Specialty Vehicle Association of BC

NEWS> Reference

“ 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. ”

May 2006 News Releases

"Custom" cars now eligible for collector status — May 18

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General announcement

VICTORIA - The Province is recognizing automotive history by making changes to allow vehicle hobbyists to register 1958 and older "hot rods" and "custom" vehicles as collector cars, Solicitor General John Les said today.

"The era of drive-in movies, the cold war, civil rights and rock and roll was also a time of glorious cars that are still much loved and cherished today," said Les. "That's why we're expanding the eligibility time frame for collector cars from 1948 to 1958, and allowing a larger pool of vehicles to qualify for the collector motor vehicle program."

Another change will allow collector car hobbyists to install era-appropriate parts and accessories to reflect past automotive trends. Owners will be able to personalize their collector vehicles, while highlighting the historical significance of those changing times.

The collector motor vehicle program was first introduced in 1990 to provide unique license plates for collector vehicles, and lower collector car insurance premiums for hobbyists who have other licensed, non-collector vehicles that they use for general transportation.

The original regulations required owners of collector vehicles to adhere to original manufacturer's specifications, making modified vehicles ineligible for collector vehicle status. In 2000, adjustments were made to allow modified 1948 and older vehicles to qualify for the collector motor vehicle program.

Starting June 19, modified vehicles with a 1958 or earlier model year can now carry the distinctive collector license plates. These plates identify the vehicle as a collector car and recognize its contribution to B.C.'s automobile history.

Owners of vehicles that now qualify for the collector program are advised to submit their applications as soon as possible so they can enjoy their collector vehicle status over the summer months. All information and application forms can be obtained from local Autoplan brokers or downloaded from www.icbc.com.

One More Step In The Process Is Now Complete top

I wish to acknowledge the work of all the individual members of the SVABC who have worked hard over the last ten years. That work has resulted in the expansion of the Collector program to include cars and trucks that have been modified that are of a Victoria 1 1958 model year or earlier. Our work is not over for those involved in the SVABC as we have a number of items before the Corporation that we wish to discuss with their officials, such as, a slight modification to the Vintage program, recognition of the replicas that represent a 1948 or earlier North American production vehicle, to name a few of the items that we have requested to be considered. To move forward, we need dedicated hobby vehicle owners to get involved to assist in our efforts to preserve the history of the automobile through programs such as the Vintage and the Collector licensing and insurance program.

On behalf of the members of the SVABC, a special thanks goes to the folks at ICBC who have met with the SVABC and worked on the expansion of the program that was announced on May 18 of this year. In addition, the SVABC thanks the folks at AirCare with whom we have met to address emission testing issues. A thank you goes to Mike Woods, Vehicle Inspection and Compliance section of the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, for meeting with us to address issues reqarding inspection and modification criteria. It is folks like these that have helped us to address matters impacting the vehicle hobby that has resulted in positive action.

As you must be aware of by now, on May 18 the Hon. John Les, the Minister responsible for ICBC, announced the expansion of the program at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria. Victoria 2 To mark this occasion, the SVABC had requested that we be allowed to bring a number of vehicles to the buildings for this important announcement. We were granted permission to have 8 vehicles present. We chose to have 7 modified vehicles that would now be eligible for the collector status and one that is already licensed with a collector plate. In addition to my 1952 Meteor convertible that was used to transport the Minister at the event, a special thanks goes to the following for allowing their vehicles to be part of this announcement.

Lawrence Woytowich 1957 Ford Ranchero (stock)
Ray Bayles 1955 Ford Sunliner (modified)
Ed Richards 1950 Chev Coupe (modified)
Barry Watson 1950 Mercury (modified),
Pete Graw 1951 Chev (modified)
Bill Alder 1955 Chev (modified)>
Stu Palfrey 1950 Ford 2 Dr. (modified with 42 modifications)

In addition to the above mentioned, Andy Anderson, Lloyd Neville, Greg Macaulay, Keith Jackman from the SVABC were also present. MLA's and Ministers who viewed the cars on display were the Hon. Claude Richmond, Hon. Judith Reid along with MLA Lorne Maycourt. Other MLA's and Ministers viewed the even from within the buildings as estimates were underway in the House.

We had originally requested that we have a range of vehicle displayed from Vintage to say 31 Ford replica. As space was limited, we were not able to do so. However, there is interest in having an annual event to display a number of Vintage and Collector vehicles, including motor cycles and reproduction vehicles, as a means to demonstrate to elected officials what the hobby is all about. To undertake and event of this nature, we will require member clubs and individuals to assist with such items as having the City of Victoria to designate adequate space for parking the vehicles at the Parliament Buildings. If there is interest in establishing an event of this nature, please let me know.

That's all for now folks
Harold Wellenbrink, President

Tuesday, March 07, 2006 top

In speaking to Nigel on other issues, we discussed the forthcoming changes to the Collector program and from that if you all agree we should post the following.

The Specialty Vehicle Association recommends anyone who has modified a car or truck to ensure you have had your registration and licensing documents amended to reflect the same to ensure your vehicle is insured correctly. You can down load the ICBC form - MV 1437 from the ICBC web site - just enter the from number in the search box. The form is self explanatory.

In anticipation that the changes to the modified segment of the Collector licensing program will be introduced by late spring or early summer of 2006 that will see 1958 or earlier model year vehicles now qualify, it is recommended that owners of these vehicles ensure they attend to this as soon as possible as once an owner has his or her modified vehicle registered correctly, it will reduce the processing time for the Collector plate up by 3 or 4 weeks.

In addition - anyone who attends club events - you may wish to pass this recommendation on

Meeting on October 25, 2005 with Air Care top

A meeting was called by Air Care officials on October 25, 2005 to be attended by the Collector Car Club Council, ICBC and SVABC.

The agenda included an ICBC update on potential Collector Car policy changes.

Modified vehicle registration – MOD A and MOD B

It was moved and seconded by the attendees to consider suggestions to change the current MOD A and MOD B licensing designations.

Nigel provided a document outlining the current definitions for MOD A and MOD B. Some members raised concerns about the criteria used to define vehicles as either MOD A and MOD B.

It was suggested to drop the ‘A’ and ‘B’ designation from the “Mod” Make in favour of using the more universal term of “Modified”.
It was determined that the ‘A/B’ designation was implemented shortly after the start of the program to help identify modified vehicles and apply the appropriate AirCare emissions standards – this is no longer the case. Allyson will explore Impacts to ICBC and report back to the Council at the next meeting.
The vehicle’s model year, as indicated on the registration document, will now be used to determine a modified vehicle’s AirCare emissions standards.
There was consensus around the table that the term “CONSTRUCTED” car should be added to the list of descriptions for home-built vehicles.
UBUILT, REPLICA and REPLICAKIT vehicles registered after January 1, 1995, must meet AirCare standards applicable to 1988 model year. Such vehicles registered prior to 1996 must meet 1972 model year standards.

AirCare expiry dates for limited use or extremely low mileage vehicles

Vehicles that are in storage for various times during a 12 month time frame.
Vehicles that only drive a few hundred kilometers per year.

The council discussed the issue of fairness regarding the application of both ICBC distance-based insurance and AirCare testing requirements for limited use vehicles. The consensus was that unless there was an appropriate enforcement mechanism in place then changes from a scheduled AirCare test to a distance- or usage-based test was not feasible.

Meeting on October 14, 2005 with John Les top

SVABC executives met with Solicitor General John Les, the Minister responsible for ICBC.

After a short history of SVABC and its involvement with the Collector car program, the Modified Collector program and the fact that ICBC was now supportive of expanding the Modified Collector plate program to 1958, we discussed the following topics.

SVABC has worked with ICBC for almost 6 years to have the Modified Collector Plate expanded to 1958. (We explained that Rich Coleman, former minister responsible for ICBC , had indicated support for this expansion.) We stated now that ICBC has agreed to this expansion, it required government approval and this was why were meeting with him. He agreed to this and suggested we try expanding it even further so that we wouldn’t have to be lobbying in the future.
We would like ICBC to REGISTER out of province vehicles purchased bya BC Resident, regardless if it is not fully complete or roadworthy. He agreed this would be important for continuity of ownership.
We asked for his support in bringing into the Collector program, composite bodied replica vehicles, resembling 1948 or earlier North American models. We explained that these are expensive vehicles (there isn’t a great number of these), and would have to meet BC safety standards. He questioned why at this time they were not in the program? It was hard to say that ICBC would not agree to include them at this time.
It was discussed that we are working with ICBC on era/period accessories andsafety modifications for collector cars. It was explained that we are in contact with Air Care and the Dept. of Motor Vehicles.

He stated that he would meet with Mr. Taylor of ICBC early in the new year to forward our concerns, but good news – he met with Mr. Taylor in early December 2005.

NOTE: Quote from a letter received Jan. 5, 2006 from Solicitor General John Les.

“I am pleased to hear of the progress that you are making with Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) regarding expanding the Collector Vehicle Program.

I recently met with Paul Taylor, President and CEO of ICBC, to discuss the sliding scale issue further. ICBC will be reducing the qualifying year by ten years, from the current 1948 to 1958. There will be a two to three year evaluation period after this change, which will allow ICBC time to assess the characteristics of the risk pool and to consider other changes or modifications to the program.”