clubs’ fears over scrappage scheme
Classic car clubs have raised concerns that Vauxhall’s latest scrappage scheme will see good restoration projects reduced to parts.
Vauxhall has made a concession to allow clubs to buy parts that are stripped from classics but has said that its partner will still scrap the rest of the car.
Buyers of new Vauxhalls can claim £2000 off the cost of a new model if they buy before 30 June. Vauxhall has agreed to inform relevant clubs if a pre-1991 car is traded in but enthusiasts will not be allowed to save the whole vehicle – only buy spares from it. This means that post1991 classics will be scrapped with no chance for clubs to buy parts.
Adam Sloman of the MG Car Club says he is worried that cars will be lost through the scrappage scheme as clubs won’t get the opportunity to save whole vehicles. He says: ‘We have two fantastic registers doing all they can to encourage interest in future classic MGs and we don’t want to see cars lost through scrappage schemes like this without the opportunity to save them.’
Mike Stanley of the Vauxhall Viva Owners’ Club is also concerned about the scheme. He says: ‘Surely it could be more flexible as far as saving cars is concerned. It is definitely possible that a Viva or any other classic could be submitted for it, for example a car that has been off the road for a long time, or outside the classic car fraternity. This is Vauxhall’s own scheme [to administer], not the Government’s.’
Geoff Lancaster of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs said that while it is pleased that Vauxhall is offering spares to clubs, it was ‘understandable’ how some people may feel on its impact on potential classics in waiting.
Vauxhall PR manager, Simon Hucknall, says: ‘With the rise in classic values in recent years we feel that most are worth well over £2000. While we are happy to contact clubs promptly if something pre-1991 comes up, under our agreement with our partners in the scheme, Autogreen, all vehicles have to be recycled, so only parts can be available. Clubs would be able to buy parts though. Autogreen are recyclers, and cars are completely dismantled.’