Just for the benefit of anyone who's reading this for its information value..
A 1961 vehicle would have been old enough to qualify for what, in 1996 was introduced as the "25 year exempt" VED class, but the same 1961 vehicle would only become, subject to its being
original, MOT exempt in April of this year.
Pre-1960 vehicles were MOT exempt already and had been since November 2012.
Just as the 25 year exempt class caused confusion, mostly among eBay sellers who couldn't understand that in fact, the exemption applied to cars from the January of the 26th (twenty sixth) year after their build, so for example GUS 265L, my 1972 Reliant Rebel estate, became exempt at the start of 1998 but has only just gained its right to swerve the requirement for an annual test, though it's possible that GUS will be denied its MOT exemption when the current test certificate expires as it has a disc brake conversion sourced from a Triumph Spitfire, but using hubs from some sort of Lotus in order to keep the correct stud pitch at both the front and the rear hubs of the car. More significantly, GUS has an 850cc engine - sourced from a 1980s Rialto - in place of the original 750 version of Reliant's all aluminium in-house (except for the ones built for Reliant by Bean) engine, an SU in place of its original downdraught Zenith and an alternator, pre-engaged starter and more fuses than its original two. The engine looks the same, apart from some minor details but apparently, it may not be enough these days to argue that the larger capacity engine was all that was available, so it may not qualify for the test exemption.
Just as an experiment, I ran the car through a few insurance companies and all quotes were cheaper for the car with an MOT than without, by amounts varying between £22 and £94 per policy! MOT tests can be carried out for as little as £30 even now, so even if GUS, or any other potentially test exempt vehicle, were to be put through a test, the cost of that could well be significantly lower than the difference in insurance cost and after all, enthusiasts surely wouldn't risk running about in a car with faults that would cause a test failure so whether or not a classic or other qualifying car qualifies for the exemption, I would get any vehicle of mine tested as a matter of course.
And on the current VED situation: Cars are now made VED exempt at the start of the 41st year, so this year, only cars built on or before 31/12/1977 will be free to "tax", yet still a whole load of eBayists are advertising their 1978 cars as being currently exempt from both VED and the MOT.. The pilchards! I blame aliens.
