Are we about to get shafted by the government - again

[GDPR]

Lifted from the Friends ReUnited Classic Car group this morning:

can anybody tell me, whilst taking my 1972 MGB for its compulsary health check
MOT!!! the garage owner was telling me the government are proposing to recruit 60 seargent major types to check garages re classics that have been modified ie discs replacing drums or twin carb instead of single or larger engine fitted. efectivley the car is not as produced and will no longer be able to qualify for free tax and lower insurance. Sorry to be long winded!! but if anybody knows it will make a good vote catcher for the oposition. Thanks in anticipation. John

Are we about to be like Germany and have no mods? If so Stagdad is f******!:shock:

[NickA]

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kryten wrote:

Lifted from the Friends ReUnited Classic Car group this morning:

can anybody tell me, whilst taking my 1972 MGB for its compulsary health check
MOT!!! the garage owner was telling me the government are proposing to recruit 60 seargent major types to check garages re classics that have been modified ie discs replacing drums or twin carb instead of single or larger engine fitted. efectivley the car is not as produced and will no longer be able to qualify for free tax and lower insurance. Sorry to be long winded!! but if anybody knows it will make a good vote catcher for the oposition. Thanks in anticipation. John

Are we about to be like Germany and have no mods? If so Stagdad is f******!:shock:

The insurance bit has nothing to do with the Governement as that's between the owner and the insurance company.Sounds like an late April Fool to me.

[GDPR]

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Sure hope so Nick

[dasadrew]

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Playing the Devil's advocate here.....

in Germany, you can certainly modify the car and remain tax-reduced. It's just that the modifications have to be those which were available at the time the car was produced. My Escort has twin carbs, big-valve head, vented discs, long range fuel tank etc. etc., but all of these kits are original ones which were sold at that time 30 years ago.

After all, why should the population of a country subsidise people who want to drive old cars unless theyserve, for example, "to preserve the cultural technical heritage" of the country?

[singapore stag]

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NickA wrote:

kryten wrote:

Lifted from the Friends ReUnited Classic Car group this morning:

can anybody tell me, whilst taking my 1972 MGB for its compulsary health check
MOT!!! the garage owner was telling me the government are proposing to recruit 60 seargent major types to check garages re classics that have been modified ie discs replacing drums or twin carb instead of single or larger engine fitted. efectivley the car is not as produced and will no longer be able to qualify for free tax and lower insurance. Sorry to be long winded!! but if anybody knows it will make a good vote catcher for the oposition. Thanks in anticipation. John

Are we about to be like Germany and have no mods? If so Stagdad is f******!:shock:

The insurance bit has nothing to do with the Governement as that's between the owner and the insurance company.Sounds like an late April Fool to me.

I agree with the Insurance bit,... I advised my insurers about the Twin webers and they accepted it was a mod for fuel economy and reliability.

As regards checking classics for mods RE: Road Tax/Mot I won't be surprised, this government will go to any lengths to grab the cash back.

[Guest]

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As a non-tax free owner I want to add my sympathy and support for you guys. If this was a safety issue I could see some point to it but it plainly isn't,otherwise all our cars would be involved. Just another cynical Gordon Brown hit on "THE" soft target. Martin.

[Gistan]

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Martin Stevenson wrote:

As a non-tax free owner I want to add my sympathy and support for you guys. If this was a safety issue I could see some point to it but it plainly isn't,otherwise all our cars would be involved. Just another cynical Gordon Brown hit on "THE" soft target. Martin.

I agree, what would the inspectors class as non standard :-

15 inch wheels

Lowered springs

Header Tanks

Datsun Drive Shafts

ZF Gearbox

or something really radical like an MP3 player:shock:

Maybe for people like me who get carried away ok, but the above would be taking the p##s.

Gary

[Denis]

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I have been told that structural modifications such as enlarging the transmission tunnel to fit a larger gearbox asmight be needed if fitting a V8 to an MGB would need SVA approval or something similar. Is this what is being referred to?

Denis

[Ian B]

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It's just a scrappage scheme for Buick powered stags, part of a way of keeping our motoring heritage genuine...............reaches for pithe helmet

[al-stag]

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The only thing I have got is Lumenition and an electric fan

They wouldn't, would they....?

Al

[Guest]

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I hope Obama isn't reading this. It will give him some more ideas.

[GDPR]

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I take it Obama isn't a regular reader of our forum then?

I'm sure he and most of his predecessors have thought of it, but then remembered the ability of the American people to carry firearms and what they might do if they were pissed off............

[Andy Rundell]

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I think i'd save the worry-lines for when there is something concrete to discuss - sounds like a pub-conversation to me

........Andy

[TimShoubridge]

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Did someone say pub??

[Andy Rundell]

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TimShoubridge wrote:

Did someone say pub??

glad we have your attention now !