Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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I sent this
Wednesday 21 December 2005
Dear Bernard Jenkin,
I have recently heard that the government are making plans to ban modified cars, regardless of why they have been modified. Any owner who wishes to keep thier modified on the road will need to submit it for an SVA (single vehicle application) test, which most of them will not pass due to the fact that they are old cars and do not fit in with current regulations. Many cars have been modified to improve performance etc, but an equal ammount have been modified to improve braking and handling, basically making them safer. I find it abhorrent that Mr Blair insits on bullying motorists with ridiculous policies and taxes based on ill informed opinions hatched up by over paid idiots with too much time on thier hands. I reallise that none of this is your parties doing, but I ask you to raise this issue, and the many other anti motorist legislations and stand up for the average motorist against the overprivelaged government with thier chauffer driven Jaguars
Yours sincerely,
David Harmon Modified classic car enthusiast
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I had already wrote to my MP about this point a couple of months ago.
I don't mind if they think there should be a special MOT for a modified car (depends on the definition of modified). But there is little or no chance of any old car passing an SVA without a complete redesign. A lot of standard modern cars (90 onwards) would not pass an SVA but they don't need to as they have type approval. The SVA tests main points are safety for drivers passengers and pedestrians so a lot of it is bothered about things like sharp edges inside and outside the car something like 3mm inside and 6mm outside all checked with radius gauges. Toggle switches must be replaced with SVA approved items.
My brother in law bought a kit car from ebay a while ago which was complete but needed SVA testing. The standard of finish on the car was excellent took it for SVA and it failed on around 135 points all minor points but to be able to pass it would need completely stripping and rebuilding, yet the tester said it was better than 95% of pre SVA kit cars he had seen that are already on the road.
But this also means that most rally cars would also need SVA testing. If the government`s plan does come off then the modified car industry will be f*cked.
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But this also means that most rally cars would also need SVA testing. If the government`s plan does come off then the modified car industry will be f*cked. Can I point out as I pointed out before this was a consultation document,.. a lot of the modified car community is only concentrating on the reccomendations from a very select group of people that wanted the most safety restrictions etc. There are other groups who wanted a wide variety of things. What this comes down to isn't if your car is modified that won't change, it is if your car is radically altered and where the definition of that lies. At the moment it means a different or fabricated chassis and body shell (so most kit cars) or if a percentage number of the components in your car are from another car. Writing letters will show MPs etc. that we are a voice and a voice that needs be heard, but don't be all doom and gloom, they are working with the NHRA and other car clubs in consulation, as well as safety groups, the police, and who ever else has a vestige interest in whats on our roads. Furthermore this is a section of a wide ranging document about tax and MOT review which I suspect will go through many changes before any of it becomes law. So there is still time to make sure we are heard.
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Agreed it is a consultation document and if the modifications have been carried out before this ever comes into being then it will not be backdated. And I know that at the moment a lot of modified cars should already be SVA tested, as something like 75% of the parts must come from one vehicle including either engine or chassis(However this is difficult to prove as a lot of old cars are made up of parts from the scrapyard) However as I understand it this consultation was carried out with a number of motoring groups but largely avoided modified car groups/clubs/industry. I might be completely wrong here as I have never read the document in question and am just basing my ideas on what I have read in PPC and also Classic Ford which has had a number of pages dedicated to this over the past few month. Admittedly I would be better off reading the consultation in question before responding but I beleive what the bloke down the pub told me
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I know I may be repeating someone elses statement but what do 'they' class as modified? Also I may now be sounding thick but with all these 'bans/restraints' the governments (and I include all sides) have brought in over the past 12 years (and I don'r just mean motoring and vehciles, I mean other hobbies such as shooting, hunting etc.) what sort of hobbies do the 'powers at be' want us to persue?
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what sort of hobbies do the 'powers at be' want us to persue? Drinking ... 24hrs a day ... which sucks for me..
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...I should have realised....
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Dec 21, 2005 10:45:55 GMT
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I realise there is safety in mind too, and i have mentioned i don't want to be gloomy, just want to act now while we can. TBH i don't trust the government and everytime a new rule is brought in and more forms are created, its more headaches, jobsworths to cross and more money to find, just to get on with what we enjoy. I know theres barrys out there and mash up artists, but if the MOT mans on the ball, and legit it should iron these out ideally. We are an easy target as motorists and a bulls eye as retro motorists in fast distinctive cars, the only bonus about an SVA is to hand the certificate over to the plod when they pull you to stop them poking away! Anyway good work for getting those letters/generated emails sent, now we sent em we can look forward to all the great things 2006 will bring
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Dec 21, 2005 11:15:58 GMT
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Will be holding back till the facts are clear before taking any action. TBH if it raises the standard of modified cars on the road I can tollerate it.
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Dec 21, 2005 13:07:52 GMT
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Will be holding back till the facts are clear before taking any action. TBH if it raises the standard of modified cars on the road I can tollerate it. Got to agree there. But what I would be worried about is more people modifying there car without declaring it, meaning more uninsured cars on the road.
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Dec 21, 2005 13:49:29 GMT
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Mexico here I come...
*n
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Top grammar tips! Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Dec 21, 2005 14:10:47 GMT
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Will be holding back till the facts are clear before taking any action. TBH if it raises the standard of modified cars on the road I can tollerate it. Got to agree there. But what I would be worried about is more people modifying there car without declaring it, meaning more uninsured cars on the road. Indeed that concerns me too.
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Dec 22, 2005 10:53:23 GMT
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I actually got a reply frm my local MP Almost makes me want to vote conservative, almost
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Dec 22, 2005 11:01:36 GMT
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come on, thats not too bad!! At least its not a generic 'thank you for your letter, I assure you i will take on board your comments' type thing, thats what I got mrom my MP when I wrote to him years ago. W**ker!
Ask how you can get involved in the consultation process, that might be interesting.
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Last Edit: Dec 22, 2005 11:03:15 GMT by Mr_Bo11ox
1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Dec 22, 2005 11:11:06 GMT
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Mr B is right some effort has gone into that letter, i think thats why its important to get onto this IMO, consultation process sounds intersting yeah...
(my other mini concern, even though my cars are too new to be involved, is; putting a q plate on a pre 72 would hurt. and more money for them. Just a suspicion)
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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Dec 22, 2005 12:04:24 GMT
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my other mini concern, even though my cars are too new to be involved, is; putting a q plate on a pre 72 would hurt. and more money for them. I've got a different concern on this one.... The Government is keen to bring us into line with the rest of Europe, and has apparently considered limiting the use of any cars registered as historic vehicles (ie pre-73 with free tax). The biggest potential change is a restriction stopping anyone driving their pre-73 car over 20km without first obtaining a permit. I haven't seen this in writing (this has been passed to me following the NASC's AGM), but nevertheless..... I'd rather pay the £110 to tax my Escort than be told where and when I can drive it!
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My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
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Dec 22, 2005 12:42:07 GMT
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We currently have that in France, for all cars with a ‘voiture de collection’ logbook. You are allowed to drive it in your department and the surrounding ones (so probably a 150-mile diameter area) but beyond that you are not allowed without authorisation from the authorities for which you have to say where you want to go, when and why…..
However, even the French govt has agreed that is totally absurd and all distance restrictions are getting knocked on the head from 1st Jan 2007.
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Dec 22, 2005 14:50:39 GMT
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And if they have that are they not excempt from the 'Control Technique' ?
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Dec 22, 2005 15:11:36 GMT
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Yes, i think they are!
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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