Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Registration Anomaly

My nephew has just bought a 4/4 that has never been used - delivery miles only on the clock.

According to the DVLA website the car was manufactured in 1988 but first registration was in 1991.

It's a U.K. car that has been with it's only owner from new and has never moved from its storage location. It was bought direct from the factory when new and was built to his very specific requirements which included several unique features.

Does anyone know how its possible to have a three year gap between manufacture and registration ? Could it have been supplied without being registered ? Is that even possible/legal ?

Yes it is possible. Registration is when it is made legal to use on the road, being the road tax process etc.

You can buy and never register _or use_ on public roads a car. I am aware of someone who shipped a special Porsche to Singapore to use for a 4 year posting and then found out the import and registration tax for the Pork. He arranged with the local dealer to let them hold it as a display car in the showroom for four years then bought it home. He then registered and taxed it locally. IIRC he got a plate from the year of registration not the year of manufacture as it is the year you want to begin using it on public roads?

Agree with Alistair.
We imported my ex-company car from Germany, it was given a registration that corresponded to the year of manufacture, not the year of registration.

I am aware that imported or re-imported cars can have different manufacture and registration dates, it makes sense.

This is the first time I 've heard of a car being UK supplied for UK use remaining unregistered but I suppose it's possible.

I'd be fascinated to know what specific requirements and unique features you order for a car you're never going to use.

Square wheels perhaps?

Nitrous oxide, big supercharger, massive rear wheels and wheelie bars for drag racing?
Low mileage, no carefully owners at all?

That has always been a dream of mine!

Not sure even Morgan have tried those

My +4 was built in 1956, sent to a dealer in Ipswich in Feb/Mar 56 where it seems to have languished in the showroom until being returned to Malvern. Then, in Oct 57 it was sent to a dealer in Birmingham who registered it Nov 57. It wasn't sold to its first owner until Jan 58.

I had an RS6 with those for a time, sold the clunker.
At 50mph you had to use a gumshield, they were so eccentric.