MOT exemption for classics ?

[Efbe]

does this MOT thing count for motorbikes as well?

if so that really is dangerous. lots of 40+ 125 bikes out there that will be run by kids.

[J4CKO]

steveL98 said:

In my local area, I can count nine regular drivers of old cars that are 40+ (the cars).

There are a good few more who commute in '80's cars (including me) and I predict that when people are more aware of the rolling 40+ thing with no tax or MOT, demand for cars with historic status (or due to get it) will increase, but not so much for the 'classic' thing, but for the no hassle and cheap way of getting around. Not everyone wants a new car or the financial commitment to own one. My colleague at work here has sold his 2010 Berlingo and bought a '71 MGB GT for regular use and says he wished he'd done this ages ago.



I'll be retiring in a few years, and I'm considering buying a car like an early Golf GTI as they are easily maintained and will be in great demand soon.. £££!!!

They are easily maintained, if not full of rust, had a few and they do eventually succumb, get a good one and pretty usable still, wit a MK1 I would want upgraded brakes. Would love a well sorted 1.8T engined MK1 or 2 myself.

[InitialDave]

steveL98 said:

In my local area, I can count nine regular drivers of old cars that are 40+ (the cars).

But are they enthusiasts, who like cars and are interested in them?

I can't see someone who is after the cheapo option going with a 40+ year old car over a generic £500 cheapy.

[Mr2Mike]

InitialDave said:

How many people have you met driving something 40+ years old who weren't enthusiasts?

Define "enthusiasts". There are plenty of people on here that consider themselves car enthusiasts that are utterly clueless when it comes to even basic maintenance.

[InitialDave]

Mr2Mike said:

Define "enthusiasts". There are plenty of people on here that consider themselves car enthusiasts that are utterly clueless when it comes to even basic maintenance.

Well, that's why some people have the issues they do with the MOT exemption.

But in this context, I'm specifically questioning the idea that a driver who would otherwose buy a normal, cheap used car will now actively seek out a 40+ year old one. I don't think they will.

[CAPP0]

Efbe said:

does this MOT thing count for motorbikes as well?

Yes it does.

[Efbe]

InitialDave said:

Mr2Mike said:

Define "enthusiasts". There are plenty of people on here that consider themselves car enthusiasts that are utterly clueless when it comes to even basic maintenance.

Well, that's why some people have the issues they do with the MOT exemption.

But in this context, I'm specifically questioning the idea that a driver who would otherwose buy a normal, cheap used car will now actively seek out a 40+ year old one. I don't think they will.

do you think these will be bought by enthusiasts?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-KE125-registere...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-cb125-1975-/322832...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-cb125s-1974-/22267...

or people buying cheap commuter bikes, or kids starting out?

[InitialDave]

Efbe said:

do you think these will be bought by enthusiasts?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kawasaki-KE125-registere...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-cb125-1975-/322832...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-cb125s-1974-/22267...

or people buying cheap commuter bikes, or kids starting out?

Well, I wasn't discussing bikes, so it's not really relevant.

Yes, at those prices, I can see it as a possibility, though a larger factor is that a 70s CB125 probably isn't much different a proposition to a far newer one, whereas I think people would be much less likely to forego something like a cheap Focus in favour of an old Marina etc.

[V8RX7]

InitialDave said:

I think people would be much less likely to forego something like a cheap Focus in favour of an old Marina etc.

IME (my Dad has sold Classics for 50 odd yrs) you get:

Trendy students trying to look cool / different
Young (usually girls) looking for cars with character
Poorer people looking for free Tax and a basic car they can afford to maintain
As well as the usual bearded, oil stained, typical enthusiast

[InitialDave]

Ok, if there really are people buying stuff that old on the basis it's cheaper to run them than a modern car, then fair enough, I agree it's a risk for them to be outside the remit of the MOT system, as the low mileage and greater interest/care an enthusiast would have is not going to be there.

Genuinely surprised, though. I've always regarded £500 on something 15-20 years old as optimum cheap car territory in terms of what you get and how much hassle it's likely to be.

[markymarkthree]

Cars without an MOT are already being advertised for sale with the bonus of it being MOT exempt from next May.
I could see this car going to a student/beardy/hipster trendy type.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-cortina-mk3/1425395...

I really cant believe the government are bringing this law/ruling in. CRAZY.

[InitialDave]

Uhhh... technically, tget wouldn't be, would they? I thought the MOT exemption only activated where a car was both old enough and had a valid MOT?

[steveL98]

J4CKO said:

steveL98 said:

In my local area, I can count nine regular drivers of old cars that are 40+ (the cars).

There are a good few more who commute in '80's cars (including me) and I predict that when people are more aware of the rolling 40+ thing with no tax or MOT, demand for cars with historic status (or due to get it) will increase, but not so much for the 'classic' thing, but for the no hassle and cheap way of getting around. Not everyone wants a new car or the financial commitment to own one. My colleague at work here has sold his 2010 Berlingo and bought a '71 MGB GT for regular use and says he wished he'd done this ages ago.



I'll be retiring in a few years, and I'm considering buying a car like an early Golf GTI as they are easily maintained and will be in great demand soon.. £££!!!

They are easily maintained, if not full of rust, had a few and they do eventually succumb, get a good one and pretty usable still, wit a MK1 I would want upgraded brakes. Would love a well sorted 1.8T engined MK1 or 2 myself.

This one was a £4k bargain from a sports car dealer in Fife, with no obvious rust, suspension work (check the -ve camber), racing seats, belts and a roll cage. The motor is stock but a few items may change in time. It was built as a daily/hillclimb/track car but never used in anger.. Its lovely, a real time warp in terms of sound, feel and smell. Even just sitting in it evokes all kinds of memories for me.. This is why we love our classics.

[J4CKO]

steveL98 said:

J4CKO said:

steveL98 said:

In my local area, I can count nine regular drivers of old cars that are 40+ (the cars).

There are a good few more who commute in '80's cars (including me) and I predict that when people are more aware of the rolling 40+ thing with no tax or MOT, demand for cars with historic status (or due to get it) will increase, but not so much for the 'classic' thing, but for the no hassle and cheap way of getting around. Not everyone wants a new car or the financial commitment to own one. My colleague at work here has sold his 2010 Berlingo and bought a '71 MGB GT for regular use and says he wished he'd done this ages ago.



I'll be retiring in a few years, and I'm considering buying a car like an early Golf GTI as they are easily maintained and will be in great demand soon.. £££!!!

They are easily maintained, if not full of rust, had a few and they do eventually succumb, get a good one and pretty usable still, wit a MK1 I would want upgraded brakes. Would love a well sorted 1.8T engined MK1 or 2 myself.

This one was a £4k bargain from a sports car dealer in Fife, with no obvious rust, suspension work (check the -ve camber), racing seats, belts and a roll cage. The motor is stock but a few items may change in time. It was built as a daily/hillclimb/track car but never used in anger.. Its lovely, a real time warp in terms of sound, feel and smell. Even just sitting in it evokes all kinds of memories for me.. This is why we love our classics.

That is a nice one, I like a roadster but the GT looks so right, especially when done like that, last one I saw though was holding up traffic just outside Bath with a nice plume of steam from under the bonnet.

Like the idea of those brand new ones with MX5 engines and stuff, just such a lot of money.

[TooMany2cvs]

steveL98 said:

This one was a £4k bargain from a sports car dealer in Fife, with no obvious rust

A £4k MGB that isn't rotten? Let alone one in such a desirable spec?

Sounds too good to be true.

[steveL98]

InitialDave said:

steveL98 said:

In my local area, I can count nine regular drivers of old cars that are 40+ (the cars).

But are they enthusiasts, who like cars and are interested in them?

I can't see someone who is after the cheapo option going with a 40+ year old car over a generic £500 cheapy.

I don't know them all personally, but the ones I do know (2x Morris Minors, Datsun 100A, Mini, MGB, aren't in any way 'enthusiasts'. These cars are just used as second, daily commuter cars. This is a rural area (KA19) and the busiest garage is a smallish classic car friendly place. I suspect that there are many more situations like ours around the UK.

[steveL98]

TooMany2cvs said:

steveL98 said:

This one was a £4k bargain from a sports car dealer in Fife, with no obvious rust

A £4k MGB that isn't rotten? Let alone one in such a desirable spec?

Sounds too good to be true.

It would be today, but not four years ago when he bought it. He's been offered £6k for it that I know of. Probably if it was totally stock it'd be worth more today. This is my point about the new historic status. Cars like this will only increase in value.

[steveL98]

J4CKO said:

steveL98 said:

J4CKO said:

steveL98 said:

In my local area, I can count nine regular drivers of old cars that are 40+ (the cars).

There are a good few more who commute in '80's cars (including me) and I predict that when people are more aware of the rolling 40+ thing with no tax or MOT, demand for cars with historic status (or due to get it) will increase, but not so much for the 'classic' thing, but for the no hassle and cheap way of getting around. Not everyone wants a new car or the financial commitment to own one. My colleague at work here has sold his 2010 Berlingo and bought a '71 MGB GT for regular use and says he wished he'd done this ages ago.



I'll be retiring in a few years, and I'm considering buying a car like an early Golf GTI as they are easily maintained and will be in great demand soon.. £££!!!

They are easily maintained, if not full of rust, had a few and they do eventually succumb, get a good one and pretty usable still, wit a MK1 I would want upgraded brakes. Would love a well sorted 1.8T engined MK1 or 2 myself.

This one was a £4k bargain from a sports car dealer in Fife, with no obvious rust, suspension work (check the -ve camber), racing seats, belts and a roll cage. The motor is stock but a few items may change in time. It was built as a daily/hillclimb/track car but never used in anger.. Its lovely, a real time warp in terms of sound, feel and smell. Even just sitting in it evokes all kinds of memories for me.. This is why we love our classics.

That is a nice one, I like a roadster but the GT looks so right, especially when done like that, last one I saw though was holding up traffic just outside Bath with a nice plume of steam from under the bonnet.

Yes, the water pump problem. This one has been through two so far. I don't thing the aftermarket items are good quality.

After the last one, I told him to fit an electric pump and an electric fan. That alone should unleash a few more bhp to the rear wheels. There's plenty of room under the bonnet for it.

[TooMany2cvs]

steveL98 said:

I don't thing the aftermarket items are good quality.

If MGs are anything like Landies, there's some atrocious cheap chod on the market - but a good choice of worthwhile brands. Buy on price, buy twice.

steveL98 said:

After the last one, I told him to fit an electric pump and an electric fan.

Fan, yes, but I'd stick with a mechanical pump.

[steveL98]

This is what I showed him after the second pump failed. I bought a fan controller for my Corvette off these guys and it works a treat.

https://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/water-pumps