Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2010 Location: Glasgow

I see no harm in taking mine for the annual inspection. It gives me piece of mind that everything has been looked over by a professional eye
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pigtin · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay

No, I'm not taking mine. I have three cars and a motorbike; these have never failed a test or even had recommendations. This covers 26 years with the 10/4, which, between the last 4 tests has covered less than 100 miles. My cars are so mechanically simple I'm quite capable of spotting and correcting any defects, probably more so than a tester.

Many years ago I had a car failed on brake pipes??? They had spotted some seepage on the luvax system. I never had the same faith in the MOT after that.
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

Given that I was in the "loss of MOT is is a bad idea" camp I guess I'd better get mine done when it expires.

Peter
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ChrisD · Joined: 03 Dec 2012 Posts: 78 Location: South Wales

I'm with Pigtin on this one.
Why do many people with these old cars feel examination by an MOT tester is so important?
I regularly check everything all over my cars. It could be argued if you don't, should you really be driving anything this old?
If you really feel you're not up to it, then you can just take it anyway of course.

As an enthusiast I have found I end up explaining things to the MOT tester, who lets face it probably learnt his trade on things from the 90's onwards, unless he's one of the diminishing number of the old school.

Let me give you an example - I was told the ball joint gaiters on the steering were leaking on an old Oval window Beetle I used to have. I pointed out to the tester (I always remain with the car when its tested) that they were supposed to be like that as they had grease nipples and I just pumped them with grease until it oozed out a bit - he'd never even seen that before.
Then there's my Merc - I overheard one say to his assistant "Look at this, de Dion suspension". It has swing axles!

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:47 pm Post subject:

There can be one advantage in an MOT, even if the tester isn't over knowledgeable. If they'll let you have a poke around while it's up in the air, you can spot problems - even if it's only a wee rust patch - a hell of a lot better than you can lying on your back underneath the car with a handlamp of some kind. Plus of course a brake test isn't a bad idea, you can be so used to one car as to not notice a slow deterioration, though getting your mate to drive it round the block once in a while may do just as good a job for practical purposes...

pigtin · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

Jason · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 623 Location: Todmorden, Lancs.

mine is going for a 'sort of mot'....my mot tester is very knowledgeable with old cars as he as a few himself, we were discussing the mot exemption earlier this year and he said I could take mine to him for a yearly check, no mot certificate, just his word.

so, when my current official mot runs out at the end of january then I'll take it to him and he'll give it all a check over for £20.
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Minxy · Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 273 Location: West Northants

I shall take mine for its MOT when due. No right or wrong opinion here - each to there own but I always value an independent 'check' and I consider myself to be quite knowledgable when it comes to cars having built rally cars and modified vehicles for many years. I remember a few years back taking a Honda CRV I owned for a test to have it failed on a seriously worn ball joint that I had missed.
I also wonder how long it will be before the insurance companies offer favourable rates for MOT'd cars.
All in all its peace of mind I guess for what is, in my opinion, little money.

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

Whilst there is no doubt that some owners know more about their cars than an MOT inspector,there are some who have no mechanical knowledge worth talking about.
One day a pre 60's death trap will be involved in a serious accident and the anti classic car brigade will have a field day bringing in legislation to force many of them off the road.
I thought things were better left as they were.
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alan 869 · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 388 Location: Linköping Sweden

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

Yes please!

I am also going to have my brake and clutch-linings removed and analysed for asbestos and all of the critical steering and suspension components subjected to non-destructive crack testing (they are 77 years old now).
The paint will be tested for lead content, I am removing the lethal steel front bumpers and fitting air-bags and seat-belts. I am toying with the idea of having a custom catalytic converter made.

No...I'm not really. I will just continue to use the car relatively infrequently, maintain it proportionately too much and keep on driving at significantly less than the notional top speed of 60 miles an hour on the quietest roads I can find.

MOT? Bah Humbug!

alan 869 · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 388 Location: Linköping Sweden

Hope you don´t get killed by some idiot in an MOT free car that has no brakes.

Cars 1950 and older are exempt MOT here. The antique car club I´m in has lots of members with pre 1950s cars. They usually get them MOT´d periodically (or have them go through a test station) just to be on the safe side

What are you afraid of... Expence?

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

RUSTON · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 144 Location: Matlock.

This doesn't apply to me personally as I haven't anything that old but I do take a lot of cars for their MOT annually for friends and family. I usually give them a quick once over before I take them but I have to agree that you can see a heck of a lot more of the underside when it is on a four post lift than you can scratting around on your back! When the tester is looking round underneath I follow him around and it is surprising just what you can find on a modern car, let alone an elderly one with all the nooks and crannies and rust traps etc. For that reason alone I would take mine voluntarily to give piece of mind, especially if it was a daily driver.

Pete.
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