Chris
Just because you have be able to blag your way through a few registrations does not mean that there are not pit falls out there which the unwary vehicle owner can fall into, particularly as you comment, if you give the person behind the counter too much information or worse still ask them a question.
I have now found the form I received from the Vehicle Inspectorateafter the DVLA refused to to tax my Saladin on the basis that it was to wide. On it they state my vehicle is now being classed as a 'Motor Tractor / Locomtive'. When I went to tax it the DVLA just confused the situation more by taxing it as a PLG. This was before the days of the 'Historic Vehicle Class, and at the time the DVLA were trying to ban Stalwarts or any vehicle on that chassis off the road.
Every Taxation Class including 'Historic Vehicle' must have a set of 'Construction and Use Regulations' which should in theroy be applied at the time of registration. The fact that the DVLA most of the time have no ideal what they are registering, and the majority of our vehicles never see the inside of a testing station, in some cases is probably very benefical.
Regarding my comments /rummors on the mechanics of the FV432 range, there is no possibilty now that it is leagal to manufacture a vehicle which uses the same set of braking bands to steer and brake (including hand brake). I quired in my post when the law changed and if it could be applied retospectivly e.g., vehicles manuactured before the legal introduction of seat belts are not subject to this law. I am a long serving REME TA soldier and every instructor will tell you that the army have an excemption to use these vehicles on the road. I apply no more credence to this story than any others, but the fact the DVLA are still licensing these vehicles does not mean they know what they are doing.
As you state the best way to ensure a trouble free registeration is do some research prior to visiting the DVLA office and tender the correct forms giving Historic Vehicle as the Taxation Class.