whats the law over kit cars
Discussion
hiya there, something that has always bugged me is, how do kit cars company's get around all the crash testing that big maufactureres like ford have to do, surely such small comapnies cant afford it, do the kit car companies need a special license to sell cars, plus, i could design my own kit car now, how would i go about selling the finished article after i have made it,what laws do i need to no about
ian
ian
They get taken through the SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) If manufacturing you have to prove that chassis/bodywork/running gear/seatbelts etc. matches required specifications.
When you build a kitcar you have to take it to be tested by the SVA, if the manufacturer has done it properly then you should only fail on minor points (eg sharp edge on a number plate holder etc.) which can easily be rectified.
If you're going to build a car from scratch then you need to get a hold of these regulations (can be purchsed from Vehicle Testing I believe) and ensure that it complies with everything in that document.
Hope that helps.
When you build a kitcar you have to take it to be tested by the SVA, if the manufacturer has done it properly then you should only fail on minor points (eg sharp edge on a number plate holder etc.) which can easily be rectified.
If you're going to build a car from scratch then you need to get a hold of these regulations (can be purchsed from Vehicle Testing I believe) and ensure that it complies with everything in that document.
Hope that helps.
It's known as SVA - Single Vehicle Approval.
Basically provides a way for small scale manufacturers such as FBS and kit car companies to produce cars without having to go through the full Euro crash test thing.
If you really want to know more you can buy the SVA Inspection Manual from The Vehicle Inspectorate, PO Box 12, Swansea, SA1 1BP. Costs £25.
You might also want to have a chat with STATUS, effectively the specialist car industry's trade body/consultancy. Think their No's 0161 247 6242.
Basically provides a way for small scale manufacturers such as FBS and kit car companies to produce cars without having to go through the full Euro crash test thing.
If you really want to know more you can buy the SVA Inspection Manual from The Vehicle Inspectorate, PO Box 12, Swansea, SA1 1BP. Costs £25.
You might also want to have a chat with STATUS, effectively the specialist car industry's trade body/consultancy. Think their No's 0161 247 6242.
Roospuppet,
This is not my major area of expertise, but here's some info:
SVA is the only way forward if you want to build your own car and make it legal. However, there is also an Enhanced SVA test (eSVA) available on a purely voluntary basis which does go more deeply into crash requirements (esp. side impact) amongst other areas.
It's basically a stepping stone for manufacturers between SVA and a fully homologated, type approved car
However, it's worth noting the diffences between a global OEM (e.g. Ford), a low volume car manufactuer (e.g. TVR) and a kit car manufacturer (e.g. Ultima).
When you sell more than (i think) 200 units of a model of car in any 2 year period, you cease to become a "low volume manufacturer" and have to get your cars fully type approved (this, needless to say, is horrendously expensive).
If you remain below 200 units, supplying "turnkey" cars, you need only meet Low Volume Type Approval" requirements. I.e. pass one car, and you will be allowed to produce 200 no questions asked......sort of!!
The main difference between kit cars and low volume cars at this point (as far as legality is concerned), is that with a kit car, you are responsible for it's SVA test, not the manufacturer.
Well, that's the jist of it!!
Hope it helps.
Alex
>> Edited by mtmrop on Thursday 19th December 22:31
This is not my major area of expertise, but here's some info:
SVA is the only way forward if you want to build your own car and make it legal. However, there is also an Enhanced SVA test (eSVA) available on a purely voluntary basis which does go more deeply into crash requirements (esp. side impact) amongst other areas.
It's basically a stepping stone for manufacturers between SVA and a fully homologated, type approved car
However, it's worth noting the diffences between a global OEM (e.g. Ford), a low volume car manufactuer (e.g. TVR) and a kit car manufacturer (e.g. Ultima).
When you sell more than (i think) 200 units of a model of car in any 2 year period, you cease to become a "low volume manufacturer" and have to get your cars fully type approved (this, needless to say, is horrendously expensive).
If you remain below 200 units, supplying "turnkey" cars, you need only meet Low Volume Type Approval" requirements. I.e. pass one car, and you will be allowed to produce 200 no questions asked......sort of!!
The main difference between kit cars and low volume cars at this point (as far as legality is concerned), is that with a kit car, you are responsible for it's SVA test, not the manufacturer.
Well, that's the jist of it!!
Hope it helps.
Alex
>> Edited by mtmrop on Thursday 19th December 22:31
Sent.
Edited to say - It's all getting a tad serious on the Westie site ain't it. It's times like this that I certainly tend to question why I bother with clubs sometimes. Personally I've recommended the use of several companies and their products on that site with no backlash. I suppose it's because you're a new face over there, but then that's doubly damning of the initial response to your post from the club secretary which was a little heavy handed. Not the way to impress potential new members of the WSCC.
I should really have posted this over there but I can really do without the aggrovation and I think Harvey has summed it up nicely. I hope it doesn't put you off contributing again...
As for the seat, it's a complete Tillet rip. No doubt done by taking a mold directly from the orignal seat. Very naughty and I'm sure if they were a UK company that Tillet would be mighty pissed about it. As it is it's probably not worth the hassle them persuing it.
>> Edited by juansolo on Wednesday 25th December 21:56
Edited to say - It's all getting a tad serious on the Westie site ain't it. It's times like this that I certainly tend to question why I bother with clubs sometimes. Personally I've recommended the use of several companies and their products on that site with no backlash. I suppose it's because you're a new face over there, but then that's doubly damning of the initial response to your post from the club secretary which was a little heavy handed. Not the way to impress potential new members of the WSCC.
I should really have posted this over there but I can really do without the aggrovation and I think Harvey has summed it up nicely. I hope it doesn't put you off contributing again...
As for the seat, it's a complete Tillet rip. No doubt done by taking a mold directly from the orignal seat. Very naughty and I'm sure if they were a UK company that Tillet would be mighty pissed about it. As it is it's probably not worth the hassle them persuing it.
>> Edited by juansolo on Wednesday 25th December 21:56
juansolo said: Sent.
Edited to say - It's all getting a tad serious on the Westie site ain't it. It's times like this that I certainly tend to question why I bother with clubs sometimes. Personally I've recommended the use of several companies and their products on that site with no backlash. I suppose it's because you're a new face over there, but then that's doubly damning of the initial response to your post from the club secretary which was a little heavy handed. Not the way to impress potential new members of the WSCC.
I should really have posted this over there but I can really do without the aggrovation and I think Harvey has summed it up nicely. I hope it doesn't put you off contributing again...
As for the seat, it's a complete Tillet rip. No doubt done by taking a mold directly from the orignal seat. Very naughty and I'm sure if they were a UK company that Tillet would be mighty pissed about it. As it is it's probably not worth the hassle them persuing it.
>> Edited by juansolo on Wednesday 25th December 21:56
Thank for sending the file!
As for the rest, it does not put me off contributing!
I am used to that kind of club things!
The MOG-racing chair has some minor modifications. And the chairs are not made with a commercial background. JW does not want to sell a lot. Because his bussines is wooden houses and the chairs and other carbon parts are for freaks like us, if can afford them and don't want to pay the Tillet price.
As a matter of fact i know that it is very hard to sue a somebody for making a "copy" of a product like a chair.
Regards,
Joost
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