Bustard

[Greybeard]

Not sure whether the Bustard qualifies as Classic, Retro or "what the xxxx"?? but as it's an amalgum of 9 different manufactures ( so I'm told) it must fit in here somewhere.
There are at least 4, Greeves  Norton, AJS and Harley can you spot anymore?
Built in the main with what the owner had kicking about the shed. Must be some shed.
It sounds great if a bit rorty. Last time I saw it it wasn't for sale. Pity.

[Worty]

Can anyone explain why it isn't on a 'Q' plate   DVLA list it as a 1959 Greeves 747cc, but it is definitely 'far from original' and has undergone 'significant changes from the original'

[Triton Thrasher]

Can anyone explain why it isn't on a 'Q' plate   DVLA list it as a 1959 Greeves 747cc, but it is definitely 'far from original' and has undergone 'significant changes from the original'

If anyone ever wondered why people blot out their number plate on internet photos…

[Worty]

So true TT.  It's always interesting to see how DVLA's database matches up to reality.  Would also be interesting to know how this bike is taxed and insured too

[Triton Thrasher]

We don’t like sneaks in this school.

[BSARGS650]

Could the rear number plate be a BSA jobbie?

[Bsareg]

Aren't changes allowed providing they're over 30yrs old ?

[Worty]

Aren't changes allowed providing they're over 30yrs old ?

I understood it as where the age or identity is unknown, and/or if significant changes have been made to the original design, then a 'Q' plate is issued rather than an age related number.

As this appears to be a bitsa from various eras, and it no longer is a Greeves in any recognisable form, then I'm surprised about the original number.

I'm only saying this out of curiousity, by the way, not as a 'pencil-up-my-a**e' wannabee bureaucrat.

[limeyrob]

If it was all done over 30 years ago and if all the parts are "in period" I don't think there's a problem with the reg.  The capacity is correct so the V5 has been amended to show the engine change and there was no issue with that at the time.

[Rex]

I'd guess it's been built more recently than that, and as he's used a Greeves frame which already was registered than there's no requirement for a Q plate either.
I personally know of several specials which look nothing like the bike as it came out of the factory. As long as the CC has been changed in the V5C and the insurance company know it's been modified there's no issues.

[limeyrob]

Bikes like this are a small issue. I was at Brooklands Museum for their New Years meet up on Monday.  Parked up was a Series Land Rover with a "For Sale" sign. It was described as a 1963 restored vehicles and was on an A reg.  It was 100% 1973 Series 3 and was probably a stolen Series 3 on a scrapped Series 2 logbook. Because its "historic" its no going in for an MOT so there's no check on the numbers anymore.

[muskrat]

G'day Fellas.
Down here it must be 30 years old and be as close as possible to original. Period and safety mods are accepted for "Historic" plates. The Cafe just scrapes in.
If it's been modified like the one in question we have another system for them grouped in with rods and specials.
Cheers

[Worty]

G'day Fellas.
Down here it must be 30 years old and be as close as possible to original. Period and safety mods are accepted for "Historic" plates. The Cafe just scrapes in.
If it's been modified like the one in question we have another system for them grouped in with rods and specials.
Cheers

That's basically what I was talking about Musky, especially the 'as close to the original' bit.  Maybe I'm getting confused?

[limeyrob]

I think there has to be an element of historic rights, people did just build "Specials" and there were no rules and it wasn't a big problem.  In the classic car world here in the UK our 2 big problems are:

Blatantly modern vehicles being passed off as "historic" to avoid tax and MOT requirements.  These vehicles are not modified in anyway but they are on false documents.
(I reported a 1959 Triumph on e-bay that was blatantly a 1980 Harley and the seller thought this was just fine)

Classic cars being converted to EVs with typically much higher (up to 10 times as much so a 65hp Series Land Rover gets 600hp) and being registered as only having one modification - ICE to EV power.  These EV conversions bear no relation to the original vehicles in how they drive or how they are used.

What ever Bustard is, one thing is certain, it is an old British bike and that's fine with me.  Sooner or later someone will turn up with a 200hp EV BSA and claim it is "better for the environment" and "the way forward"