Legality of hood ornaments on bonnets (ie Jaguar, Rolls etc)

[Polizia Lambo]

Hi there

I have a 2001 XJ8 Soveriegn and I wanted to know what the legality is of having a 'leaping cat' hood ornament fitted to the front of the bonnet ? I have heard somewhere that its illegal if its a fixed one and legal if its one that can spring back. I have also heard that both are illegal. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Many thanks

[Jaguar steve]

This has been the subject of several articles and queries within the JEC magazine, it seems if the ornament was not a factory fitted option (in the UK at least) to the car when it was new, then it's considered illegal, although my old XJ had a fixed leaper fitted and my insurance company never objected and it passed two MOT's.

Mind you, if I had an accident and injured someone, or made the injury worse with the leaper, I dread to think what might have been the outcome.

[Polizia Lambo]

Thank you so much for this information, I appreciate that. It does seem so hard to find out true legality. So even sprung-loaded ones are illegal?

[Trooper2]

Polizia Lambo said:

Hi there

I have a 2001 XJ8 Soveriegn and I wanted to know what the legality is of having a 'leaping cat' hood ornament fitted to the front of the bonnet ? I have heard somewhere that its illegal if its a fixed one and legal if its one that can spring back. I have also heard that both are illegal. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Many thanks

I think I've provided an interesting link for you to read on your thread in the Jaguar Forum.

[insanojackson]

A mascot is not illegal as such however if they are likely to cause an injury by their projection they will make the vehicle dangerous and there is a specific offence of "dangerous mascot"

when you think about it, its all common sense really car makers spend fortunes developing cars which are good in pedestrian impacts, so why should people stick a bloody grat mascot on which could catch a pedestrain and cause them more serious injury if you were unfortunate enough to know them down.

[vonhosen]

Regulation 53 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 provides for the carrying of objects on motor vehicles

53(1) No mascot, emblem or other ornamental object shall be carried by a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st October 1937 in any position where it is likely to strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide unless the mascot is not liable to cause injury to such person by reason of any projection thereon, unless provided for by paragraph (2).

(2) Instead of complying with the requirements of paragraph (1) a vehicle may comply with Community Directive 74/483 or 79/488 or ECE Regulation 26.01.


EC directive 74/483 includes the requirement that mascots which project more than 10mm from their support must retract, bend or become detached upon striking a person.

[tigger1]

insanojackson said:

A mascot is not illegal as such however if they are likely to cause an injury by their projection they will make the vehicle dangerous and there is a specific offence of "dangerous mascot"

Dangerous mascot?

[s2art]

vonhosen said:

Regulation 53 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 provides for the carrying of objects on motor vehicles

53(1) No mascot, emblem or other ornamental object shall be carried by a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st October 1937 in any position where it is likely to strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide unless the mascot is not liable to cause injury to such person by reason of any projection thereon, unless provided for by paragraph (2).

(2) Instead of complying with the requirements of paragraph (1) a vehicle may comply with Community Directive 74/483 or 79/488 or ECE Regulation 26.01.


EC directive 74/483 includes the requirement that mascots which project more than 10mm from their support must retract, bend or become detached upon striking a person.

1937? What happened to all the cars built up to 1986 which had mascots? Were they supposed to be removed? How come they still passed MOTs?

[MadmanO/T People]

What would the authorities make of the old Duesenburg mascot I wonder?




Cheers,
Madman of the People

Edited by MadmanO/T People on Friday 9th November 14:42

[Dracoro]

Isn't this rule the reason why the Rolls flying lady pops down and up.

[Howitzer]

I wouldn't worry at all, seeing as though I know cars which run open turbos outside of the bonnet, massive superchargers and top hats, a jaguar Emblem wont be an issue at all.

Dave!

[vonhosen]

Howitzer said:

I wouldn't worry at all, seeing as though I know cars which run open turbos outside of the bonnet, massive superchargers and top hats, a jaguar Emblem wont be an issue at all.

Dave!

Isn't that a bit like saying "I know people who do 140mph on the motorway, so don't worry about doing 110mph, it won't be an issue at all" ?

[Boosted LS1]

s2art said:

vonhosen said:

Regulation 53 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 provides for the carrying of objects on motor vehicles

53(1) No mascot, emblem or other ornamental object shall be carried by a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st October 1937 in any position where it is likely to strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide unless the mascot is not liable to cause injury to such person by reason of any projection thereon, unless provided for by paragraph (2).

(2) Instead of complying with the requirements of paragraph (1) a vehicle may comply with Community Directive 74/483 or 79/488 or ECE Regulation 26.01.


EC directive 74/483 includes the requirement that mascots which project more than 10mm from their support must retract, bend or become detached upon striking a person.

1937? What happened to all the cars built up to 1986 which had mascots? Were they supposed to be removed? How come they still passed MOTs?

I don't know about other cars but I merc I had access to had the emblem mounted via a swivel so if you touched it, it would roll over onto it's side.

[MK4 Slowride]

I had a customer wanting to put a mascot on his daughters new MINI. I said for a start it's illegal second you'd have no body warranty anymore. He went mad at me for something I have no control over.

Guess what, he went & did it anyway. Of all the things he put some cheesy horse complete with rider & plinth on the bonnet. So I noted this on his customer record so if he comes back with a rusty bonnet/engine parts then it's got no warranty. All the rest of the car is ok if he hasn't tampered with that, much to my surprise.

[s2art]

Boosted LS1 said:

s2art said:

vonhosen said:

Regulation 53 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 provides for the carrying of objects on motor vehicles

53(1) No mascot, emblem or other ornamental object shall be carried by a motor vehicle first used on or after 1st October 1937 in any position where it is likely to strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide unless the mascot is not liable to cause injury to such person by reason of any projection thereon, unless provided for by paragraph (2).

(2) Instead of complying with the requirements of paragraph (1) a vehicle may comply with Community Directive 74/483 or 79/488 or ECE Regulation 26.01.


EC directive 74/483 includes the requirement that mascots which project more than 10mm from their support must retract, bend or become detached upon striking a person.

1937? What happened to all the cars built up to 1986 which had mascots? Were they supposed to be removed? How come they still passed MOTs?

I don't know about other cars but I merc I had access to had the emblem mounted via a swivel so if you touched it, it would roll over onto it's side.

Yes, but I vaguely remember cars like the Austin A30, which were still being driven around, or the Jags from the seventies, both of which had solidly mounted mascots.

[Bibbs]

My old car ..



Never had an issue. I know it's not a mascot but ..

[SLCZ3]

What is it?? and what is it supposed to be????

Edited by SLCZ3 on Saturday 10th November 07:49

[voyds9]

Bibbs said:

My old car ..



Never had an issue. I know it's not a mascot but ..

Have you any photographs of the car before the accident.

[Derek Smith]

Howitzer said:

I wouldn't worry at all, seeing as though I know cars which run open turbos outside of the bonnet, massive superchargers and top hats, a jaguar Emblem wont be an issue at all.
Dave!

These items would not be covered under that legislation. Regulation 53 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 starts by saying what it applies to:

53(1) No mascot, emblem or other ornamental object . . .

Whenever a list is followed by a general phrase such as ‘or other (whatever)’, as in ‘all goods vehicles including dual purpose vehicles’, ejusdem generis applies. Roughly translated it means that when the general phrase follows a particular one, you will interpret the general in relation to the particular. Or, to put it even more crudely, but in an understandable form, go with the flow.

So the legislation only covers mascots, emblem or anything that is like an emblem or mascot. Engine parts are not covered under this bit of legislation. Dangerous condition might apply though.

[Bibbs]

SLCZ3 said:

What is it?? and what is it supposed to be????

Edited by SLCZ3 on Saturday 10th November 07:49

A spoiler to push the nose down at speed. Worked very well (pic is of Nur carpark), but did get a LOT of stares.

No problems with it and it's been on the car 3/4 years now.