£5k ULEZ BUSTING IDEAS

[maser04]

My first thread after spending years lurking.. but thought a twist on the ULEZ discussion would be fun and doesn't seem to have be raised already..

So cars over 40 years are exempt and in some cases a grant of up to £5k for 'Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme' can be acheived.

What would you buy that's over (or soon to be) 40 years old and do a possible engine / driveline upgrade all for around £5k?

No crazy £100K restomods but Pistonheads themed....my inital thoughts was a Beetle with Subaru boxer engine but there will be plenty of vehicles from the 80s reaching historic status soon

[sixor8]

If you do a driveline upgrade on a 40 + year old car, you immediately become subject to MoT tests again. If you declare it that is. So it would then need to pass the emission tests applicable to the engine used.

Unless it's highly desirable, it's not worth it IMHO. Several have converted them to EVs but that's way more than £5k unless you DIY.

Since a 40+ year old car is automatically exempt the ULEZ once it is in the taxation class 'historic,' as long as it runs OK, just leave it! I have a 1975 Triumph Toledo and granted it is slow, and extremely poor consumption (25 mpg on a 1.3 engine), I'm content to potter along in it. £0 rated for VED too. At the moment anyway, I expect that to change in years to come, if it keeps rolling forward, an 'admin' cost perhaps. I expect the rolling VED exemption to stop in 2041 when all cars 40 yrs old will have emission data to refer to for banding, etc.

[maser04]

I don't live in London but the concept made me wonder what vehicles could be 'sympathetically updated' to use as a daily. Think that's my line, how much fun could you have trying to beat the system with an older vehicle that you'd be happy to use regularly?

[samoht]

If you're prepared to be a bit flexible on the budget, this 1979 Rover 2600 SD1 is eligible for exemption and seems quite a 'pure' example of the early cars

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1527518
Yeah, it's a six-pot auto, but the V8s are pricey now and the 2600 isn't that far off I understand. "No rust whatsoever" quite the selling point on these

[Shifter1]

samoht said:

If you're prepared to be a bit flexible on the budget, this 1979 Rover 2600 SD1 is eligible for exemption and seems quite a 'pure' example of the early cars

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1527518
Yeah, it's a six-pot auto, but the V8s are pricey now and the 2600 isn't that far off I understand. "No rust whatsoever" quite the selling point on these

Britain's Citroen SM. Always liked the looks of them.

[maser04]

I like the SD1 but thought there would be more options and MGs seem a bit boring IMO but seems that anything that's been kept in running order for the last 40 years demands bit more budget than £5k...

I reckon you could keep this going for a good while.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1446655

Still think there's something more PH worthy out there!

[maser04]

This would be a good city car and seems to have been in a time warp! a lotus version would fill the brief nicely.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13627002

[jimmytheone]

If i thought i could electrify my BX for £5k id do it - bloody comfy and with balloon tyres, the ideal pothole/ speed bump cruiser. Relatively narrow and manoeuvrable so ideal for the cut & thrust of city living with a touch of gallic charm. Perhaps

Problem is ive already spent that on fixing everything else some of the other things

[V1nce Fox]

I think my goto might be a classic volvo estate.