Car enthusiasts and industry can now have their say on how to best preserve iconic classic cars like the DMC DeLorean, MkII Jaguar and James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 for decades to come.
Today (9 May 2024), the government is launching a call for evidence to gather views on how classic and historic cars can be preserved for future generations and boost jobs in the £18 billion classic car sector.
Since the 1980s, policies on how classic cars are registered after being restored and upgraded have largely remained the same, and do not account for improving historic vehicles with modern technology.
The call for evidence from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will ask drivers, classic car enthusiasts and the industry to share their proposals to help historic vehicles into the 21st century, while prioritising road safety and retaining accurate vehicle records.
Changes could make it easier to register vehicles to fully recognise their value while protecting prospective buyers, modify classic cars to improve their performance and retrofit them with electric powertrains.
With James Bond’s iconic Aston Martin DB5, Inspector Morse’s MkII Jaguar and the Belfast-built DMC DeLorean from ‘Back to the Future’ firmly embedded in popular culture, today’s call for evidence is an opportunity for classic car enthusiasts and the motoring industry to have their say on how these and other motoring icons can remain an example of British excellence in the UK and around the world.
Better preserving classic cars can also help drive tourism to iconic classic car shows such as Goodwood Revival. With the classic car industry employing around 113,000 skilled people and worth £18 billion a year, the call for evidence will help support jobs in the heritage car industry and help grow the economy.
