of encouragement to try yet another project, but over time finding a decent or cheapish project is becoming harder, and previous ‘just walk away’ projects become more interesting or compelling.
I was wondering if your esteemed magazine could run an article on the processes and challenges of gaining registration for projects which don’t have logbooks/v5c for various reasons, namely being imported, found in a field, never had one as only for off-road use, a recovered stolen bike with no numbers? I have gone through the NOVA1 and V55/5 or V62 process with a Fantic Super T, Ossa 250 MAR and latterly Yamaha TX650, but many readers may not have, and it can be pretty stressful at times.
My current project bike, a 1978 Harley-davidson SST250,, offers the biggest gg challenge yet in that it now appears that what I thought was the VIN number is actually a manufacturer’s serial number and there is no VIN number. I have a good engine number and am working with my local Harley-davidson dealer to try and track it down though import records, but may yet have to go down the IVA or something else.
I have heard Nitric acid will reveal the stresses in the base metal of an area of frame where a VIN has been removed, and reveal the original number, but who can do this for you? I doubt my local constabulary forensics team will put their hand up! It would be a real travesty if great bikes were broken up and lost just because we were put off a bit of hard work in getting them back to being road legal.i am happy to help or have my bike used as a guinea g pig in the process; let’s keep saving these rare specimens. s Ian Arnold
Bertie says: “We may well be putting out there a feature on such difficulties Ian.”