40+ year-old cars no longer need a MOT

[tabbypurr]

ok, get back to us when you want to be sensible.

[Steve Walker]

Yes, steam wagons - heavy things, that can actually move quite fast and with non-assisted, cable or rod-operated brakes!

SteveW

[Steve Walker]

I had three occassions where the car needed to be moved on the starter motor - once when the under-chassis sprays in a carwash wet the electrics and it wouldn't start; once where it cut out in the middle of a ford and the third (actually helping a work colleague) where he'd run out of fuel in an awkward location and the kerb was too high to bump the car up it by hand.

None of them were life threatening, but in each case it allowed clearing the way for other vehicles ASAP.

SteveW

[tabbypurr]

I recall going round a corner off a roundabout on a 3 lane road where much of the traffic was doing 40-60 and swerving as they met a stalled car. That driver needed to use the starter to avoid being hit at a fair speed. I've also used the momentum of the car plus starter together to get vehicles goi ng where neither alone would work. Inability to use the starter in gear is a hazard. Though admittedly everything about a car is a hazard.

NT

[alan_m]

I remember seeing a USA TV program some years back where a "US classic" that had previously been customised was stripped back for more modification to reveal that a lot of the completely rusted structural parts had been hidden with thin steel cladding.

You only have to watch some of the current crop of car restoration programs where the rust on the underside is only revealed when the car is put on a hoist. Nice polished paint but galloping rust underneath.

50 years ago some cars were rusty when leaving the factory!

[harry]

The steam engine itself can be used as a brake. On some it was the main braking method.

[T i m]

My (1962?) Messerschmitt KR200 has (only) got 3 cable operated (drum) brakes and up to a reasonable speed you could lock the front wheels up.

On the kitcar (MkII Escort) you can easily lock up the rear wheels with the handbrake.

The Meriva with cable operated rear disks won't stop you moving it on the handbrake if you lean on it, well, not without the handbrake wrenched up to the roof lining (even with new bedded-in pads and disks). ;-(

Many cheaper cycle front disks are cable operated (and the ones I have can still put you on your face) as are most cycle rim brakes in general (and they seem to work pretty well, as they should, often being a 26" disk). ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Plating good steel over rust on structural parts is allowed for the UK MOT. But that plate has to be seam welded. The idea being you can only weld to good steel - not rust. But it's a short term fix as rust will soon transfer to the new steel.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Quite. The idea that cable brakes can't be satisfactory on a low performance car is nonsense. But they do require proper maintenance. Hence the need for at least an annual check.

You could on my P6 Rover too - with disk rear brakes. Used to surprise the tester.

I've a feeling it is no longer an emergency brake as all cars have now dual circuit footbrakes. So merely a parking brake. And smaller handbrakes brakes are cheaper. ;-)

[tabbypurr]

which might be why no-one said that

one can on most old cars

last time I put mine full on the car sped up

no, handbrakes use the same pad/shoe assembly as the hydraulic brake

or 1% thereof.

Now back to the point. Pre-war cars that had just cable brakes on 2 wheels often had terrible braking that has no hope of passing a current MOT. The Ford T is even worse with its feeble transmission brake.

NT

[charles]

Back in the '60s I was introduced to a body work specialist, George, as "the only person I know who can weld two pieces of rust together"

[whisky-dave]

Me, I'd always thought that one of teh biggest DIY jobs in the past wqas wo rking on cars, I remmebr as a kid walking along and tehre were loads of peo le tinkering with cars alone the street, I really like the spilt oil on the roads where it gave a coloured pattern on the ground. I know few bother DIYing their cars now but if you have an old car I'm bett ing it's mostly a DIY than taking it in the a Pro to fix everytime somethin g goes wrong.

But would not include cars.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Depend on te job. Ive fixed all the window regulators on my old freelander. but left the thermostatto someone with a ramp...its a complete bastard without taking half the engine apart.

I also let them find the split vaccuum hose on te brape power assistance

[T i m]

True, however, the most efficient percentage of the 'disk', such that you can often lock both wheels.

Cheers, T i m

[Muddymike]

I will need to check with my MOT tester if my Land Rovers needs an MOT. It's a 1991 reg but is made up of a Range Rover chassis, running gear, transmission and engine all original spec and on the original Range Rover registration number but the body is an air portable Land Rover.

I can't see anything in the new regs regarding a chassis with a different from original body.

Mike

[harry]

Not all cars, eg Citroen. RR.

[T i m]

Cool. I'm too long in the leg for most old LR's. ;-(

I think the new regs are as clear as mud Mike. ;-)

Too many variables for my brain ... 'If modified but not substantially modified within the last 30 years unless for safety or other positive reasons ...'

I guess I'll find out next year. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

p.s. Would you be willing / able to give a rough value to an old Landy my mate needs to sell please? (Happy to take it off list, email address works).

[Bob Eager]

And my Series I Land Rover.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Many have a drum brake in the centre of the rear disc for the handbrake. Completely separate from the hydraulic setup.

How many cars do you think are still used on the roads that only have two wheel brakes? Apart from London to Brighton, of course.

The Ford T is even worse with its feeble transmission brake.

Yup - and you see them every day speeding along a motorway.

Care to find a few more red herrings in a discussion about why all cars should be MOT'd? I'm sure there must be more in your barrel.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

First UK cars with discs used Dunlop. Handbrake on those was a completely separate calliper acting on the disc, and cable operated.