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Not sure if this club knows, but ACE is about to make an imminent announcement about new legislation from the EU that is going to affect us all greatly i.e. if the legislation is not stopped or modified within the next 6 weeks the customizing, modifying or hot rodding of cars will be dead in Europe.

 

http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/topic/ ... ions-64112

 

The news sounds alarming, but believe me this information has come from Kev Rooney who sits on the ACE committee. The news is starting to break out (I read it on Rods and sods) to car clubs throughout the UK. ACE will be expecting massive support from us all if we want to keep our hobby alive. From what I understand, once the news is released on the ACE web site, details of what we need to do will be released, but we are being asked to spread this news around the car hobby as quickly as possible.

 

http://www.the-ace.org.uk/

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a mate of mine at work an old chap who's been heavily involved in the hot rod scene longer than ive been alive told me about all this over a year ago, i said 'behave that'll never come in'

 

looks like we will all soon be on a 'q' plate

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In theory, no businesses should have to close if what they are proposing goes through - they're not making modifying illegal.

 

From my understanding and a bit of research it seems what they are suggesting is that cars that don't meet original type approval will require an IVA test - which most well built cars should go through anyway. Secondly, it seems the MoT tester will be the one that determines whether a car needs to go for that IVA test, which again shouldn't be a problem for most of us.

 

It would take a massive investment to make it work, which is why personally, I don't think it ever will. You never know though!

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That sounds better! There is an awful lot of people whose livelihoods would be effected, as well as us enthusiasts. Surely they must realise that many modified cars are much safer and better equipped than when they were new,( and even help the environment .a zetec in an anglia is will be more efficient than a pre crossflow surely, for example)

Anyone know what the reasoning behind this idea was?

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Anyone know what the reasoning behind this idea was?

 

Is to standardise legislation across Europe, e.g. signage in buildings and on roads should be the same across all EU states.

 

After reading it's not really clear how far this could go imo, e.g. seems open to interpretation from tester, etc. It could be no worse than current MOT or, as I found after trip to the Ring modifying is not allowed in Germany at all...

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Welcome to the autocracy. This *King bullshit* has to stop!

 

*Apologies to Mods/Members who this language may offend, but let's be realistic here, the kid gloves must come off if our freedoms are to be maintained. Time for the British people to put our collective foot down and say "OI!, NO!"

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It's all not very clear, what does it mean by "cars that are not of original type" and if they are not banning modifying , what are they banning.

 

Think i'll just plead my escort is part of my religon and it is my human right to do as i please with it. :lol::lol:

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i dont think its 'banning' anything, just means most cars will have to undergo a strict test (is it called an SVA test?)before being allowed on the road... similar to a kit car

 

also means they would probably lose their tax free logbook and end up on a 'Q' plate

 

i may be wrong but this is my understanding of it

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also means they would probably lose their tax free logbook and end up on a 'Q' plate

 

i may be wrong but this is my understanding of it

 

Which is what a lot of us don't want.. The Tax part doesn't bother me but I'd rather keep the identity of the car on it like the reg and black silver number plates. If it goes Q plate then number plates will have to be reflective yellow and white. Maybe not so noticeable on a late MK 4 or 5 cortina but what about earler models??

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I must be missing the point on this or maybe i'm just thick.

 

I have a mk1 escort modified (red top, bike carbs etc )

But it's been said their not banning modifiing.

 

It is a 1969 model.

This is classed as an historical vehicle so is tax exempt.

 

It went for it's mot and passed.

This made it fit to use on the road.

 

How exactly does the new proposal / law affect any of us, what will make our cars illegal for road use.

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The trouble is we don't exactly know what will happen. If we sit and wait it could be too late to do anything.

 

It does look like ANY modifications to historic vehicles will mean they WILL lose their historic status and have to go for BIVA testing. Orange side indicators, correctly marked windscreens as well as the dreaded Q plates don't sound that appealing to me so I'm sending the letter to the MP's, MEP's. There is a draft on the ACE website

 

http://www.the-ace.org.uk/armageddon/

 

They also have a chat forum

 

http://www.the-ace.org.uk/chat_with_ace/

 

 

Plus a 40 odd page discussion on the rods and sods forum http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/forum/topic/ ... ions-64112

 

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/new ... proposals/

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Correct me if I'm wrong but each member state has to approve this before it can become EU law. In view of the work and cost involved in setting up extra testing centres and testers to cope with IVA's that would arise out of this at a time when they are actually reducing staff, I cant see the uk agreeing to this in a hurry. Plus how can you prove what has been modified and what hasn't. Yes I know some are blindingly obvious but there is no database of standard cars, and I cant see the DVLA V765 clubs rushing to support this either as ACE suggested as most are volunteers.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Bit of a disheartening reply here. I just received this email.

 

Thank you for writing to John Bufton MEP about the EU's latest move to tighten the screw on motorists in general, and the owners of historic and customised vehicles in particular, by means of further modifications to the MOT-test, which require (Art.3(9)) that

 

 

"the parts and components of a vehicle comply with its safety and environmental characteristics in force at the time of approval, first registration or entry into service".

 

 

This will effectively put an end to car-customisation.

 

 

The Regulation appears to exempt "vehicles of historic interest", until we look at the definition of such vehicles, which states (Art.3(7)) that

 

 

"‘vehicle of historic interest’ means any vehicle which fulfils all the following

conditions :

– It was manufactured at least 30 years ago,

– It is maintained by use of replacement parts which reproduce the historic

components of the vehicle;

– It has not sustained any change in the technical characteristics of its main

components such as engine, brakes, steering or suspension and

– It has not been changed in its appearance;"

 

 

This will effectively ban historic cars from the roads.

 

 

Like its predecessor (Directive 2009/40/EC) the Regulation enforces the "Vehicle-Type Approval" requirements, issued by the United Nations Organisation.

 

 

The Regulation also delegates, to the EU-Commission, the ability "to adopt acts" and to exercise "implementing-powers", to modify the Regulation further, at the EU-Commission's own discretion (Art.18) and requires that test-results, from all EU-states, be collected centrally (Art. 14)

 

 

The general effect is to continue the construction of monolithic EU-control. UKIP will, of course, oppose this in every way possible.

 

 

Unfortunately, the opposition mounted by UKIP's 13 members at the EU's "parliament" is rarely supported by more than 60 of the other 740 members, and indeed, the "parliament" has rejected only two of the tens-of-thousands of proposals, which the EU-Commission has made this century.

 

 

The UK-government could refuse to implement this particular Regulation, because "vehicle-testing", surprisingly enough, is - as the Regulation puts it - "a sovereign matter"; but the chances of "our" pro-EU government doing that are, I would think, nil.

 

 

It seems most unlikely that this Regulation will not become law, whereupon the only way to repeal it will be to repeal the European Communities Act, which is the basis of all EU-authority in the UK. The repeal of this Act is UKIP's central aim.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Nathan L Gill

PA to John Bufton MEP

 

:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x:x

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You get a different story depending which MEP you write to. The MEP can only vote in what the UK Gov wants. This is all in consultation by the DFT, from there the ministers will decide what will happen. The FBHVC are on the case, and they have a good relationship in general with the DFT.

There are simply thousands of modified cars/lorries/buses on the uk roads. It would be bloomin difficult to outlaw them overnight. Yes we may well have to undergo a strict one off test at some point, but I have no problem with that providing any test is geared to testing older cars. We have nothing like it in the UK at present as the current BIVA or IVA tests ask for everything glass wise and lights to be E marked. Thats just not possible with cars of over 30 years age.

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  • 1 month later...

Well, I finally got a response from my MEP. He passed it on to another MEP who is the Spokesman for Transport & Tourism

 

She responded with:

 

RESPONSE:

Thank you for contacting me and sharing your concerns on the European Commission's proposed new regulation on periodic road-worthiness tests for motor vehicles.

 

The proposed regulation, which is part of the 'Road-worthiness Package', was submitted to the European Parliament during the summer recess. It has not yet been considered, or even studied, by the Parliament's Transport Committee. When the Transport Committee has reached its view of this proposed regulation, the matter will be referred back to the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, which comprises national Transport Ministers from around the EU.

 

I realise this process is very bureaucratic and I do not expect a decision on this proposal before the end of 2013.

 

As a Conservative MEP for the North West, and as Spokesman for Transport & Tourism, I am concerned that this is yet further interference by the EU in matters which, certainly in the case of the United Kingdom, have been handled perfectly well until now.

 

I do not believe that road-worthiness testing should relate to modifications, alterations or improvements to vehicles. Most historic vehicles will have been modified at some stage and so testing against its original characteristics, as the proposal suggest, is simply unworkable. I shall be making robust arguments to the Committee on these issues.

 

You will be able to follow its progress through the web site of the European Parliament and I shall also endeavour to keep in touch with you.

 

In the meantime, I am pleased that the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs has also confirmed that it has submitted comments to the Department for Transport and I would urge you to also contact your Member of Parliament, if you have not already done so.

 

With best wishes

Yours sincerely,

Jacqueline Foster

MEP for North West England

Conservative Spokesman for Transport and Tourism

 

roadworthiness_test_Giles Chichester_response_September_2012.pdf.pdf

 

roadworthiness_test_Foster_response_September_2012.pdf.pdf

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