The 'E' Type Forum

Good afternoon E-Forum,

I am trying to trace the history of a ‘62 3.8 Series 1 FHC for which the original registration was 7501 LG, I’ve tried the DVLA but they’re as useful as a chocolate tea pot!

I know the first and last owner but the intervening 50 odd years are pretty much unknown.

The current registration is BVH 724A.

Any help most welcome!

James

If you are the registered keeper of the car then you can fill in form V888 and send to the dvla with £5 and they will usually supply copies of details they have on file back to the late 1970's. These will include changes of owner, registration number, colour etc. If you are not the registered keeper they won't. It is probable that a previous owner transferred the original number and an age related plate was issued...they usually issued A plates if the car is pre 1963.

The car is on Xke data and the entry contains text from a very recent auction catalogue mentioning three previous owners on the V5 so the auction house (Coys) had some previous history.

Hi James..here is the xkedata page http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=860759
And at classic car auctions https://www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/19 ... head-coupe
And at Bonhams https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C884021

Thanks Julian, I sent them the V888 as the registered keeper but they have recently changed Policy and unless you need the information for an incident/abandoned on your land, Police etc. they said they can’t provide! Not particularly helpful but it’s all gone a bit PC!

Thanks Steve, very grateful - the current V5 doesn’t show the past owners so wanted to post in the vein hope someone might have know or owned the car in period?

Oh....pain in the back side....I sent mine in five years back and got a load of stuff...

Having had a quick ferret around on the interweb it seems the DVLA have indeed 're-assessed what is deemed 'reasonable cause ' for requesting information and have decided that knowing the past history of your car is not 'reasonable cause' for requesting information on past keepers etc.

The FBHVC have also contacted the DVLA about the policy change...it appears that the change is here to stay so an opportunity lost it seems...

Thanks Julian..will try the JDC etc. or failing that may post in Classic Car magazines to see if anyone owns up to owning the car.. would just be nice to know.. frustrating the DVLA have but just won’t telease .

Thanks Julian..will try the JDC etc. or failing that may post in Classic Car magazines to see if anyone owns up to owning the car.. would just be nice to know.. frustrating the DVLA have but just won’t telease .

LG is a Cheshire registration and the records for the original data books are apparently complete and held by Chester Records Office. You can pay for a print out which should tell you who was the first registered keeper. HOWEVER, I have just tried to get this for my family Land Rover which we bought when it was a few years old as second owner and Shropshire Archives said they would not be able to give me previous owner information. The world has gone mad. It's data from 1961 I was after. When I tried to find my first E type A public archive refused to give me this information so I roped in Greg (can't recall his name ) MP who is Chair of the Parliamentary Motor Group, a keen classic car man and advisor to H and H Auctions. He cleared the log jam and I got the information. Maybe it's time to get all collectors to group together and squash this petty bureaucracy down before it destroys or frustrates important history? Do let us know how you get on with Cheshire Archives and if no luck I will dig out the details for this MP.

http://www.historicvehicles.org.uk/hvg2.php

Sir Greg Knight. He seemed on our side about this when i consulted him previously . I

And it might help that Greg is a former E-Type owner. He had a white 1970 Series II 2+2 which, oddly, bore an "M" suffix registration. I bought it from him in 1975 and promptly wrote it off

hi
What happened to the freedom of information act.
the DVLA must abide by that

Good afternoon all, so very many thanks for all your help and suggestions, certainly more useful than the DVLA who I think have gone potty! Anyway onwards and upwards. James

Do let us know how you get on with the search of Cheshire Archives. To find a complete set of key cards still kept but not to be able to get access to them would be very frustrating.

Afraid 154WHU the data protection act applies and the DVLA are protecting the 'confidential' information pertaining to previous owners....names, addresses etc. Anyone storing data electronically has to abide by the act. While it is a shame and the dvla are maybe being over cautious, peoples personal information should not be freely available without reason. The dvla have decided that historical information about you car does not justify releasing in case they fall foul of the data protection act I am afraid...shame but it is what it is...the freedom of information act does not mean anyone can know anything....try finding out military information....you will find the official secrets act takes precedence

Thanks Andrew, I’ve contacted them and will let you know how I get on! James

Well good luck, lets hope they come up trumps.