Engne age

[willsie01]

Am I right in thinking that the age of an engine block is relevant to whether a replica can be treated as exempt as far as road tax goes?
I've been ofered a 1981 302 and I'm not sure if it is a sensible choice.
John

[James Baxter]

Broadly speaking, yes its relevant, but merely the tip of a big iceberg. Where do you start answering that one anybody?
Is this covered in another thread?
I have a spare 1969 260cu in engine here, if its authenticity you're after.
JB

[Karl]

What I know is that the block date is relevant for the emmission test at SVA and later for MOT- I think for tax exempt your complete vehicle must be old enough. Clive is normally very good in answering this questions, but he seems to be absent at the moment.
Karl

[kaiserbilly1]

Hi Miggie

Clive is in Tenerife golfing at present
That's why he has been so quiet of late.

Bill

[Roger King]

As I've said elsewhere, you will be extremely lucky to get tax-exempt status on a 'new' kitcar. You should be able to get an age-related plate, but your car will be classed as new build and newly-registered. Unless you can prove the entire car is from 1966 or whatever (i.e. not a kitcar, but a rebody of the original chassis), it will not be registered as 'historic, tax exempt'. 'Cos it isn't!

James, are you sure you have a 1969 260? Very interesting - AFAIK, the 260 was replaced by the 289 in around 1964/5, which was replaced by the 302 in 1968. A '69 260 would be incredibly rare.

Roger

[Migge]

kaiserbilly1:

Miggi?? Karl??

Roger:

I think the 289 war earlier as 64/65. It was replaced CSX 2075 onwards.

Cheers
Migge

[Roger King]

AC couldn't use engines Ford didn't make.
Fomoco's new thin-wall casting V8 was originally a 221, then very quickly became the 260. This casting was changed to the 289 in '64, then the 302 took over in '68. Shelby's first Cobra, the one that was several colours as he hawked (sorry) it around the dealers, was a 260. The rest were 289s. There was never a 302 Cobra, as production had ceased by 1968, the year Ford switched to the 302. My '68 fastback, being an April car, was a 289 (originally). By November they were all 302s.

Roger

[James Baxter]

Yes - sorry you are right. Its a 1964 unit.
Have a spare Jag back axle too if its of any use.
Cheers,
JB

[Roger King]

Yes - sorry you are right. Its a 1964 unit.
Have a spare Jag back axle too if its of any use.
Cheers,
JB

If it's a '64 260 and it's over here, chances are it's out of a dead Tiger.
Most were 260s (mine was) - they only made a very few 289s.

Roger

[petercharman]

In reply to Roger.

I may be luck, but I got not only an age related plate for my hawk 289 FIA but also historic tax excempt status as well. I registered it in the Brighton office so once Karl has his SVA, I am assuming he is going to do that in the UK given his comments on the German system I would advise him to get the car registered at Brighton. The only 1967 parts I had from the original car was the rear axel and front suspension.