LandRoverAnorak wrote:

There are some reasonably clear cut rules about how this works. That's not to say that there aren't any grey areas, but the basics that are being discussed here are well covered. For example, there's a points system for major components:

Quote:

Part Points

Chassis, monocoque bodyshell (body and chassis as one unit) or frame - original or
new and unmodified (direct from manufacturer)...........................................................................5
Suspension (front and back) - original.........................................................................................2
Axles (both) - original...............................................................................................................2
Transmission - original..............................................................................................................2
Steering assembly - original......................................................................................................2
Engine - original.......................................................................................................................1

A vehicle must maintain 8 points to retain its' identity. Where it gets interesting with Land Rovers is that the bodies are not integral to the chassis and so have no bearing on the points. What this means is that you can effectively mount any body on a Land Rover chassis as long as that chassis is unmodified. Different rear crossmembers or suspension mounts would mean losing the chassis points making it all but impossible to hit the 8 point target.

Conversely, modifying a Series body to fit an otherwise standard Defender chassis is no change in the eyes of the DVLA.

Using a Range rover chassis and running gear, which used to be very popular as already mentioned above, started to get tricky when the powers that be began cracking down on the 'unmodified' part of the chassis requirements. This is because those conversions invariably required a different rear crossmember to be fitted. This is also where it becomes less clear cut though, as there are as many stories of people falling foul of this as there are of those gaining approval as the rules haven't always been applied consistently.

There's lots more information on the DVLA pages. Here's a good place to start:
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/ra...d-vehicles

Whirly90 wrote:

A fine example of a finished product at a reasonable price

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-serie...Swcx5ZZyKv

Quote:

How about a Series 1 body on a Defender chassis:
https://www.lro.com/reviews/featured-vehic...s%E2%80%A6