A combined reply...
quote:
Originally posted by Classicus
Sorry for the delay in replying Chuck, I'm still trying to take it all in ! I'd also like to hear of other people's ideas on 428 security devices too but the simplest and cheapest ones seem to be the best as you say. Also your suggestions are definitely very "period" so it must be extra points for keeping the car "original" ! []
No Problem Cass, Paul... I've been busy too!
As for the "Period"/Low Tech nature of my security suggestions... Well, that's part of the idea as well... While I doubt we'll ever see an AC 428 Frua be in contention at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it'd be nice if as much originality of these cars be preserved as possible.
quote:
Originally posted by Classicus
And the USA's safety regulations are so different and lax compared to ours (!) so perhaps our being such an overcrowded and small island is something to do with it ? I mean can you imagine what it would be like if each of our counties were autonomous as well !!
The thing about that is... from what I can remember of my Geography the UK was described as being about the same size land area as Oregon. However, Oregon has a population of about 3.7 million people vs. about 60 million for the UK... So, the exercise for Yanks is to imagine if the US was as compact as Oregon and had about 18 times the population density. Along with it's own Army/Navy, etc.
quote:
Originally posted by Classicus
Still it's a shame that all the States can't get it together in the general public's interest and agree on a nationwide safety and emissions standard's policy, as I think on the whole our MOT's despite their stringency have definitely been a good thing when it's so easy for anyone to cut financial corners and risk other's lives.
Not to put too fine of a point on this, but this is probably one of the reasons for that nasty little insurrection that happened about 230 years ago...
The schtick about the safety regulations is, that comparatively speaking relatively few cars remain on the road and in heavy use in the US past an age of 10-15 years. Frankly, cars are, and have been for about 20 years, so much better constructed then they had been in the '50's, '60's, and '70's. Yes, from time to time I see a "rolling ghetto" out and about on the highways and by-ways, and the police are much more concerned about impared driving [both the driver and the vehicle if you get my meaning] than they used to be. Enforcement of drunken driving in particular was frightfully inadequate back in the day and that has changed for the better I'm glad to say. The cars are much better, both initially and in terms of durability.
As for emissions standards. Having a single federally imposed standard makes little sense. The pollution problems of urban California has little similarity with the issues of rural [or just about any location] in Montana or the Dakotas.
quote:
Originally posted by Classicus
Especially when I remember my very first car, no driving licence naturally, was a beaten up late forties Riley Pathfinder with no floorboards yet was still perfectly street legal ! Even father was on my side on this one (mother fortunately was still oblivious), because I remember him saying that it was no big deal and he'd soon get it roadworthy for me to practice on despite woodworm having always been a major problem for that particular model. Unfortunately he never did get around to it but as I never knew in those days when he was joking or not to this day I still don't know if it was true lol !
Well, I have some legislative lunacy for you then...
In my state, All front seat occupants are required to be protected by a safety belt or safety restraint system unless they are conducting business which requires frequent stoping and starting [like postal workers, delivery van drivers, police personnel, etc. YET, there are no requirements for motorcyclists to wear a helmet or goggles!
Why? Because the bikers have banded together and have very strong lobbyists.
It's a situation that is ripe with hypocracy... Police basically have the right to pull you over for no reason "I didn't see a seat belt on", write you a ticket, while the Hell's Angels go riding by with no helmets or goggles and the cops are all OK with that.
quote:
Originally posted by Classicus
So the fact that a '32 Ford Street-Rod replica fitted with presumably a modern engine being mostly exempt from emission standards definitely has a certain nostalgic appeal ! []
If you can't buy what you want... make it yourself I guess.
quote:
Originally posted by runt
" A massive taxpayer uprising"..! Just what we've needed over here for years; shame about our 'British reserve'; or rather, apathy..
Well, don't lose your charm you guys! Seriously Paul, your thoughts remind me of a passage from the movie "1776":
John Dickinson: Fortunately, the people maintain a higher regard for their mother country.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Higher, certainly, than she feels for them. Never was such a valuable possession so stupidly and recklessly managed, than this entire continent by the British crown. Our industry discouraged, our resouces pillaged... worst of all our very character stifled. We've spawned a new race here, Mr. Dikinson. Rougher, simpler; more violent, more enterprising; less refined. We're a new nationality. We require a new nation.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068156/quotes <-- Great movie/musical by the way if you ever get bored some evening.
My fellow yanks and I are rougher, simpler, more violent, more enterprising, less refined than the countries of our ancestors.
I mean after all... Stuffing a big V-8 into a little two-seater likely hadn't crossed the minds of folks in the Isles, while it seemed like a no-brainer to a chicken farmer from Texas! And the result was a rougher, simpler, more violent, more enterprising and less refined product! LOL! I'm sure it still blows people's minds, little AC beating the Spaghetti out of Ferrari with a little Texan/Dearborn assistance.
quote:
Originally posted by runt
Interesting that many kit/custom/hot rod builders constrained by the Single Vehicle Approval still insist that this is a good thing; weeding out the more dubious/safety compromised offerings and giving the industry more credibility..?
Well, there are customizers which do completely street legal modifications or turn-key options. Reference Saleen Mustangs or Rouch Performance operations where one can either provide a car for "Stage I-III+" modifications, or buy one built from them directly.
However, I don't think that Carroll Shelby is going to submit the number of 1967 Mustangs for crash testing necessary to meet new car standards.
I'm not sure if the US TV Series "American Chopper" has hit UK shores, but there are a bunch of people in the Motorcycle community doing absolutely outragious things with two-wheeled vehicles these days. I know nothing about motorcycle regulations and probably even less about what's safe and what's not, but there are a lot of things that look pretty dubious to me. And I know pointing to the behaviour of others doesn't excuse one's own behaviour, but still...
quote:
Originally posted by runt
Paul.[]
Again, I hope the quote above isn't taken in a bad way. We yanks are a fairly independent lot. We'll only be pushed so far before we push back, it seems. We'll drive big polluting cars until the cost gets so high that it really hurts us in the wallet. Then we'll think about driving something more sensible until we get used to the prices or they go down. But try to take away our choice, we get ornery!
Cheers!
-- Chuck