Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[badbascomb]

Hi there, does anybody have any information on acquiring an MOT for a american import? I have bought a 1967 2 dr buick lesabre and wondered what the rules are for gaining an MOT as regards the brake lights and indicators. I was wondering what the least intrusive option is and if you could maybe change the indicators from red to orange using a green filter maybe? If anybody has any experience or suggestions it would be gratefully received. I am a bit vague on the rules but understand that before 1965 there is no problem but after it is more complicated,

many thanks

Jim

[Ray White]

I would just put it in for the test and see if it passes or not. There are some 1950's British Fords for example which adopted the American practise of a red flashing brake light as an indicator and this gave rise to a change in the law so that amber would be a legal requirement but the legislation (as is normally the case with British law) was not retrospective so existing cars did not need to be altered. You may find if your car is as originally constructed you might not need to do anything but strictly speaking the exemption would, as you say, only apply to pre 1965 vehicles.

The worst case scenario would be if the tester was well versed on the finer details of historic vehicle exemptions. Most are not.

[V8 Nutter]

You must convert to amber, if you can get an MOT you still risk a pull from the police, and trouble with the insurance company, if you should have an accident. The front is easy. Change the outer headlight units for some with a parking light bulb. Use the original amber side/indicator lights for the indicators. The rear can be more difficult. if you have enough room in the tail light amber LED's will shine through the red lens. Use the original wires for the indicators, and a new wire direct from the brake light switch to operate the brake lights. If you use LED'S you will need an electronic flasher unit or resistors in the circuit.

[Ray White]

I have to admit I hadn't considered a problem with the insurance should you have an accident so that puts my advice into question. Sorry.

If you do change the car, I would suggest that you notify the insurance company - just to be sure.

As you know, the rear lights on that model are huge. I would think it possible to insert a barrier of some kind to separate the indicator section from the brake light but without seeing it I can't be sure.

[V8 Nutter]

A few years ago an American car parked outside it's owners house was badly damaged by a drunk driver. At first the insurance company refused to pay out, because they said the American car had red indicators and should not have been on the road, after a great deal of argument they paid out 50% of the claim. At the time the American car was parked it was not being driven. The driver of the other car was convicted of drunk driving and lost his licence

[Ray White]

A salutary lesson indeed V8 and good advise from yourself. I like the Buick Lesabre but if I am honest, my favourite model dates from about 1960. It is an impressive piece of automotive sculpture as well as a popular car.

[badbascomb]

hi thanks to everybody who posted a reply to my question, it is much appreciated,

Jim

[UmTumTiddly]

In my experience, one gets a variety of conflicting answers (some nothing more than the poster's "opinion" rather than "fact") to questions when posed on a forum. My advice to myself is to take it all with a pinch of salt and do one's own research and go direct to the authority concerned; in your case VOSA. Having said that, this subject has come up before, albeit on another forum - see http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=967621 where you might find some helpful replies. Good luck.