Hi,

I would like to buy a "chop top" Superbug classic Beetle, replace it's engine and register the car in NSW.

I was told that I would need to get an engineering certificate for new modification as well as for all previous modifications regardless whether the car had been registered before or not.

I was also told that chop top would need to pass torsion and bending tests.

Is my information correct?

How hard is to get an engineering certificate for "chop top" mod (provided that engine modification is approved)? Is that possible at all?

If a chop top car doesn't pass tests does that mean that the car would be written off? I guess possibility of improvement on an old chop top job would be questionable. Would you agree with that?

Please let me know if this is a wrong forum to ask these kind of questions.

Thank you.

Hi

If it was registered in NSW old engineers reports are still valid if you have it, if it was registered interstate a new certificate would be needed. Most chop tops rust like mufflers, from the inside out, so have good look at it before spending any money on it.

Steve

I am involved in a chop top, and a pre cut torsion and bending test was required $880. Then another test will be done once the body work is completed, then a final inspection. This is in Victoria. It is really easy, just taking about 5 years to make it look correct like a factory 'convertible' not a 'chop top'