DeTomaso Mailing List: June 2001, Message #160

California Bill Calls for Destruction of Pre-1970 Cars

        A bill (A.B. 1390) has been introduced in the California
legislature that
would allow automobile manufacturers to crush pre-1970 vehicles in
exchange
for credits toward their obligations under the state’s Zero Emission
Vehicle
(ZEV) program. The owners who surrender their vehicles would receive a
voucher of at least $2,500 for the purchase of a new or used vehicle.
        This legislation would essentially create a “back-door”
scrappage plan
alarmingly aimed directly at crushing muscle-car era and earlier
vehicles.
There are a number of glaring problems with this legislation.
        At a minimum, A.B. 1390 allows auto manufacturers to create
markets for
their new cars at the expense of automotive hobbyists. At the same time,
the
bill is self-defeating because lower-income car owners cannot reasonably
afford to purchase new — or even newer — used vehicles with the limited
money this program would provide.
        The bill also neglects to set up a program to verify emissions
reductions
from destroyed vehicles, so it will never be clear if such a program
helps
clean the air or not! Further, A.B. 1390 fails to recognize that
pre-1970
cars are typically second or third vehicles rarely driven in the first
place
and makes no provisions for rescuing valuable parts and parts-cars for
repair and restoration projects. SEMA has said it many times before:
Crush
old cars and watch the restoration market die off and parts prices
skyrocket, turning an accessible and fun hobby into the sole playground
of
the affluent.
        SEMA-member companies, the popular press and SEMA Action Network
contacts
in California, including the Beach Cities Mustang Club, Mopar Alley and
the
Golden West Chevelle and El Camino Club, have all been alerted to this
bill.
We are pleased with and hopeful that the sizable amount of letters,
faxes
and e-mails pouring into the legislature from enthusiasts will stop this
bill before it moves any further.