Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: peppercorn on 11/02/2009 16:25:37
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I've just bought a car from 1968.
It has neither near- nor offside- wing mirrors!
Is that illegal?
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In 1349, the year after the Black Death. It was though their introduction would prevent a recurrence.
(Where are the karma points when you need them?)
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It depends on a number of factors.
From:
http://www.motester.co.uk/mot-cog.html#testdetails (http://www.motester.co.uk/mot-cog.html#testdetails)
Mirrors
Not all mirrors on all vehicles are subject to Test, depending on the age of the vehicle. Those mirrors which must be checked must be
* secure
* visible from the driver's seat
* not distorted or damaged so as to seriously impair the driver's view to the rear.
In a lot of cases, the MOT requirements for items like this comes down to whether they were originally fitted when the vehicle was made, as with seat-belts and the style of number plate. In some cases though, it just depends on whether they are fitted or not, so if an item is not fitted it is not tested but if it is fitted it must be in good working condition. I believe, for example, this is the case regarding spare tyres, headlights and indicators; none are a requirement for road-worthiness, but if fitted, must comply with the standards.
It's interesting that you've bought an old car; I recall reading/hearing somewhere that the energy required to make a new car is greater than the amount of energy used by it during it's design life-time; does anyone know if this is actually true? If it is, then it would actually seem to be greener to keep older and less economical vehicles on the road rather than make newer more economical ones. This would, of course, also require an increase in the maintenance costs overhead due to the need for manufacturing and fitting replacement parts to keep an old vehicle running. Either way though, I think it would be interesting to compare the final costs and savings.
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I've just bought a car from 1968.
It has neither near- nor offside- wing mirrors!
Is that illegal?
Kewl !!
Ewe went back to 1968 and bought a car ? [;)]
Seriously, Please do tell what car you bought...Can you post a piccy ?
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>>>> 1968 HILLMAN SINGER CHAMOIS
Here's the picture from the Ebay ad.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2F17%2F%21BLUeK6QB2k%7E%24%28KGrHgoH-C8EjlLl3wEGBJew%21dHH4w%7E%7E_1.JPG&hash=623bff85562da0ee5d99cf780bbb90e7)
...see, no wing mirrors!
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I think you'll be allowed to keep the black number plates too, as they are original.
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I wouldn't call a Hillman a "classic" car but ...
Confusing things even more, for the UK enthusiast of classic cars, is the zero rated road tax, and the new DVLA classification of historic car (formerly PLG, which remains for later cars). The zero rate road tax was introduced by the Conservative Government back in the early 1990s, the idea being that the cutoff would be on a rolling 25 year basis. However when Tony's cronies got in a few years back, they froze this rolling arrangement, and ever since the zero rated roadtax applies to any car *built* prior to 1/1/1973, so even if your BMW 2002 was registered in '73, if the build date on the V5 is a '72 date, you should be ok. In my mind therefore any car that qualifies for the free road tax is by and large a 'Classic' merely by its age, though there is no doubt that later examples of certain cars are correctly also classed as Classic Cars by the initiated fan.
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/classic_intro.htm
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I hope the number plate is in no way any reflection on the purchaser. [:-\]
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I hope the number plate is in no way any reflection on the purchaser. [:-\]
He He! Yes I had the same thought!
I guess I'll find out whether or not after a few more miles, eh?
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I wouldn't call a Hillman a "classic" car but ...
Well I guess 'classic' is subjective, ... just like politeness!
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The number plate on your Hillman may be worth more than the car ... "MUG 830P (https://www.regtransfers.co.uk/main/secureordering/orderregmark.asp?web=1&searchpage=homepage&searchtype=2®no=MUG%20830P®price=1840&index=0&st=&plateid=30166270&criteria=mug220f)" is on sale for £1840 (!).