Got a classic car?

Well maybe for not much longer.

WEST MIDLANDS MEP MIKE NATTRASS

Issue Date: Monday, September 10 2012

Visit Mike's web-site at:

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MEP fears new EU plans could spell the end of the road for many classic cars

UKIP Transport spokesman Mike Nattrass has blasted Brussels bureaucrats who are maneuvering to bring in draconian rules which could see many modified and classic cars disappear from British roads.

The West Midlands MEP, who is a member of the EU=92s Transport and Tourism Committee, fears EU moves to overhaul MOT rules could have dire consequences for the automotive industry and classic car enthusiasts.

Interfering Eurocrats are attempting to push through radical changes to MOT rules across Europe which would make modified vehicles illegal.

The EU is proposing major changes on how the roadworthiness of vehicles is assessed. This latest Brussels drive could see many cars automatically failing their MOT test for having minor modifications such as updated brake lights and different windscreen wipers.

Bodies such as the Federation of British Historic Vehicles Clubs (FBHVC) and the Association of Car Enthusiasts have attacked the proposals which they say could cost jobs and hit motorists in the pocket.

Commenting on the proposals, UKIP Transport spokesman Mike Nattrass, who owns a 1956 Sunbeam Talbot, said: =93These plans would lead to major changes to MOT rules in Britain and across Europe.

=93The envisaged changes to the road licensing system would have massive implications for all motorists and the car industry as a whole.

=93Under the plans, a vehicle would automatically fail its MOT test if its =91technical specifications=92 was found to differ from the technical specification it had when it rolled off the production line.

=93The FBHVC is right to say these plans are pie-in-the-sky as modifications to vehicles, particularly older ones, are common.

=93These plans are attack on motorists, classic car enthusiasts and the car industry. I will raise this issue in the European Parliament and fight to put this latest EU drive in reverse,=94 he added.

ENDS

Reply to
harry
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How would that work then ? I once uprated an old FIAT 500 by fitting a

126 engine-gearbox combination. Gave you 650cc, and synchromesh, and unless you compared the engine number, was visually indistinguishable from the original. You'd only know if you put it on a dynometer.
Reply to
Jethro_uk

[snip]

This has been doing the rounds for ages.

And it doesn't just affect classic cars. It states in principle that only identical spare parts can be used on any vehicle. Including near new ones. Which would mean in practice, only those sold by the car maker. So no fitting Pirelli tyres instead of Continental. Or Mintex brake pads. Or a Halfords battery.

It looks to me like this was put forward and drafted by the car makers. With the parts about classic cars simply added to make it look like it's about safety or whatever.

The implications are so far reaching it hasn't a hope of making it into law. It could also be yet another of the silly season EU scares that the Mail etc loves so much. The curve of a banana, anyone? 'Our' chocolate having to be called something else because it's made to a different recipe than in some EU countries. Etc.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Not mine as it will be MOT and Tax exempt in a months time. :)

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Reply to
Mark

You're taking it off the road or exporting it?

Reply to
John Williamson

Well maybe for not much longer.

There is now a petition up against this, perhaps you would care to sign it.

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Reply to
Muddymike

Nether

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Reply to
Mark

Makes no difference. It will still have to comply to the regs. So any modifications whatsoever you've made to it will be illegal. Including, say, changing the dynamo for an alternator, or fitting radial tyres where it had crossplies. This directive sets out to remove such cars from the road completely. You'll only be able to trailer them to shows.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Hmm. Mine's only 12 years old, and the original tyres are out of production...

Andy

Reply to
Andy Champ

: > >fears EU moves to overhaul MOT rules could have : > >dire consequences classic car enthusiasts. : : > Not mine as it will be MOT and Tax exempt in a months time. :) : : Makes no difference. It will still have to comply to the regs. So any : modifications whatsoever you've made to it will be illegal. Including, : say, changing the dynamo for an alternator, or fitting radial tyres where : it had crossplies. This directive sets out to remove such cars from the : road completely. You'll only be able to trailer them to shows.

Surely you won't even be doing that unless your car came off the production line with a towbar fitted?

;)

Reply to
Him & Her

In message , harry writes

FFS Harry, pay attention, this was discussed the other week

Reply to
geoff

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

What about changing the radio?

Reply to
geoff

To get an MOT yes, have you actually read how these proposals are to be implemented in the EU.

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Reply to
Mark

It would, of course, be a maker's accessory. They could fit a jet engine and it would apparently be ok for this legislation.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

For years now towbars have to be type approved. In other words, if you weld one up it won't pass.

Bill

Reply to
Bill Wright

For years now towbars have to be type approved. In other words, if you weld one up it won't pass.

Bill

Something that most of the scaremongers seem to have missed is that the proposals also call for the regular testing of trailers. It is I think already done in some EU countries so to level the playing field the suggestion is to do it in all. Now, if you have to test all trailers you need a database of all trailers so along comes trailer registration.

This one will run and run.

Malcolm

Reply to
Malcolm

I wonder if my 1953 Sankey trailer will need registering?

Mike

Reply to
Muddymike

Quite - but there are aftermarket ones as well as a maker's accessory. Maybe even from the same factory. One would be legal, the other not. Same as many other parts. Car makers don't make all the bits on a car, and many may be sourced from more than one supplier.

The battery on my BMW was branded BMW. The replacement Bosch - at half the cost of a BMW one - was identical apart from the badge.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Sorry, you'll have to scrap the entire car.

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

Christ i despair sometimes at the level of Dennisness on here.

If this legislation does go through in the UK there will have to be specific items listed in the testers manual to be tested, and a database of such items for mr MOT to check against, so not every nut bolt tyre-valve brake-pad battery, radio, etc could possibly be tested in a day so non of that is going to happen, Even the EU can not expect a 25 year old tester to know what original parts were fitted on a 45 year old car. and given the lack of any such database for any recent vehicle i very much doubt that this new addition to the MOT will be retrospectively applied in the UK.

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Reply to
Mark

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