These are the rules. The Federal Government rules by which we have to stick too when building a car. Ok, so the Australian Street Rod Federation ( Apparently we dont have real Hot Rods) with the Gubberment came up with these guide lines. Though it seems they only apply to us normal people, if your well known you can get registration without front brakes! Doc.
I'd post the rules for building a rod in Nebraska...but there aren't any. I read about this on another post (the guy was building a modified forgot his name on here) Sounds like having the engineer/inspector guy on your *** the whole time really ****s...
That would be Striper and his stunning mod! Yeah they really give you little room to move, it also depends a lot on who your engineer is as to what gets p***ed. (I think I jinxed myself here!) Build safe cars guys or you will end up with the same rules! I just wanted to let you guys know how good you have it and just what your government can do if provoked. (Please dont take it as a whine) I just watched an episode of 'Crusin', an Aussy Hot Rod TV show, they talked about it so it prompted me to 'share'. Doc <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
Have a small nick in the paint? Car got a little dirt on it from driving it about? Engine got a slight oil leak? FIX IT NOW! The government demands it! "Hi, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."
Blimey! I thought British rodders had some hoops to jump through (search SVA if you want to know) but that takes the biscuit. Still I've seern loads of good looking hot rods and customs from OZ so the dedicated ones are obviously finding a way. Keep the faith! I like "This page has been left intentionally blank"
Doc, problem here is after its built! ! ! cat and mouse with local 1-ADAM-12 ******** and harr***ment. All you gotta worry about is an occasional Kangaroo running out into the road ! ! BLAHHHHHH-HAAAAAAA ! ! !
Christ! And I thought it ****ed when they took your guns away! I read through some of those "rules", what a crock. I mean, we have a Tire And Rim ***ociation here, but they're mainly concerned that all tires are made the same so the same size from different companies will still fit, they don't TELL you what to actually put ON your car....guh! (at least that's how I read it) I feel for ya Doc, and thank you for sharing. I've come to respect your input and only clicked on this link cuz I saw your name as the originator. Thanks again and stiff upper lip! ~Jef Correction: As rat bastad, the crow eater below stated, I shouldn't cheer ya on by saying "stiff upper lip" since that's for the Poms, so to get to the duck's guts, I'll just say "Keep taking the micky outta the government". Since we are closely related '******* children' from the same place, the last thing I'd want to do is insult anyone from Oz...lol
Hey Fish, the stiff upper lip is reserved for our Limey frineds, not Aussies !! Pleeease.... Ive said it once and I'll say it again - the main difference in building/owning a hot rod in Oz compared to the US is this : In the US its almost a RIGHT to build/own hot rods. Here in Oz, its a privelidge - one that you have to work damn hard for. Something to do with the nanny state mentality that has permeated this country (and most western countries) for that matter. As far as that do***ent goes, its misleading because it is NOT a National set of Guidelines - they have NOT been adopted by all of the States. Ah well, where there's a will there's a way. Right Doc? Rat
That is scary, and don't worry it will spread to other countries. To the average citizen it sounds like a good idea. It's all about safety.... Yeah right. The do***ent is scary since it basically will require you to upgrade your brakes and suspension to modern standards. The problem is a small part of me agrees with some of the concepts. Driving around southern Ontario with stock '30-40s brakes is asking for trouble. Not only are the roads congested, the quality of the other drivers is abysmal. Few people understand a stock '30-50s car cannot stop as well as a new Honda civic. I've had many close calls in my '49 Ford even though the brakes are completely rebuilt and I dont' drive it aggressively in traffic. Disk brakes and radials (gasp..) are next on my list since I intend to drive it more.
You US guys don't be too smug. It's only a matter of time before it's that way here. Look at the government that we have now, you better believe that Barack and Nanci would love to see our hot rods stuffed full of guns and melted down to build hybrids. And with some of the ridiculously unsafe pieces of **** rat rods being built, they have just the excuse to do it.
So from all I have read, it is illegal to drive a stock Model A on the road because of it's mechanical brakes and wheels narrower than 5"....I'm sure there are many other reasons.
rat *******..damn that's a ****ing great nick name. That was my nick name for 35 years at my place of employment (now closed and moved to south of the boarder)
"Hi, I'm armed, I have a brand new shovel I've been itchin' to try out and I know of this really secluded place in the woods that no other human has seen in 150 years."
In New Zealand in the 50's, 60's 70's it was very easy to build hot rods as far as rules and regulations. You only had to meet a bi-annual safety inspection. Then some time in the 80's the government went nuts and it really tightend up. Then the NZ Hot Rod ***ociation got really involved and a book of safe building practices was devised. Engineers etc were involved and it took a few years to accomplish. Now you can still build a cool car but you have to build it right and it gets inspected and certified before registration. I think as years p*** NZ will prove to be pioneers in a good system. Good but not perfect. Many USA proven safe rod building practices are not legal but it is a common sense system and waaay better than Australia and Great Britain.
Amen! Especially your last sentence. It's one thing to look dangerous, another thing altogether to actually be unsafe. I'm abrade it's duck and cover time for home builders in the US. I have a new respect for our Australian brothers now. You guys have always built killer hot rods. I knew there was more red tape there than here but, I had no idea how much.
Anyone remember this movie? Wonder how long til this is reality? Lee Majors has an old (1970's) Porshe race car(Can Am type) buried under the floor of his barn and drive it cross the US when Gas and cars have been outlawed. It reminds me of that Rush song "Red Barchetta"
I think there was an MST3K (Mystery Science Theather 3000 for those of you not in the know) featuring that movie.
I live in Arkansas and as long as you don't say anything to the DMV or to your insurance company you can pretty much build and drive anything on the street as long as the body style and paint matches your registration. Oh yeah, did I mention we don't have inspections here either.
Her in Sweden you had to crash test your homebuilt car between 1968-1986. After that you can register a homebuilt car, following similar rules, and thats better than not being able to build at all. on the other hand if you have a pre 51 car, you dont have to pay tax, and no yearly inspection
Guys, don't get me wrong. I am glad that our cars are of a higher standard than most (No offense, they have to be). Though as Rat said each state only enforces some of the rules, Western Australia uses it as the 'bible' an enforce all of them! So far I have talked to the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) Technical officer, two engineers and the Australian Street Rod ***ociation. I have not had the same answer from any of them in regards to what I can do and cant do in building my G***er. I have the build planned, I don't want one of the cars that sit 10ft off the ground, a little milder and closer to the Herrera & Sons car in style I am going for. General consensus seems to be that I cant have the front up high at all, in the least little bit as it reduces handling. Some say I can have a single loop roll bar BEHIND me only, another said I can have a full cage provided it doesn't restrict entry and exit or vision in any way. I have also been told by the RTA that I cant use the Nailhead in my car as it exceeds the original vehicles engine size by 'too much'!! As tough as they make it, I'm going to build my car. End of story! Yes, where there is a will there is a way, even if I have to move to another state just to have what I want. Talk about being jerked around, I sometime wonder why I served my country! Doc. PS, I see my car being a race only car If I stay in Qld, maybe thats good, then I will have to build another car for the street??
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