Some commentators are under the impression that the new Historic status is now written in stone. ACE made people aware of the proposed changes back in 2012 in our ‘Armegeddon’ post, pointing out that a definition was not written in stone and it should be seen as unwelcoming to the vehicle scene as a whole. The current EU wide definition, soon to be ratified, is basically 30 years old, and standard.
Read More
Yes, that’s right, we are still here. ACE didn’t disappear in a puff of smoke from the gun flash of Armageddon.
In fact ACE has been working very hard behind the scenes watching what has been going on with proceedings at the EU, alas we almost fell asleep in the process whilst watching democracy at work. The good news is next door’s dog woke ACE up before face planting a bowl of ice cream on the kitchen counter (it was very nice ice cream unlike the monotone EU details) not to worry, we are awake and having wiped our face we are ready to get on with it.
Read More
The latest version has just been released June 2013 and links can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/individual-vehicle-approval-manuals
and
http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/publications/manualsandguides/vehicletestingmanualsandguides.htm
Direct PDF http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/M1%20IVA%20Inspection%20Manual.pdf
ShareThere have been some premature victory statements made recently in the media regarding the EU proposal mentioned in our previous Armageddon article. Strange there can any victory as the issues we highlighted were dismissed as non existent and scaremongering at the time?
Read More
We first reported on the Right to Repair campaign back in July 2008 when it was primarily aimed at trade awareness. We updated you in Jan 2010.
Our story in 2008 led:
ShareCar manufacturers have in the past tried to stop the aftermarket supplying pattern parts and so protect their high profit margins. This in turn would have an adverse affect on the budget / enthusiast who could not afford the high price of replacement OEM components. They have also tried, and failed in the past to prevent the home mechanic working on his vehicle. However by building with increasing technology requiring specialised equipment they are effectively winning this battle slowly.
Not content with this they are now trying to prevent the Independent garages from servicing new vehicles by not renewing the Block Exemption regulations, which allowed the owner to shop around for servicing
It’s easy to claim that news is nothing more than scaremongering; you can then push it away as irrelevant to enforce your viewpoint on others and drive a campaign against that news to enforce your own agenda. Believe us when we say this happens. So often on forums we hear the voices of those who wish to knock ACE for their own reasons.
ACE is well aware that its articles are not always good news. It’s common to see other forums and websites feeding off articles we have presented and readers of those concluding that it’s scaremongering. The nature of the Internet is one where answers are demanded instantaneously, when readers don’t get them, they often wrongly conclude conspiracy and scaremongering.
(* Roadworthiness Package - Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL Periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/40/EC. Brussels, 13.7.2025 COM(2012) 380 final 2012/0184 (COD).)
Andrew Torrance, University of Kansas Law School, Kansas City, KS, USA
Eric von Hippel, MIT Sloan School of Management, Cambridge, MA, USA
Jari Kuusisto University of Vaasa, Lapua, Finland
September 17th saw the first of many meetings at the EU surrounding the proposals of Roadworthiness we reported about in our earlier articles, “Armageddon” & “50 Shades of Grey”.
Siim Kallas: Vice president of the European Commission for Transport gave his opening address, one poignant point to ACE was his statement on the nature of historic vehicles and modifications:
Read More