Should our cars be listed?

[MSS]

Ok - with the oil threads no longer very active, here's a new one to liven things up a bit for the weekend.:)

Most of the British heritage is protected through very strict controls. Take buildings for example. If a house is considered of historical interest, it gets listed. Once listed, the owner is legally required to maintain it to a high standard - anything done to threathen the building or alter its character is deemed a criminal act and exposes the owner to the possibility of hefty fines and jail!

Having spent 15 years' of earnings and time restoring/maintaining my 500+ year old house, I have learned to acccept that where heritage is concerned, ownership carries a huge responsibility and the "owner" is no more than a caretaker of the heritage for future generations.

Yet our Rovers/MGs, which are such an important part of the British heritage, are allowed to be badly maintained and get broken up just for a few hundred £ of personal profit without any controls.

So, the question is, when they are down to a certain number, should these machines be listed and protected?

[chipsceola]

Nice idea, lets add them to Lancaster, Daimler, Keift, Jowette, Keeble, Armstrong Siddeley, Austin Healey, Lea Francis, Wolseley, Riley, Morris, BSA, and many many other famous names from the past, gee looks like Rover has aleady joined that illustrious band

[Canonite]

I don't think the majority of the wider public view our cars as national treasures, certainly not to a level that would deem poor maintainance to be a criminal offence.

Brick and mortar is one thing but cars are just scrap metal. Only enthusiasts who preserve them and keep them on the road make them into what they are. If for example E-Types would have just been scrapped until there were none left would they be viewed as such a valuable collectors item?
I've no doubt E-Types will have been scrapped for parts much like ours are being now, but the heritage lies with the owners and enthusiasts who keep them alive.

[MrDoodles]

Loads of cars that then go onto be considered as "Classics" get scrapped around the 10-15 year old mark, it's unfortunately the nature of the beast! :(

When I think back to some of the cars I've seen in scrap yards and destroyed in "Banger" Racing in the late '70's and early '80's, I could cry! :(

[pernix]

time changes things....................in the early 80's my parents had a 1971 TR6 and found it very difficult to sell eventually letting it go for £700..............if they still had it now?????

[FrazzleTC]

I think that 75s are terrific cars, and will definitely become classics in due course. However, while far rarer Rovers, such as P4s, P5s, and P6s continue to be broken up in relatively large numbers, I don't think it's worth bothering to preserve all of the 75s. The other problem is that many exceptionally rare cars continue to be banger raced, or broken for parts, and when I say rare, I don't mean that it's the only one that colour, but cars where it's the only example of a particular bodystyle. I think we can expect numbers to continue to decline at an increasing rate for another ten years before anyone really starts collecting 75s to any great extent.
It's a shame, as I really do like them, but, if there is a market for them, people will buy them. If there isn't, they won't.

[Roverite]

The best thing for the 75/ZT survival rate, is for us enthusiasts to keep our cars in good condition and keep the enthusiasm of the 'Clubs' going by our continual support. Actually, the fact that MG Rover went bust was basically a good thing for R40 survival; unlike earlier 'classic' Rovers, where obsolete parts had to be re-made, R40 inherited an excellent support network of parts suppliers, independent specialists and clubs, which has helped the better than average survival rate. The current R40 situation has almost lost the poor image of the Leyland/Austin-Rover/MG Rover period, resulting in the R40 becoming one of the most respected British cars of today and still winning awards from 'classic' motoring magazines and the motoring press in general.

One thing that would help the survival rate even more, would be the reinstatement of the Governments Rolling Twenty Five Year category for Historic Vehicle status. This status was originally brought in as a rolling 25 year qualification, but it was halted at pre 1973 vehicles in 1998. If it was reintroduced now, it would include all vehicles produced prior to 1988 and would effectively give them a nil, or free Tax Disc.

Roverite.

[Robson Rover Repair]

Do away with road tax and have a MOT and Insurance disc on the car instead would be much better imo.

Cars be listed, god no. Rover and MG Rover barely managed to get cars to the same spec most of the time, and how they have changed over the years between owners, project drive and general wear and tear.

Keep them on the road, not put off the road because people cant afford a 400 oem part when a similar job costs 40 but your not aloud to use it.....

Enough restrictions on our cars as it is!