How the Scrappage Legislation could cause damage to classic car numbers.
For a large number of car-owners seeking a new set of wheels, Alistair Darling’s Scrappage Incentive Scheme will seem like a gift from the used-car Gods. Since mid-May this year, drivers who opt to scrap their cars over 10 years old, are offered £2,000 towards a new one. A smart plan that follows a similar successful scheme in Germany, to get less efficient cars off the road, and boost the deteriorating car industry at the same time.
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs remitted a request to keep cars over 25 years safe, stating that they had “a wealth of statistics that prove classics do not contribute significantly in any way to pollution and greenhouse gases.” (PDF of FBHVC Newsletter, no.3, 2009). The only problem is, there’s no part of the legislation that protects future classic cars from the crusher. Eighties motoring icons, such as the VW Golf Mk1, the Toyota MR2 Mk1 and the Audi Quattro could become future classics. It’s likely that many car-owners will find the programme a sound way to avoid expensive repair bills, and a possibility that a number of highly restorable, and iconic cars will be scrapped.
The scheme runs until March 2010, so until then, motorists will have to hope that the presence of the next generation of classics is not diminished.
