Reshelled cars, what do you stand to lose?

I think that's down to them staying quiet and simply chucking the VIN onto another car .

Christ, I know of taxi driver who used to just put the plate onto a similar car, without even doing the VINs? How are the DVLA going to know unless someone tells them? He did this at least twice as far as I could tell.

Anyway.

If you get found out for having the shell as you say, it'll be Q plated as the identity won't be known. It also depends on if they will be able to tell and just how iffy the 're-identification looks. Bear in mind some shells have features on them unique to that car.

For example, it's very easy to tell if an Escort RS Turbo S1 has been reshelled from a non S1 Mk3 shell.

If there are features that you do know about which someone would spot, then it would be worth trying to track down the original V5.

The main reasons they're against it is identity. As you say, it could be stolen. The other is 'technically' fraud. A Dolly Sprint for example is worth much more than a 1500, but if your shell is shot, and you have a 1500 shell going spare...

For the fiesta it would I believe be perfectly legal if the original 1100 or whatever identity of the shell was retained, as the suspension would be the same bar tuning and the shell original, you'd just lose the points for the engine an possibly gearbox ( unless the original was a B5 as well)

Wheels, trim etc count for nothing.

That's why I asked, if you just bolt bits from a different model on you don't need to worry about points, just inform DVLA about engine capacity and block number and your insurance company about any changes.

I've been looking for an interesting daily, and had one of these when I was younger (much younger!) and I'm no collector, so I'd still say a fair price if it was a Popular with all the XR2 bits on, wouldn't worry about the "value" of it being an XR2 or not, it looks like a very fun way to relive my youth every time I go to work.

But my paranoia makes me worried about what would happen if an MOT tester notices, or I get stopped by a policeman who says "I used to have one of these..."

to be fair, both cars are described comprehensively, albeit a little conservative on the legalities of re-shelling.
The mini on one hand is an excellent recreation, but that is what it is, a recreation, not an original. The fiesta is also a recreation, but without the proper engine, so is a modified car carrying an xr2 identity.
Both cars are immaculate, and attention to detail is fantastic in most cases, and would look great tooling around town. However the legal side of their identities are suspect and if I were you, and were going to spend that kind of money, I would look for something more 'original'. For that money you could buy something cheaper and loads more fun, yes mini's and hot little fiestas are great for smoking about in but they get tiresome after a while, especially minis, very tinny and claustrophobic. Of course that's only my opinion
It's a shame that these cars are not what they say they are, but you can also have those that are what they say they are but have had all the important stuff removed... for example, there's this HP Firenza for sale at an auction house, it's a genuine HPF, but all the interior has been removed in favour of a cage and bucket seats, the ultra rare dog leg zf has been binned for a later zf, and the wheels are gone. Thats 3 of the main things that make it a HPF, don't get me wrong its a great car, built to the highest standard but I'd want my HPF to actually still be a HPF. Anyone can build a droopsnoot race car out of any old firenza/magnum/viva E shell...why ruin a rare model?My point is...yes I do have one... if you have 10 - 15k knocking about to get yourself a nice classic/retro car, buy a genuine one, even a base model one, and build it to your spec your way, and register it properly. If you want a zetec powered mk2 fiesta, build one. If you want a genuine XR2 buy one.

I feel I ran out of steam somewhere along the line and lost the essence of what I was trying to say... but basically for 10-15 k you could get a nice clean base model fiesta and have enough left to build something cool ...probably maybe..i dunno, it's a ford, for that money I'd buy an Astra GTE and be done with it... loads more fun, loads more comfort... loads more cool

if a mk2 xr2 is your want, retromatt appears to be building a white e-reg one with low miles/clean shell provenance. if a zetec b road basher fiesta is your thing theres a mk3 hidden in between them.

It sound like you're not sure on the vehicles so if you're questioning it someone else will be as well. Buy something that doesn't bring the points you mention into question. Better safe than sorry and a hard hit on the wallet.