Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 09:09:17 -0500
Reply-To: Chris Mills <scmills@TNTECH.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris Mills <scmills@TNTECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: CARB Certification
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii
>It makes me wonder about the people importing new mexican beetles to the
>US. There is (or was) a company who would sell you a brand new old style
>beetle from mexico, but the problem is that this car doesn't meet the US's
>collision ratings (and other ratings). I think this is part of the
>problem of importing a vanagon from South africa? Anyway, the way the
>beetle guys get around it is you drive to mexico in your 1975 Bug (a US
>car). Once there, a new mexican beetle is purchased and parts are
>exchanged and a few days later you drive back to the US with a completely
>new car put on the chasis of your old beetle (does this sound right to
>those of you who have looked into it?)
The frame has a number that corresponds with the title. These constitute
the car - everything bolted to it is beside the matter so it is no big deal
to bolt on all new body panels, drivetrain, etc. and finish with a new car
that is registered as a 1975 (or whatever) car.
Love that it works, would love to have one of these cars. Sat in one at a
show and was very impressed. There is one in town here that I see from time
to time.
Wish it was so easy with our Busses and Vanagons.
Besides, why should anyone care what we drive? These vehicles are a risk to
the driver and not the other traffic. I look at it like riding a motorcycle
(which I do). A motorcycle is more dangerous than a typical sedan IF you
wreck (some would argue WHEN you wreck).
That is however my risk and my choice. I think some of the government rules
come from the insurance industry which has to pay for our mistakes - just
like the argument against letting us motorcyclists make our own choices
about whether to ride without a helmet or not (for me there is a time and a
place for a helmet and the same for without - but I want that choice).
The last argument I've heard against importing odd-ball cars and trucks is
that the "unknowning" or unprepared public should not be exposed to the
dangers of a vehicle that meets vintage standards versus current. If this
was really true then I would feel like the government would begin
regulating the sale and resale of vintage collector cars - after all the
current SA Vanagon or Mexi-Beetle or the recent Brazilian Transporter
certainly are superior in every category than the vintage cars we share the
highways with.
The REAL reason IMHO is that the government and the big car makers are in
bed together and they are doing their best to limit competition quietly. I
also think this is the same reason we don't have the opportunity to buy so
many of the European cars which already meet so many of US standards -
safety and pollution. IMHO the SA Vanagon, Mexi-Beetles, etc. are just
caught in the middle. They probably wouldn't threaten GM or Ford's annual
sales goals! <grin> If the government let our pet VW models in, then the
flood gates would be open for anything to come into the country and that
might include some vehicles truly not appropriate for our roads - in
Naples, Italy we often drove rear engined 3 and 4 wheel utility vehicles
(read carts) that could hardly make 50 mph but they were legal there. I'm
not saying they would be forced to allow these little critters on the road
but that there are some tiny things out there and the rules might be a bit
fuzzy about what consituted a "car" and what was a "toy".
http://www.uk.piaggio.com/ape/index.asp
We drove these all over base and they were legal everywhere but the
Autostrada.
Chris M. <Busbodger - "TEAM SLOWPOKE">
Cookeville, Tennessee
ICQ# 5944649
scm9985@tntech.edu
'78 VW Westfalia (67 HP -> that is...67 Hamster Power)
'65 Beetle - Type IV powered
'99 CR-V AWD station wagon
'81 CB900 Custom moto-chickle
2.5 Corvair engines for my Trans-vair Conversion
