Ok so I'm starting to think more seriously about the plans for my '54, but I'm a little worried about the logistics of getting it registered. In Vic, if I put say a '71 swing/bj pan underneath the oval shell does that mean that the car is then registered as a '71 or a '54?

I'm worried because I want to be able to run heart tail lights and semaphores etc but don't know if I'll be able to?

not sure in VIC, in NSW, i had a 59 on a late pan, so it was registered as like a 67, so i had to hav the stuff the 67s had, like water jets for windscreen, stuff like that. the car was no longer a 59.

My Oval is on a '68 pan and that is legally what it must be. No semaphores - I have indicators installed. You should be okay with hearties and flippers for 1968 rego - many have doen it before

So if it's on a '71 I'm ok with most things because it's pre '72, or do I need to go earlier?

I think semaphores are fine, its more that you have extra indicators at the front and back as well if it is an oval. The post '72 ADR's are more to do with emissions and stuff AFAIK.

Isn't it belts and stuff as well Jon?

I removed my fender mounted indicators in favour of mounting some harly davidson custom ones on my bumpers off some little alloy brackets I fabbed up. The look vintage enough and keep the fenders looking clean like the early shape should be. Mine is a '65...

Maybe if you do that and you need to fit flashing indicators you could rig up the semaphores to flip out as your side repeater indicator lights. It would not be difficult to rig them up with two sets of wiring. One set to hold them out and another set to flash the light.