This is NOT a political question. ======================
Let's imagine for a moment, that all classic cars to be licenced for the road were required to meet close-to-current pollution, mileage and safety standards.
This is NOT a discussion about...."they can't do that".....or, "from my cold dead hands"........etc. I'm not looking to start a political tirade. This is simply a "what if" question. What would you do IF?
My new 36' x 36' shop will soon be ready. I finished my last project over a year ago, and I'm getting antsy. As I start looking for yet another project to build, I'm wondering, what if?
What would you gearheads do?
- Find a different hobby?
- Move to appearance-modding of newer vehicles?
- Build classic cars for un-licenced use/show only?
I would make sure any car I licensed was compliant, just the same way I do now.
The way the current law reads in Ontario is the car has to meet the standards in effect at date of manufacture, not some ever increasing new standard.
My 73 has been on the drive clean dyno at a local shop, he wanted to gather some benchmarking data so I put it on. According to the tech it passed the standards in efffect for 1973.
The way the current law reads in Ontario is the car has to meet the standards in effect at date of manufacture, not some ever increasing new standard.
Ray,
What I said was......"Let's imagine for a moment, that all classic cars to be licenced for the road were required to meet close-to-current pollution, mileage and safety standards."
I don't think it could be done-esp if airbags were a requirement. But for kicks lets say some aftermarket company came up with SIR retrofit kits (and for simplicity say it's driver only) and it was about $2500 for the kit plus installation. For pollution control you'd could probably already do it with the fuel injection kits and performance cats that are out there. I'd expect you'd have to spend about 5-6 grand for the proper modifications. I'm sure that those who could afford it would do it.
As far as emission and mileage, that would be do-able imop. To get an older car to meet current collision and safety standards would be impossible. Obviously you'd literally have to rebody or build a fake body of a classic on a modern car. I'm sure we all agree on that. I'd be heartbroken, but I'd just try to aim my hobby into a modern sports car like a Z06 or a GT500, and get hooked up with that enthusiast group. I'd just be thankfull there's still some machines being buit to be passionate about.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
What I said was......"Let's imagine for a moment, that all classic cars to be licenced for the road were required to meet close-to-current pollution, mileage and safety standards."
New law. New requirements.
Then what?
I would still make every effort to comply so that the car could be licensed and driven. Since mine is a 73 I already have these huge shock absobring bumpers that were needed for the first year of crash standards.
I would make sure any car I licensed was compliant, just the same way I do now.
The way the current law reads in Ontario is the car has to meet the standards in effect at date of manufacture, not some ever increasing new standard.
My 73 has been on the drive clean dyno at a local shop, he wanted to gather some benchmarking data so I put it on. According to the tech it passed the standards in efffect for 1973.
Don't hold your breath there, something is already going on. My 97 Camaro has been subject to increasing standards every time it has been tested....
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
I already have a modern so called "muscle car", a 2006 Charger Daytona with the 5.7 Hemi so I would end up driving it vs. 63 Acadian ,79 Trans Ams, etc. I wouldn't be happy about it and would try to devote a fair bit of time lobbying against it. Also, I would probably enjoy the challenge of trying to get an old car to meet the standards.... to a POINT. I do believe that in our lifetime something like this will happen, if WE let it. Anti-clunker bills are rampant in the USA as well as a misguided enviromental movement so the scenario may be closer than we all realize. Getting rid of old cars seems like a righteous cause to some groups. So the best we can do to combat it is not give them any ammuntion. Make sure your old car doesn't smoke or leak too much is a good start! I would probably spend more time on my boat, less time on cars..... Might not be so bad.
I think CP should join and show their support. They would probably appreciate having our support as well. I'd be more than willing to make a contribution towards the cost.
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
I would apply for a dealers licence so I could get a dealers plate . That way you can put it on any car. I have already thought of doing this just put storage insurance on the cars and use the plate when I drive them.
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1957 Pathfinder deluxe 4 door wagon 1961 Pontiac Parisienne bubble top Traded for a Harley sorry guys.
I think those cars are called Resto-Mods. They come with all the new up to date motors and brakes etc. The only place that the cars lack is on shoulder belts and air bags. If you went to the racing harness you wouldn't need airbags
this may start a riot.. but.. I've actually considered doing a restoration (of a non numbers etc.. etc..) of a classic (any kind) and making it look exactly like it should, only make it electric powered. with some of the technology available.. it may be the way to go.. only thing is, at this point, the best you can get out of a charge so far is about 100 miles. just an idea.. I still prefer burning my eyeballs with Hi octane fuels and spinning the rubber off the car.
saw an episode on the tube this weekend were they compared a electrical snow sled against a gas powered one. 3 test. electrical won in smoothness. but got whomped in the hill climb.
here you go, electric powered chevelle!... i've been thinking about building one too, for the heck of it... and can be pretty quick, and chirps the tires between 'voltage' shifts... 100mi? thats pretty darn far...almost all of my commuting is done 10-15km at a time...