SVA-test.

Hi guys! As promised I start a report here of the SVA (Single Vehicle Approval)-test my 2000 IM-Speedster has to pass to get (finally!) a Dutch title. As I mentioned before, because of the fact the IM has a tubular frame which doesn't have an approval overhere
(the shortened VW-pan does) I have to make a d-tour to England to get an English 'kitcar' title first. Due to European Community agreements a Dutch title MUST be given when the car is 'imported' to Holland afterwards.
The test will take place at the 4th of May.
Before I handed her over to the person who will take care of the whole process (Mischa Bauman) I 'raced' her at the circuit of Zandvoort (last sunday, 24th of April). When everything works out well I will get her back the 17th of May. To be continued.

I started at the wrong place. Sorry for that. I move this topic to the Technical (general) part.

Mart

best of luck with the SVA test. I was wondering how you were getting on. I really hope you get through without too many problems. What engine do you have and what emissions testing will be required?

Rob

Rob, the car will be shipped to England coming saturday. In advance of the SVA Mischa did a (dutch) APK-test and the outcome of emission levels was very good(low)!!!

Engine is a VW-Type1 2110cc by CB Performance.

Some emission-digits of the APK. CO output was 3.0 (3.5 is permitted maximum). Besides that no (or almost none) unburnt gasses. That means the engine is in good (great!) condition.

One more Zandvoort-shot. This is what it's all about!!!

Round 1. It all must happen today! Mischa had to appear at 8.00 A.M. at the test in Cardiff. He booked an Hotel just around the corner to be sure to be in time. Around 11.00 A.M. I got a call from him. Where's the engine number? We can't find it! Conclusion: the number of the type 1 VW engine is covered by the black house of the 911 cooling fan! Unreadable! FIRST NEGATIVE POINT!
The 'click part' of the seatbelts is mounted to the inner side of the chairs, not to the body/chassis. That's NOT ALLOWED!
The electric side windows have American safety marks. That's NOT ALLOWED! they have to be European!
The 356 Sports exhaust is (in combination with the 44mm Webers and the 911 cooling fan) just 1 point to noisy. That's NOT ALLOWED!
Wiring behind the dashboard is not correctly covered and bound up. The speedometer (VDO Brazil) in MPH doesn't say MPH(!) It MUST SAY MPH or KM/PH!
13.00 P.M. Car is REJECTED!
Mischa calls me to report all this. He already made up his mind. We gonna prepare for Round 2. We will make an engine number 'window' in the cooling house. We will remount the seatbelts (We had already replaced the belts themselves. They need European safety marks too!)
We will add an temporary replaceable part to the doortops to make them fit the original set-up side windows I already have (even with the original tubular hardware for the doors). The electric windows will stay covered underneath.
We will mount a less noisy exhaust. We will cover the dashwiring decently. We will replace the VDO Brazil gauges by the original ones (speedo in KM/PH) I planned to do after the test. To be frank, it is a little bit disappointing off course, but on the other hand, I don't mind. My car is in a kind of pioneers role... To be continued!

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you. I did notice a picture of an IM interior as well I can't remember who's car it was and saw that the seat belt was connected to the seat frame. I thought to myself this can't be right!

Keep the faith.

I think that was a Northern California car that was once owned by a guy named Rich. If it is Mart you have a beautiful car don't give up. I'll be in Nice during the F-1 in Monaco drive it down and say hello.

Dick

Wow, what a pain in the ass! Here in Ohio the officer spent more time looking at my recipts than looking at the car.

Keep us posted,

Jerome

Dick, you're right. I purchased the car from Rich Downing. It's a great car. I own the car for almost a year now and I'm getting closer and closer to a Dutch title. Thanks for your complements!

Back in Holland to be prepared four round 2. Some pictures of the temporary stripped car and all its 'shiny new accesories'. When you look at the front you can see the bumper guards and the fog lights are taken off. The small white lenses are replaced by orange ones which have the right European safety marks. The front suspension is lifted to reach the correct level for the headlights. The frontwheels are replaced by 4.5x15" rims (with 'narrow' tires) to avoid the wheel touches the inside fender when max. turned (inside). Look at the lovely 'sidelights'. They are sticked to the body with some 'double side' adhesive tape. Wires inside are covered by gaffer tape. The steering wheel is partly taped too. To prevent anything could come between the spokes(?). The top is taken off for a same kind of reason ( I considder to replace it for a low bow afterwards). The seatbelt frames at the top of the seats have to be highered. The fasten point at the (outside) back of the seat has to be mounted straight to the chassis. Then look at the special custom made taillights (Thanks G

More images.

...and some more.

Something with the wheel picture. Again.
End of june, after round 2, we'll fly to England to pick up the car (with English title and plates) and then drive her along the beautiful English south coast to Dover, through 'the Chunnel' to Calais France, up to the north, crossing Belgium to Holland. Can you imagine I look forward to that particular 'drive'?

10th of june, 08.00 AM, second round!

On the 10th of August my car finally went through the SVA-test. It's the first Intermeccanica built on the tubular chassis wich has a European title now.
To be continued!

Boy, now I feel guilty for complaining about it taking 2 hours for me to get mine titled and registered. I didn't even have to show my car, and an hour of that time was driving to the wrong starting point. I could do it again the second time in less then a hour including waiting in line time.

...boy, and I thought we had it difficult, hope you can reverse some of those silly requirements after is titled, good luck

Hey Mart looks good. You think you can replace the rear light now with the Euro RED/YELLOW lenses and still be OK?

It took me almost a year after the car first was rejected overhere (Holland). But, patience does have its rewards. The last thing I'm waiting for now is the V5 document, the English title (while the plates are at the car already!) I need this to transfer it into a Dutch title. Today I've 'raced' the car on the circuit of Zandvoort again and I must say: (HENRY), IT'S NOT ONLY A BEAUTIFUL CAR, IT'S ALSO A GREAT DRIVER!!!

Some 'Zandvoort-racing' pictures.

Hey Mart the racin' pics are way cool. but shouldn't you be wearing a BRAIN BUCKET when your on the track?

One and a half year later....
My car with it's classical(!) Dutch title.
Dark blue license plates, meaning
'at least 25 years old....'