the hobbler
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2012
- Messages
- 4,113
- Points
- 1,021
The point of the "Classic Friendly" vehicle check is not so much "its validity" as the fact that it gives the vehicle a proper check-over. The 'C/F' check list is 4 pages long, and carefully laid out so that all aspects of the vehicles condition is checked. The cost (£54) was set by the garage that I worked out so that it deliberatley wasn't any more expensive than an MOT (and VERY few MOT only examinations make money for the garage---the money is made carrying out the rectification work found to be required during the test). Having been an MOT examiner at one time in my life, and having helped carry out 'C/F' checks, I can honestly say that in some ways the 'C/F' test is the more comprehensive of the 2. Our examiner is a very experienced mechanic who has worked on 'Classics' for many years.
On this Forum we are lucky in that we have a good number of experienced mechanics/engineers/restorers who have the facilities AND skills to keep their classic car a in good, roadworthy condition. However sadly, a lot of 'Classic vehicle' owners do not have these facilities or skills and therefore I stand by my belief (which I have ALWAYS held) that any car being driven on the Queens highway requires a regular check-over by an experienced, independent and in many cases sympathetic examiner.
I did my apprenticeship on M/Benz cars, and then was instrumental in setting-up (from scratch) 2 M/Benz dealerships in East Anglia, which was when I was an MOT examiner---I clearly remember the 1/2 day training session from the DVLA representative as to how to carry out a MOT!
The problem with a lot of 'modern' MOT stations is that the experience of the examiners is getting farther and farther away from the build and work specifications of 'classic vehicles'----a lot of them have never worked on (or even driven) cars with points ignition, drum brakes, leaf springs, a seperate chassis and carburettors---let alone rod and/or cable brakes!
Maybe the system set up by Fuzz Townsend hasn't been as succesfull, or long-lived as he had hoped for, but the check system is still in place and gives the owner of a 'Classic' (of any make) an alternative to having the car examined at a MOT station. I rest my case.
On this Forum we are lucky in that we have a good number of experienced mechanics/engineers/restorers who have the facilities AND skills to keep their classic car a in good, roadworthy condition. However sadly, a lot of 'Classic vehicle' owners do not have these facilities or skills and therefore I stand by my belief (which I have ALWAYS held) that any car being driven on the Queens highway requires a regular check-over by an experienced, independent and in many cases sympathetic examiner.
I did my apprenticeship on M/Benz cars, and then was instrumental in setting-up (from scratch) 2 M/Benz dealerships in East Anglia, which was when I was an MOT examiner---I clearly remember the 1/2 day training session from the DVLA representative as to how to carry out a MOT!
The problem with a lot of 'modern' MOT stations is that the experience of the examiners is getting farther and farther away from the build and work specifications of 'classic vehicles'----a lot of them have never worked on (or even driven) cars with points ignition, drum brakes, leaf springs, a seperate chassis and carburettors---let alone rod and/or cable brakes!
Maybe the system set up by Fuzz Townsend hasn't been as succesfull, or long-lived as he had hoped for, but the check system is still in place and gives the owner of a 'Classic' (of any make) an alternative to having the car examined at a MOT station. I rest my case.