EU Roadworthiness Package - potential threat to classic and modified cars

richiep

richiep

Club Member
If you've not already seen the furore building around the Internet about this, then I suggest you see the below. Essentially, an EU Commission proposal, which is close to actually making it onto the books, is planning a Europe-wide harmonization of vehicle testing standards. Sounds sensible on the face of it, considering the lax/non-existent standards in certain areas of the region. However, the devil is in the detail. The proposal includes within it the concept that all modifications, cosmetic or mechanical, from the car's original factory spec are basically illegal, would effectively lead to an MOT failure and require further testing (think Germany/Australia, where mods require engineer approval - at a cost). Reading the technical annexes of the proposal reveals phrases such as "illegal power train modification" - meaning any changes from stock.

The proposal also redefines what an historical vehicle is, which would be exempt from the test regime - a car over 30 years old - but it only classifies if it is bone stock mechanically and in appearance. If modified in any way, it is subject to the testing.

The ACE article arguably adopts the worst case scenario take on things, but we should all be highly vigilant about this, as it could pose a very real danger to the classic and modified car cultures and industry of this country (I can't imagine the aftermarket are very happy about this at all). I can hardly think of any Zeds that do not feature some sort of mod somewhere (non-standard wheels/tyres could be enough to render your car "unroadworthy"). Most classics on the road I would suggest are non-standard. Consequently, we MAY (depending on how it is interpreted practically) be about to suffer a attack of bureaucratic idiocy on our hobby with far reaching consequences.

Armageddon | www.the-ace.org.uk

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0380(01):FIN:EN:PDF

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0380(51):FIN:EN:PDF

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0382(51):FIN:EN:PDF
 
MJP (Eastern Auto) supports the Association of Car Enthusiasts in their efforts to fight this legislation which will not only threaten our civil liberties but cause great financial hardship to car enthusiasts who have made decisions years in advance of these "proposals" being put forward. In addition, there will be numerous businesses in the performance and modification trade wiped out overnight when their activities are deemed "illegal".

I understand that some aftermarket parts suppliers already have "type approval" for their products to allow them to be sold in the stricter parts of Europe (Minilite wheels spring to mind), but following the legislation through won't be an option for smaller manufacturers and their suppliers.

There may be a possibility that American CARB approved performance products may be allowable, but the market choice for modified parts is going to be severely curtailed...
 
"250 Thousand modified cars descend on London in mass protest at new Eu regulations!"
This is what's required to make these numpties take note!

Very serious indeed. A plan of attack needed?
 
As Mike says, a real worry has to be the curtailing of choice in the realm of modified parts. I can imagine the majority (things sourced from the US or Japan from small manufacturers, or made in the UK) are not going to have type approval and will thus be difficult to use (not without jumping through hoops and coughing up lots of dosh anyway).

The EU really needs to do one ASAP (total economic and political collapse would be a nice, fitting end).

The Federation of British Historical Vehicle Clubs have also come out in opposition to this proposal and will be lobbying against it. All classic and modified vehicle owners need to be aware of this situation and make as much noise as possible, lest we become another (large) minority interest group crushed in the interests of "European harmonisation" (technocratic dictatorship).
 
camerashy said:
This has already been discussed *very* extensively on RetroRides - Retro Rides - News from the ACE: Armageddon for modified cars

With ACE clarifying as much as they can for those who have questions. I was going to put this up a couple of days ago but felt so angry about the whole thing after writing so many letters I needed a breather from it instead. Thanks for posting it Rich :)
Click to expand...

I saw your very good post on the Retro Rides thread - well put. It is indeed worth getting angry about as it could amount to a disgusting impingement on the interests and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people.
 
I sort of agree, but we need to be vigilant and stop this travesty of human rights.
A series of huge mass protests should be organised if this goes any further.:mad:

franky said:
It'll all come to nothing, there's been talk of such things for as long as I can remember, especially with bikes.
Click to expand...
 
it would also be the death knell for any rally that uses road sections,i.e. tour auto, tour britannia, tour d'espana. historic monte carlo etc another huge waste of our taxes that pay these incomptent numpties!
 
Not to mention the huge industry in the UK building low volume cars etc etc. How can they apply the rules to kit cars etc at mot time? They can't.
 
I have seen this 'threat' written in Classic Car Weekly.

If implemented it would have huge consequences on the Classic industry as a whole never mind ownership and values.

Plan - well it's probably best to join a 'mainstream' protest IF we need to. Because of the impact on the industry I hope the government would see sense. If they are prepared to drop the MoT for older classics because they are well maintained then surely they have to be consistent and assume that younger classics are too. :unsure:

You would hope that if the standard MoT is carried out by a sensible experienced engineer then potentially dangerous mods should be highlighted.

However I can't understand how things dangling from mirrors can be legal when a chip in a windscreen is not. Blacked-out windows is another bad trend.
 
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Can't see it happening. For one thing it'll wipe out rallying in europe in one fell swoop. Can you see Ford, Citroen et al agreeing to this ? I think not. Storm in a teacup.
 
there are 2 types of cars in OZ unmodified and modified.
unmodified is your stock car as straight from the factory
modified is for cars that have been engineered and comes with a certificate to prove it.even if you go more than 1" bigger on your wheels it is classed as modifed and needs to have an engineered certificate which is not cheap.thats why older cars that have been engineered for modifications fetch good money as it is harder to get it done these days and the rules keep changing.
thats why i would not buy a modified car in OZ unless it had all ther certicates for all the mods it had as you might end up with a car you can not use on the public roads.
Examples
 
Aye!! but nearly everyone ignores the rules in Oz, in Victoria anyway. I have a mate that has an F100 2m longer than standard and about 1000L in gas tanks strapped underneath as he hates going to the petrol station. I have driven this vehicle and it has a chevy large block motor as well. I know for a fact he has no certifaicates for this.
My father in law has 2 x mustangs which are modified as they are converted to RHdrive.
I take it these certificates are only applicable in NSW?
And I drove a modified car in South Australia, NSW, Vic and Queensland. No certificate either. Police usually have better things to do I suppose.

moggy240 said:
there are 2 types of cars in OZ unmodified and modified.
unmodified is your stock car as straight from the factory
modified is for cars that have been engineered and comes with a certificate to prove it.even if you go more than 1" bigger on your wheels it is classed as modifed and needs to have an engineered certificate which is not cheap.thats why older cars that have been engineered for modifications fetch good money as it is harder to get it done these days and the rules keep changing.
thats why i would not buy a modified car in OZ unless it had all ther certicates for all the mods it had as you might end up with a car you can not use on the public roads.
Examples
Click to expand...
 
moggy240 said:
there are 2 types of cars in OZ unmodified and modified.
unmodified is your stock car as straight from the factory
modified is for cars that have been engineered and comes with a certificate to prove it.even if you go more than 1" bigger on your wheels it is classed as modifed and needs to have an engineered certificate which is not cheap.thats why older cars that have been engineered for modifications fetch good money as it is harder to get it done these days and the rules keep changing.
thats why i would not buy a modified car in OZ unless it had all ther certicates for all the mods it had as you might end up with a car you can not use on the public roads.
Examples
Click to expand...


Call me cynical but you've just got me thinking... You've made a good point bringing up the Oz model. This is probably already on the minds of the EU legislators already, two classes of cars across Europe too - modified and unmodified.

And it's what they want all along. This whole we will ban modified cars is to get everyone worried. And finally, once everyone is up in arms they give in a little with a compromise. Basically you should be grateful we are letting you keep your modified cars, now pay up for the new certificates of conformity.. And this will be called a compromise proposal and everyone will breathe a sigh of relief thinking they've won and they'll pay up. :rolleyes:. Give someone the worse possible scenario and they'll grab whatever crumb you throw at them... They know this already though...;)

Oh, and we all know by now what the arguments for doing it will be, for our safety :)
 
andrew muir said:
Aye!! but nearly everyone ignores the rules in Oz, in Victoria anyway. I have a mate that has an F100 2m longer than standard and about 1000L in gas tanks strapped underneath as he hates going to the petrol station. I have driven this vehicle and it has a chevy large block motor as well. I know for a fact he has no certifaicates for this.
My father in law has 2 x mustangs which are modified as they are converted to RHdrive.
I take it these certificates are only applicable in NSW?
And I drove a modified car in South Australia, NSW, Vic and Queensland. No certificate either. Police usually have better things to do I suppose.
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not sure if it is most of Australia as the states all have different rules,yes people ignore the rules but if they are in an accident then things could get tricky but as i said modified cars with the certificate of engineering do fetch more money .but the daft thing is in ACT is that you can have a car 20 years and never take it for a MOT unlike NSW which is every year and you can be banned from driving in ACT but you are still able to drive in other 99% of Austrailia
 
Mr.G said:
Oh, and we all know by now what the arguments for doing it will be, for our safety :)
Click to expand...

having worked for an International company you can never win an argument when they mention safety even if it is vey obscure
 
The State laws do vary a lot and Vic has no roadworthy requirement at all as long as you don't sell the vehicle. So you can keep a car for 60years or more and never have it checked.
Having been involved in an accident in Oz I can verify that there is no insurance requirement and as long as no one is injured or sues you can get away with anything.
Drove to Canberra in a modified 77 commodore no problem. No powersteering or A/C and 39 degrees wasn't fun though.


moggy240 said:
not sure if it is most of Australia as the states all have different rules,yes people ignore the rules but if they are in an accident then things could get tricky but as i said modified cars with the certificate of engineering do fetch more money .but the daft thing is in ACT is that you can have a car 20 years and never take it for a MOT unlike NSW which is every year and you can be banned from driving in ACT but you are still able to drive in other 99% of Austrailia
Click to expand...
 
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