Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Rumours on Pistonheads and other forums are saying that it is mentioned in Practical Classics this month:

"PC has been told that the government is actively exploring the possibility of removing the legal requirement to have an annual MOT test for all cars built before 1965. This follows a decision to scrap MOT requirement on pre-war cars"

Does anyone know anything about this?

Paddy

Seems a rather odd thing to do as it would let youngsters find old bangers, partly fix them up but still with dangerous brakes & steering & then let them drive them on the road.

Anyway, mine's a 1967 car so wouldn't be affected.

VSCC have come out firmly in favour of their cars having to take an annual test. Think about it.

All wedges have thin ends.

elansprint71 wrote:VSCC have come out firmly in favour of their cars having to take an annual teat. Think about it.

All wedges have thin ends.

Me too, I'm in favour of getting a relatively cheap checkup by an independent tester.

Though there might be a case for making it mileage based (e.g every 10000 miles) instead of an annual test for classic cars.

"in favour of their cars having to take an annual teat. Think about it"

I am thinking about it, and it's conjuring up a real strange picture.......

Ralph.

Dropping the MOT on older cars is surely the opposite for the reason for introducing it in the first place.
Not every "old timer" owner is an expert on the subject of vehicle safety after all.
Nevertheless GB does go OTT with most regulations & I think that life may be easier for everyone if the period between tests was extended to two years, a system used in Germany for example.

Cheers
John

Below are a couple of quotes taken from The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs newsletter that my local classic car club sends me.

The first one comes from discussions with the European Commision so, if implemented, would be euro wide presumably but on the face of it doesn't sound like it would apply to normal pre-60's vehicles:

"Certain vehicles operated or used in exceptional conditions and vehicles which are never, or hardly ever, used on public highways, including vehicles of historic interest which were manufactured before 1 January 1960"


This one is UK only and the reason given for considering it is "it will mitigate many of the problems experienced by the owners of vehicles in these categories at the annual test"

"Members of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs attended a meeting with the Under-Secretary of State for Roads and Motoring, Mike Penning MP.
Since the meeting the Minister has agreed in principle with the suggestion of exempting cars and smaller vehicles built on or before 31 December 1920 and PCVs built on or before 31 December 1940 from MoT testing."

Again, unless someone has a very very early Elan it doesn't sound as though there's much in it for us

The full reference to EU legislation is from Directive 2009/40/EC of 6 May 2009 on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and states:

"CHAPTER II
EXCEPTIONS
Article 4
1. Member States shall have the right to exclude from the scope of this Directive vehicles belonging to the armed forces, the forces of law and order and the fire service.
2. Member States may, after consulting the Commission, exclude from the scope of this Directive, or subject to special provisions, certain vehicles operarted or used in exceptional conditions and vehicles which are never, or hardly ever, used on public highways, including vehicles of historic interest which were manufactured before 1 January 1960 or which are temporarily withdrawn from circulation.
3. Member States may, after consulting the Commission, set their own testing standards for vehicles considered to be of historic interest."

This does not impose restrictions on the testing of vehicles of historic interest but allows each Member State to exclude them from periodic roadworthiness testing if it wishes.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/Result.do?T1=V1&T2=2009&T3=40&RechType=RECH_consolidated&Submit=Search

reb53 wrote:"in favour of their cars having to take an annual teat. Think about it"

I am thinking about it, and it's conjuring up a real strange picture.......

Ralph.

I did too and it made me titter like a schoolboy

...and I edited the original text.

Titter ye not; yes, YOU at the back.

elansprint71 wrote:...and I edited the original text.

Clearly something Freudian & deep rooted...but you gave a hint when you wrote:

"It's been a long day and I have an appointment with several Black Sheep (I was born in Cumbria, after all)"

With reference to......"in favour of their cars having to take an annual teat. Think about it"

Particularly appropriate for those of us who hail from north of the border.....on occassion my local Scottish MOT tester has been guilty of being a "reet teat"!

cheers

martin

......it even makes my mini look big!.....

Like the picky....like it a lot....especially since my FHC is the same colour!

ps Even on 10" wheels a mini wins the size contest...

cheers

martin