Restoring/maintaining a classica car with major repairs...

[Mako]

Technically this might apply to the Cougar, so I think it's of interest to anyone who has had to do major chassis repairs. It's really information about upcoming legislation regarding body-on-frame and monocoque cars and the MOT, where major repairs or modification have been required and how they've been done. This includes battery conversions.

Interestingly, what Tony is doing falls firmly within the regs, so he (and people like him) are going to be key for classic car survival. Please let me know your opinions on the video.

 

[mabo]

Kind of interesting but I took away that repairs are fine.

When they discuss modification I find myself wondering if the average MOT tester, for whom I have respect, would know if they were looking at…..

The floorpan of a Cougar or
The floorpan of an X type Jag. Grafted to the underside of a Cougar body.

My money says they wouldn’t notice.

 

[The Amazon]

Technically this might apply to the Cougar, so I think it's of interest to anyone who has had to do major chassis repairs. It's really information about upcoming legislation regarding body-on-frame and monocoque cars and the MOT, where major repairs or modification have been required and how they've been done. This includes battery conversions.

Interestingly, what Tony is doing falls firmly within the regs, so he (and people like him) are going to be key for classic car survival. Please let me know your opinions on the video.

Post automatically merged: Jun 21, 2024

Yes it looks like basically replacing old metal with new as near to original as practical seems fine, suspect the recent cult of dropping more modern engines, drive lines and suspension with modification to floor, sills and pick up points has prompted this, lot of mk 1 and 2 escorts running around with cosworth power plants and upgrades.

 

[Mako]

Kind of interesting but I took away that repairs are fine.

When they discuss modification I find myself wondering if the average MOT tester, for whom I have respect, would know if they were looking at…..

The floorpan of a Cougar or
The floorpan of an X type Jag. Grafted to the underside of a Cougar body.

My money says they wouldn’t notice.

I agree with you. Is that bung sopposed to be there, or did you drill out a rust hole and stick one in? No idea.

So yes, it does seem like he's talking about big, obvious modifications, but the implications are interesting. All it would really lead to potentially an SVI and whatever the modern equivalent of a Q-plate is, but it's something to bear in mind. I suspect that if there are any Cougars left in 20 years, battery conversions will be the only option, and that will lead to the same result.

 

[TopCat1127]

Been dealing with similar on Bikes, anything over 40 yrs old is tax and mot exempt, PROVIDING it is not radically altered, and in their own words, this means change of wheelplan etc, (ie trike conversion) so you could put a modified or custom swingarm in or as i have done with Kate the KZ400, attached a different fuel tank, seat, lights, indicators etc, but this still allows it to be registered as Historic, which means it's tax and mot exempt, because i havent radically altered it, it's just cosmetics and suspension.
Cars on the other hand, whole different kettle of frogs lol, because as he says, he has had to radically alter his suspension and steering mounts to accomodate the upgraded equipment.

 

[David`]

It's only a consultation at this stage, which is code for fact finding. There will need to be a report, options, recommendations and then probably a passing of new legislation. None of that is happening any time soon! The principle does make sense to me though, the current legislation is quite wooly. There's a Bangers and Cash episode I saw recently which was a complete BMW z3 chassis, engine, running gear with custom made Ferrari replica panels on top to look like a Ferrari 250. That is the type of thing they'll be wanting to clamp down on mostly.

Heres the current rules:


As Cougars do get older we might start to see more people approaching the club for these sorts of inspections and certificates?

 

[Mako]

Thanks for the clarification David - much appreciated.

 

[shirtyzeus]

so what about replacing rubber for poly bushes or lowering your car.
what about me putting a 6 speed mmt in it then.
how about aftermarket wheels then....uprated brakes! the list could go on.
the trouble is its often left to the mot tester to use his opinion instead of actual facts......my "too orange" rear indicator bulbs mot failure were typical of this, yet he was overruled when i told them its passed for about 5 years with them in and it was actually his mercury lighting in the test station making them look orange....they were bright amber when the car was outside(this was with melina)

this is gonna turn into an absolute car enthusiast minefield for any of us that want to better the longevity of our cars..


i DONT trust dvla ,historically they have proven to be untrustworthy with rule changes and frankly unfair and this will yet again be a way for them to use the mot as a way to get us to scrap our cars.
get a q plate!! they cant even get the sorn thing right! god help us.

 

[The Amazon]

It is slightly worrying as let's face it how many cougars are bog standard, suspect eventually you will only be able to get your personal transport device serviced by a manufacturer approved agent with only genuine parts like for like fitted and no modifications either performance or cosmetic, the insurance companies will push for this as well

 

[Relliott6879]

Genuine parts are already scarce on the ground and becoming more so by the day, though. For example, I need a new throttle cable for DG - if you can find a genuine Ford throttle cable for a RHD 2.0 Zetec Cougar, then you're doing better than me, it's looking like I'm going to have to buy somethting like this then ask a local garage to figure it out. Would the DVLA seriously deem an entire car unroadworthy for using an aftermarket part such as this? I sincerely hope not but, worryingly, I wouldn't be completely surprised if that's how things end up.

 

[shirtyzeus]

frankly ,if we do end up with this sort of enforcement I will put suzi in the garage and she can become an off the road car...meaning they won't get their ridiculous road tax, mot and insurance payments... we need to start kicking off in this country when this happens....one thing I do admire about the French is if they arnt happy about something they close the whole country down..