Nice find Nigel, looks immaculate!

My old sprinty wasn't registered on the road until 1999 (T reg), although the car was built in 1997 and came with the oil temp gauge instead of the later volt meter

So for a car built around 2000 and not being registered for 2 to 3 years just makes it a little more special!

Lovely looking car, btw I'm having issues logging onto your webpage Nigel

Yes - the server is down, but the chap that runs it for us is on holiday and not returning calls

We'll get it sorted ASAP

It looks like mine ! I can't see the difference, but then I'm new to these cars. Does that mean mine is special too ?

Has it got 4 wheel drive ?

Sorry about that last post - would help if I'd read to the end of the thread !

Nice find/story Nigel, and close to me too!
Mine was made in May 98 but registered in May 99,previous original owner got a good deal on it as presumably sat in showroom for a while, didnt have the leather seats he wanted but the deal made it for him, though he did get the seats custom re-trimmed in black/grey leather in 2004 so i benefited in getting them!

Update...

Paintwork is now done - car looks fantastic. Just got to detail it and it will be formally advertised next weekend

Ahhhhhhhh now I understand - my other post elsewhere Nigel re- manufacturing dates

A quick question though - does this car qualify for the pre-2001 tax band or is it the higher band because of its date of first registration?

I am curious to find out because although mine is a 2000 (I bought it whilst serving with the Army in Germany and although it is RHD and UK spec it was not registered with DVLA till 2003 - although they backdated it to an X plate.

I am not bothered about the year plate but was miffed to discover when the tax reminder came that it has been placed on the post March 2001 list - ie more expensive. I complained to DVLA and got a fairly predictable response.

So I would be really interested in other folks experiences and yours too Nigel.

Hi Paul

From a comment earlier in this thread, it appears DVLA would regard the 2003 car as a pre-2001 for VED purposes

PS - another Plus coming up soon from Motormech.....

I have a garage find, well I knew it was there - a Beta Coupe and a Volumex engine, but before I try and flog it I thought i`d see if the blower will fit in the air compressor space...

So was the 2003 car you had for sale really a 2001 coupe?

Production ceased in 2000

Nope it is a 2000 model. And the fact that they have refused me an appeal whilst there are other cars that have been dated correctly as far as road tax is concerned is excellent - as it will give me some ammo to go back to DVLA and have another go.

Can anyone give me an example of a coupe that was first registered in UK after the 1 March 2001 cutoff date that is in the pre-march 2001 road tax bracket? It would be really helpful!

Many thanks and fingers crossed....

JimO had a 2001 plus. If that helps.

Run a DVLA check on the 2003 Plus - photos in the For Sale thread

I thought my advert made it quite clear...

Brilliant - thanks

And what a lovely looking car................

I agree - very nearly bought it for myself, but a) couldn't justify two Pluses AND a daily driver and b) Wifey would not be amused at a sixth car in the household....

Ahhh interesting - the DVLA search shows that the year of manufacture is down as 2002....which might explain the lower tax.

I am now loath to use it as an example in case the DVLA bump up the tax bracket for its new owner!

Any other examples (and sorry to hijack this thread a bit...its in a good cause though!)??

Paul - why not check the build number of your car and then get in touch with Fiat UK for a build date

The build number is stamped into a small plate that is attached to the boot floor, inside the driver's side trim hatch

I know exactly when it was built (3rd week in July 2000) because I already have all the Fiat papers but the DVLA tell me that it is the date of first registration that counts as far as the tax is concerned - and in my case that was in 2003.

In my case though they insisted at the time that its registration was backdated to an X plate in line with its age!

But I am now resolved to go back and have another go.

And then I need to get its slave cylinder sorted and get it on the road again!

Surely DVLA can't have it both ways - if they insist its a 2003 car for tax purposes, they should have given it an 03 plate

I thought the 2001 cut off was because the DVLA didn't hold records for C02 emissions for cars pre dating. So how can they hold correct manufacturers data for a car who's production ceased pre data collection?

Exactly the point that I made in my first letter to them. Their reply studiously ignored that question and simply quoted the regulation back at me - adding that they had no choice in the matter (rules is rules....)

So my next letter will be to insist that they answer the exam question whilst giving them an example or two to demonstrate that they obviously do have some discression regarding implementation.

I suppose I should just accept my fate but then again....why should I!!??

No Paul, go for it when it's right!

I enjoyed this thread no end.

Beautiful find. Doubt we will see a better one than this come out of obscurity anytime soon.

Thank god this has finally sold, the temptation to purchase was seriously high. It would have needed to have been used daily and parked on the local golf driving range (aka the Train station car park as the number of small dings running down the sides of my current car grow each day...) For this reason only I decided against buying.
Now would you just sell off the Silver LE please Nigel...

Silver LE is long gone - we just need to find someone to update the website....

However, we will have a very nice Moon Grey Plus coming up soon

Always with the temptation stick...