MOT exemption, good thing or no?
Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 6:04 am
I reckon that once 1977 cars become test-exempt in May 2018, on a 41st year rolling basis in line with VED exemption, the pages of eBay and other motor flogging sites will be (even more) awash with older motors whose identities are suspect, this will probably make it even harder to find a legitimate mini, Beetle, S3 Land Rover, MK2 Escort or other popular '70s vehicle.
Already, a quick sweep of eBay is showing an alarming increase in this sort of fraud - for that's how it is - with several minis leading the way as a handful of mid to late eighties examples are already appearing with the identities of soon-to-be test-exempt pre-'78 cars.
Were it not bad enough that this will inevitably see the unscrupulous horse traders selling cars whose roadworthiness is questionable, a very minor issue with the outgoing fixed pre-1960 concession, it will, IMHO, also see a return to the early seventies habits of "repairing" structural rot with Cataloy and old newspapers and generally using lots of thickly applied, bitumen-derived black goo as a restoration medium. Pre 1960 cars are relatively rarely running about in a really poor condition, since these are, in the main, less well suited to daily use than the cars of the seventies, which are usually capable of performing at least well enough to keep up with the current crop of new motors, albeit at a slight efficiency disadvantage. But I find myself worrying about the sudden influx of scrapyard escapees that - in my mind - are sure to come along and further muddy the waters for those who are looking for a cheaper old runabout.
Still, GHT will be delighted as lots of Allegros, Marinas and other of his favourite classics ( ) will suddenly be dragged out of their hedges, barns and holes in the ground, given some quick attention with the blind riveter, slathered with underseal and sold to unsuspecting newcomers to this hobby of ours. I'm pretty sure that this concession will end in tears, am I worrying for nothing?
Already, a quick sweep of eBay is showing an alarming increase in this sort of fraud - for that's how it is - with several minis leading the way as a handful of mid to late eighties examples are already appearing with the identities of soon-to-be test-exempt pre-'78 cars.
Were it not bad enough that this will inevitably see the unscrupulous horse traders selling cars whose roadworthiness is questionable, a very minor issue with the outgoing fixed pre-1960 concession, it will, IMHO, also see a return to the early seventies habits of "repairing" structural rot with Cataloy and old newspapers and generally using lots of thickly applied, bitumen-derived black goo as a restoration medium. Pre 1960 cars are relatively rarely running about in a really poor condition, since these are, in the main, less well suited to daily use than the cars of the seventies, which are usually capable of performing at least well enough to keep up with the current crop of new motors, albeit at a slight efficiency disadvantage. But I find myself worrying about the sudden influx of scrapyard escapees that - in my mind - are sure to come along and further muddy the waters for those who are looking for a cheaper old runabout.
Still, GHT will be delighted as lots of Allegros, Marinas and other of his favourite classics ( ) will suddenly be dragged out of their hedges, barns and holes in the ground, given some quick attention with the blind riveter, slathered with underseal and sold to unsuspecting newcomers to this hobby of ours. I'm pretty sure that this concession will end in tears, am I worrying for nothing?