Some vintage collector cars carry a price so high, few of us will ever be able to lay our hands on them. Pre-war coachbuilt works of art and design, historic race cars from the 1950s and 1960s, and legendary small-production sports cars are now considered blue chip investments, carrying price tags so high that a replica car industry has been created to build affordable recreations.
Until now, federal law prevented replica car manufacturers from building completed vehicles that do not conform to federal standards of motor vehicle safety. Such has been the case since 1967. The only way these builders have been able to skirt those regulations previously is to produce the vehicle as a kit, or to sell it as a “roller,” a car complete less drivetrain that the customer has to finish.
The Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act was passed in December 2015, as part of a highway funding bill. The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Safety Administration were to draft guidelines and regulations for the law within a year of the law’s passage. The EPA did so in 2017, but the NHTSA didn’t do so until two months after the Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association filed its lawsuit requesting a federal appellate court to compel the agency to act. Now that the NHTSA has issued its final regulations on the LVMVMA, replica car sales may be permitted.
The LVMVMA states vehicles that do not conform to the current automotive safety standards may be produced, but with production caps. No more than 325 vehicles per year may be built by companies that construct fewer than 5,000 vehicles a year globally. The 325 vehicles must use either EPA- or California Air Resources Board-certified current model-year engines. Cars being replicated must be at least 25 years old. Foreign manufacturers will be allowed to sell replica cars in the US after having registered with the NHTSA. Replica car makers will also be able to purchase rolling chassis from manufacturers abroad, provided VINs are stamped in accordance with the LVMVMA.
Replica car sales permitted under the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act should start to take place within the next few months. Though the rule will take effect straightaway, the companies will still need to register with the NHTSA, EPA, and CARB, and have their proposals approved. It will be some months before sales begin. There are a number of replica car companies that have their proposals ready now.
“The roadblocks have been eliminated,” said SEMA President Chris Kersting. “SEMA applauds NHTSA’s final rule allowing companies to market classic-themed cars.”
One more hurdle may remain: replica car companies don’t have numerous drivetrains available to use. Replica car manufacturers may use any EPA-certified production engine package, but that package must also be CARB-certified, such as GM’s line of E-Rod V8 crate engines, including the 430-horsepower LS3 E-Rod, 455-hp LT1 E-Rod, 556-hp LSA E-Rod and 640-hp LT4 E-Rod. Another possibility may be GM’s fully electric eCrate system.
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Comments
This is a cool, I’m curious to see what classics will come back. If I was going to buy I would definitely not go for an EV drivetrain. Unless it was more than 50% off of the ICE version.
I know I’m probably in the minority here, but EV conversions seem ideal for a number of retro-styled reboots. I’d love to see a drop top 4 door cruiser with a fast, effortless powertrain. Would be cool to see something like an Eldorado convertible with fins making the “Jetsons” sounds it was envisioned with
I like both, give people the choice. The more the merrier.
Hmm, I’ve always wondered what prevents people to make total replicas of classics. But it’s still unclear to me why they just don’t modify some parts of those replicas to conform “current automotive safety standards”; such as, instead of steal bumpers using plastic ones or adding crumple zone to the engine comportment.
Because that is very expensive to do
A manufacturer planning to build and sell replica vehicles would first have to obtain a licensing agreement with the proposed classic vehicle’s original manufacturer, something that is relatively difficult, if not impossible, to obtain. GM has, in the past, sold agreements to companies that build and sell, among other vehicles, 1955 and 1957 Chevrolet complete repro metal bodies and frames, and to at least one company, rights to reproduce complete mid-year Corvette Grans Sport vehicles.
I want a 1970 superbird with a late model hemi engine
Call Mark at Graveyard Cars in Springfield,OR.
Unfortunately, the GM E-RODs, as well as their recently exempted Ford and Mopar counterparts, do not meet the engine requirements of either CARB or EPA. No currently available crate engine does. There are very significant, additional, requirements which current CARB EO/exempted engines do not meet. The EPA requirements are less stringent, but still not easy to meet. The original intent was for OEMs to provide the certified engines for these replicas. GM was initially interested but ultimately declined for a variety of reasons, mostly legal/liability-related. They may reconsider supporting replicas with their eCrate motor, but in a more limited and structured fashion. There are also 3rd parties trying to bridge the gap between the OEMs and the replica makers but nothing final has yet developed. It will take a while for something to get certified, but it will happen. It may very well be the eCrate or some other electric setup before the ICEs get approved. It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation with a lot of complications, but it will happen. Just not as quickly as many of us wanted.
The number of surviving classics is finite. Classic survivors? infinitesimal. A reproduction is and will always be fake. Pissing in holy waters. Bask in bogusness or put in the hard work and be prepared to cough up. It’s a measure of sanctity.
Call mark at graveyard cars Springfield,OR.
Hope GM licenses the Pontiac Fiero to someone. Then they can go buy Audi’s turbo inline 5 and stuff it in there.