Cash for old cars proposals, classic cars at threat, V8 Register, MG Car Club

Press release from RAC Motoring Services

FBHVC position paper

"Cash for old cars" proposals
This initiative is said to be targeted at 17 to 18 year old cars, the age at which cars in the UK probably tend finally to drop out of everyday use and are either scrapped or, in a relatively few cases, preserved and restored as a hobby car. So the proposals would probably be doing no more than slightly accelerating the natural wastage on economic grounds by introducing another economic factor. You would not expect to see specialist cars of that sort of age such as the RV8 being in the slightest affected by what is bound to be a fairly small financial incentive to scrap an "old" car.

Yes only a sample of those cars will survive, but that is what happens now, by a natural process for non-specialist cars. Only a fraction of the Morris Minors built have survived, but there was no process of selection other than a sort of natural selection. As a consequence the well looked after ones have survived and having made it through, are now unlikely to ever be scrapped. Fortunately there is no shortage of Morris Minors. Even Austin Allegros have even survived, Heaven help us! The specialist cars are always much more likely to survive because enthusiasts take such an interest in them.

I don't think anybody is thinking of MGV8s as an environmental threat - it is only 17 to 18 year old bangers that should be targeted by the suggested scheme. Let's just hope any scrapping incentive is not introduced on a "use it or lose it" basis. (1.12.08)

Lead article in the January 2009 issue of Classic Car Mart
Editor Keith Moody says in his leader "This month, Classic Car Mart launches a campaign to save our modern classics. It follows news that the Government is looking at ways to offer drivers incentives to scrap older cars.

The RAC Foundation has added its weight to the "cash for cars" policy, suggesting the move ". . . could achieve environmental benefits". With other European countries already sporting similar schemes, pressure is mounting on the UK to follow suit. Such a scheme would target cars between 17 and 18 years old, many of which don't have a catalytic converter.

As classic owners, we all know that the impact of ours cars on the environment is tiny. There might be 400,000 roadworthy historic vehicles in the UK, but they make up only 1.3 per cent of vehicles on the road. Would forcing these cars off the road have any significant impact on the country's carbon-dioxide emissions? Of course not. Furthermore, taking these cars off the road would have negative economic consequences. Old cars constantly need new parts and maintenance work - take them away and that's a decent wedge of cash that will disappear . . . . as well as jobs and livelihoods. Research shows that classic car businesses earn £3.2 billion a year, with 27,000 people in the UK earning a classic car -related living. There's no doubt that a large percentage of this income is generated by 'established' classics. But if we do not keep welcoming cars to the classic fold as they reach their 25th birthday, then the future of our hobby looks bleak.

Alastair Darling's latest Pre-Budget Report at least reduced the impact of future hikes in Vehicle Excise Duty, keeping such increases at a more realistic rate than originally planned. But we still believe the Government may bow to pressure and offer incentives to remove modern classics from our roads in the future.

If you feel as strongly about the future of modern classics as we do, please go online and sign our petition. Just visit: www.ipetitions.com/petition/saveourclassics
Send this link to as many people as you know because, together, we can make a difference."