“
SVABC does not take a stance on vehicle types!
The SVA remains an umbrella for all categories of our hobby,
be they original, modified, car, truck or motorcycle.
Our goals are all the same, the preservation of our hobby.
”
Specialty Vehicle Association of British Columbia
SVABC
Dedicated to work with individuals, clubs and associations to preserve the vintage and collector type motor vehicle and motor cycle hobby
In the Beginning
One of the association’s first tasks was to offer comments on behalf of owners of vintage and collectible vehicles on a new vehicle inspection and standards program being developed by the provincial government. The SVABC’s input was part of a coordinated approach involving other associations representing the trucking, bus, taxi and mechanical engineering industries and led to the SVABC’s recognition by various government agencies as the group representing the interests of collector vehicle and motorcycle owners.
Ron Peigl was appointed by the VCCC as an Ad Hoc committee of one to investigate and follow up on a project to hopefully achieve a more liberal licencing system. It was determined that it was the SVABC that had the Collector Plate as a "Project" however there was no present or future planned activity. Ron therefore joined the SVABC and was appointed as "Collector Plate Project Director".
Collector Plate Program
After its initial project of providing input into the vehicle inspection and standards program, the SVABC’s next project was to initiate discussions with the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Motor Vehicle Branch and the Insurance Corporation of BC, asking government and ICBC to consider introducing a new category of licensing and insurance for motor vehicles and motorcycles meeting specific criteria. This would allow owners more flexibility in the operation of their vehicles than was authorized at that time under the Vintage Licensing and Insurance program. Many meetings took place over a number of years that resulted in the Collector plate program being introduced in June 1990.
Nevertheless the SVABC continued meetings with ICBC on a regular basis to ensure the successful implementation of a Collector Plate which was approved for antique vehicles in June of 1990 with further discussion to take place to include custom. modified, and other types of specialty vehicles in the future. In appreciation for his work, the SVABC awarded Ron Peigl the first life membership in the SVABC. ICBC acknowledged his effort by issuing him the first multi-vehicle Collector Plate number B6-0001.
Modified Vehicles – 1948 and Earlier (The Hot Rod Era)
The SVABC received a number of requests in the early 1990s from owners of modified cars and trucks, ‘33 Fords, etc. to see if the program could be expanded to include this class of collectible vehicles. The SVABC conducted a survey of owners of this class of vehicles and others who owned non-modified vehicles and, based on the results of that survey, commenced discussion with Motor Vehicle and ICBC officials to determine if there was enough interest to proceed with the program.
After gaining the agreement of the officials, the parties began discussing the requirements for the potential expansion of the program. Many meetings took place over the next 10 years with the result that the Collector program was expanded to include modified vehicles of 1948 or earlier model years. This took place in September 2000 with the Hon. Joy McPhail, minister responsible for ICBC, announcing the program in Victoria. This change can be viewed as bringing the “hot rod” era vehicles into the program.
Custom Cars – 1949 and Later
Next on the agenda was to determine if the “custom” car category – 1949 and later model year vehicles – could be included into the Collector program. Once again, the SVABC met with various officials on the matter. The first step called for the SVABC to conduct a survey to determine the number of vehicles that would qualify, so ICBC could measure the risk factor. This survey was conducted in May 2002.
In spring 2005, a one-day workshop was held at ICBC’s head office with ICBC, AirCare, SVABC and other concerned car club members participating. The purpose of this meeting was to determine if ICBC was receptive to expanding the program to include modified collector-type vehicles of a latter model year, to review what safety upgrades and modifications would be acceptable, what period accessories will be authorized, and to review AirCare testing standards for collector motor vehicles. Regarding the expansion of the modified program, conceptual possibilities were discussed, such as allowing a 30 to 40 model running year or even the possibility of raising the model year to 1972. This meeting ended with no consensus on the issues discussed.
After this meeting, the SVABC decided to take an approach it felt may be more acceptable to ICBC officials – expanding the modified aspect of the collector program to include modified vehicles up to a 1958 model year. As a ten-year expansion, it would have a limited insurance risk factor and would benefit the greatest number of modified-vehicle owners.
The SVABC and ICBC met in May and June 2005 on a number of topics, including a ten-year expansion for the modified collector program, period- and era-correct accessories, safety upgrades and modifications for collector cars and the inclusion of composite bodied vehicles into the program. At the same time ICBC conducted an online survey seeking input from the stakeholders.
In addition to meeting with ICBC officials, the SVABC provided the Hon. John Les, the minister responsible for ICBC, information about the SVABC organization, our past history and our future plans. Later, in September 2005, we contacted Mr. Les to arrange a meeting between him and the SVABC. We met with Mr. Les on October 13, 2005 to discuss expansion of the modified plate from 1949 to 1958, registration for out-of-province vehicles not in road-worthy condition and the entry of composite bodied vehicles into the Collector program. The minister was very receptive to the SVABC’s requests and agreed to discuss the matter with Paul Taylor, CEO and president of ICBC.
In February 2006, ICBC informed the SVABC that the corporation would consider expanding the modified collector plate sometime in 2006. A month later we were informed that to do this expansion, a lot of work was required within ICBC. To bring about this change would require an Order in Council approved by Cabinet (in the Spring Session). In March 2006, ICBC said it was working full speed on the modified plate expansion program and would try to have it in place by late spring or early summer.
At the same time we were working with ICBC to have period & era-correct accessories for Collector vehicles written into legislation along with safety modifications and upgrades. After numerous suggestions by car club members and others involved in the hobby, a list of period & era-correct accessories was approved by ICBC.
ear the end of April, ICBC informed the SVABC that the modified collector program expansion was on track for late spring and that Mr. Les would make sure it would be approved by Cabinet as an Order in Council during the Spring Session of the legislature.
On May 18, 2006, on the steps of the legislature buildings in Victoria, BC, the Hon. John Les, ICBC and the SVABC announced that the modified collector plate would be expanded from 1949 to 1958, that the period & era-correct accessories, along with certain safety upgrades, had been approved and would come into effect on June 19, 2006. A group of selected custom cars were invited to the legislature to be part of the ceremonies.
The SVABC gratefully acknowledges the many individuals and various car clubs that were part of the process in successfully achieving this major milestone.
[See Q&A #8, for period & era-correct accessories and safety upgrades]
2008 Meetings with ICBC
The SVABC met with ICBC three times in 2008. Following is a brief review of these meetings.
April 18, 2008 – Senior VP, Insurance & Underwriting, ICBC
After several incidents in the late fall 2007 and early spring 2008 that created a questionable future for the car hobbyist, the SVABC decided to meet on a one-on-one basis with the senior vice-president to determine if the Collector plate was in jeopardy and if the SVABC was in danger of losing the excellent relationship it had enjoyed for many years with ICBC. The incidents that had occurred over the previous months included an inordinate number of claims and possible fraud. In addition, we lost two key supporters with the resignations of Paul Taylor, president of ICBC and John Les, BC’s solicitor general.
The meeting discussed future negotiations with new ICBC managers and the continuing negotiations for issues such as composite bodies, modified expansion, registration, licensing and insurance. By mutual agreement, we kept much of our discussion off the record. Nonetheless, we established an excellent rapport for future meetings. Also, as a result of this meeting, doors were opened to other departments such as the Provincial Claims Centre.
July 11, 2008 – Senior VP, Insurance & Underwriting, ICBC
As a follow-up to the April meeting, we held another one-on-one meeting to continue discussion concerning the abuse of the Vintage and Collector plates during the past year. We discussed various proposals that we hoped would both preserve the program and reduce the number of fraudulent infractions. Although the majority of the discussions were once again off the record, the meeting clearly left the SVABC as the sole organization that had the ear of the provincial government. Furthermore the SVA was assured that further cooperation would be established with Motor Vehicles and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport administrators (CCMTA).
October 18, 2008 – Manager, Provincial Registration and Licensing, ICBC
We met with ICBC's manager to discuss the following items.- A-B status – When we met with AirCare it was agreed this was no longer required. At a meeting with ICBC Dec. 13, 2006, ICBC indicated they would look into the cost of removing same. We inquired why this was still outstanding.
- Registration of Modified Collector vehicles back to their original (MAKE) instead of calling them Modified-A on Form APV 250. ICBC agreed to look into this even though Rob said it could not be done. We believe under registration criteria developed by the CCMTA it could be changed. Further discussions will be required. Registration for vehicles purchased from out-of-province where the owners wish to complete the restoration before insuring and licensing the vehicles, should be changed to registration before restoration and when restoration is complete. A safety inspection will be required before licensing.
- We suggested that the word “constructed” be used to replace “u-built”. We feel this could possibly be achieved under a revised CCMTA Policy Statement. We are prepared for further negotiations if required on this suggestion.
Safety Inspection Manual
In 2008, the SVABC proposed the following items be included in the rewrite of the Safety Inspection Manual relating to collector and modified collector vehicles.
- We reached agreement on VINs, their requirements, their attachment, the number required, registration by motor number, when a BC-assigned number is required.
- Modified and collector vehicles are not exempt from any safety requirements, but
some considerations will be included in the manual.
- Road clearance (i.e. everything above the rim) on lowered collector and modified collector vehicles.
- Lights must meet required standards. We asked to have the requirement for side-marker lights on all u-builts to be removed from the manual.
- We requested the removal of outer door handles on a modified vehicle be approved but only got agreement for limited use on modified collector vehicles. Inner door handles must be retained. If a modified collector returns to a regular plate, outer door handles will have to be replaced.
- Bumpers are required but exemptions to height and construction requirements are to be included for modified collector vehicles.
- Fenders, bumpers and windshield wipers will be required on all vehicles at this time.
- We suggested blue dots were a safety item on all older vehicles with small taillights and should be approved for all collector vehicles on the basis of safety and tradition. We appear to have agreement that these vehicles would not be mistaken for police vehicles, which have the exclusive use of blue lights in BC. This is the main reason we are not allowed to use them. We hope to be able to use them on modified collector vehicles.
- We also had considerable discussion on why our modified and u-builts do not come under the federal requirements. This will require further discussion in the future.
- We discussed the registration of out-of-province project vehicles when they are brought into the province. At this time, inspection is required before licensing rather than before registration. The SVABC would like to see registration before inspection with no licensing until after the vehicle has passed a safety inspection.
- A sunshine clause has been suggested for modified collector vehicles prior to 1948.
Composite Bodied Vehicles
We continue to meet with ICBC on the topic of having composite bodied vehicles included in the Collector vehicle program. With fewer original restorable older motor vehicles existing, the other aspect of the hobby is to construct a reproduction one – for example, one can purchase a frame and a reproduction body that resembles, say, a 1934 Ford. Once these vehicles are constructed and pass the provincial safety inspection, they are driven in a manner similar to a Vintage or Collector licensed vehicle. At this time, the SVABC is working with ICBC to determine if this class of motor vehicle can be included in the Collector program or a similar program.
