Re-body kits

[dombanks]

At what point does a re body kit from the likes of tribute need IVA and how much of the original car must you keep?
 

[Mark (smokey mow)]

15 minutes ago, dombanks said:

At what point does a re body kit from the likes of tribute need IVA and how much of the original car must you keep?
 

When you make structural modifications to the chassis.

 

a long wheelbase beach buggy kit wouldn’t need an IVA for example as it uses an unmodified beetle chassis but a short wheelbase would as the beetle chassis is cut an shortened. 
 

http://www.beachbuggy.info/index.php?topic=11674.0

[dombanks]

That’s really interesting. I wonder if they consider the windscreen and associated pillars as a part of the chassis if I remember right bmw used to claim they were integral to the strength. Didn’t they do an ad where they balanced a 3 series on the screen. 

[Mark (smokey mow)]

8 hours ago, dombanks said:

That’s really interesting. I wonder if they consider the windscreen and associated pillars as a part of the chassis if I remember right bmw used to claim they were integral to the strength. Didn’t they do an ad where they balanced a 3 series on the screen. 

For a monocoque and if the manufacturer is claiming that it is then absolutely yes, but for unitary construction where the body and chassis are separate parts then no.

[dombanks]

deffo interesting to find out/understand. I quite like some of the rebody kits out there just a bit different to do. My only real issue in the past is where they are passed off as the real thing when copying a fezza or the like.