COFA
The Specialist Car Centre Ltd, Arun Shipyard, Rope Walk, Littlehampton. West Sussex. BN17 5DH, ENGLAND.
DUTTON: Helping to protect you and the (hopefully increasing) value of your genuine Dutton.
THINKING OF BUYING A PRE-OWNED DUTTON? THINK CAREFULLY. THERE ARE 100’s OF FAKE DUTTONS OUT THERE JUST WAITING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY. Over the last couple of years we have been alarmed by the increasing number of distraught “Dutton” owners contacting us who are just starting to realise that the Dutton they thought they bought is nothing more than a worthless unsellable fake. Now on a regular basis we get sent details on many of these illegal fakes and the list is unfortunately getting longer every week.
The safest way to now buy a pre-owned Dutton is to ask the owner to show you our “Certificate of Authenticity” (COFA) where we have already forensically examined (and retain) all relevant paperwork including a copy of V5C (V5) and have many internal and external photos of the car. Scroll to base of page to see our COFA
Dutton owners application for a CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
When completed, please send this top section and required info to our dedicated email address (or post) : cofa@thespecialistcarcentre.com
Name:
Address:
Date:
Email address:
VIN:
VRN:
REGISTRATION YEAR:
I have included with this form the following:
- 3 photos of outside of car (front,side,rear)
- Photos of the engine bay showing – front suspension, main front chassis members and VIN plate (or # stamped on chassis).
- Copy or photo (not original) of V5C (V5), only page 2 required
NO NEED TO EMAIL THIS SECTION
Fee for full check £75 (no vat). This facility is available worldwide. TSCC Ltd has been authorised by Dutton Cars Ltd, to issue a COFA.
BANK DETAILS:
Account Name: The Specialist Car Centre Ltd
Sort Code: 08-71-99
Account Number 15142332
OR
You can pay by card on receipt of our invoice.
When transferring money please use your car registration number as the bank reference and email us to advise so we can act on your payment.
HOW TO SPOT THE 3 MOST COMMON KIT CAR SCAMS:-
Over recent years both DVLA thru camera and physical road checks and DVSA thru MOT stations and fixed roadside checking facilities (for example there’s a fixed one on the A23 South of Gatwick) are working closely together to eliminate illegally registered kit cars of all makes, it use to be the case “IF” you got caught with an illegally registered kit car now it is “WHEN”. Soon we will add typical illegal registered cars on here when we have waded thru our pile of photos……
FAKE REGISTRATION (Example 1)
If your kit car is listed on the V5C (V5) as a “Ford Escort” or similar then clearly it was never registered. Builders naively thought that they would get away with it by simply transferring the Ford number plates onto their kit car. Little did they realise that eventually…..
FAKE REGISTRATION (Example 2)
If your kit car is listed on the V5C (V5) as a Dutton when clearly it bears absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to any Dutton model then it’s a fake. Amateur builders mainly of badly made home made cars that could never get passed an IVA test naively thought that they would get away with it by simply buying a Dutton V5C (V5) registration document and Dutton VIN plate. Little did they realise that eventually…..
FAKE REGISTRATION (Example 3)
The old chestnut “It’s really is a rebodied Dutton” is usually rolled out to cover up an illegally registered car. It is possible to have a rebodied Dutton and retain the Dutton registration number and V5C (V5) as long as it complies with strict DVLA regulations (details from DVLA). For example the chassis must be unmodified, retain the original wheelbase/track dimensions, front and rear suspension mounting and suspension etc. and of supreme importance the Dutton VIN plate from that Dutton. In this case it is most important that the originality of the Dutton chassis is confirmed by a COFA.
INSURANCE
You most probably won’t find out your insurance is invalid until you try and make a claim. Insurance companies successfully argue that the premium you paid was based on you accurately describing the correct car details i.e. that it is a well designed/built/recognised make of kit car and not some home made “untested” car of unknown make.
HELP RID THE WORLD OF ILLEGAL FAKE DUTTONS:-
If when selling your Dutton you add “supplied with a Dutton COFA” in your advert or if you are a buyer look for the COFA reference in the advert – you will both win.
The COFA. We complete, get it double checked and signed by Tim Dutton then send you the original to keep
