[Healeys] Westminster diff

[Michael Salter]

A good question Stephen, particularly considering that cars is New Zealand
seem to last for ever as they do not need to use salt on the roads.
The problem, as I understand, it is that the New Zealand government, in an
effort to get rid of older cars that tend to linger in peoples driveways and
back yards, instituted a system of "continuous registration". Under this
system any car which is not continuously licensed for the road must be
brought up to current safety standards before it can be re registered. 
There is a facility wherein a registration can be "put on hold" for a period
of time, but this has to be renewed regularly to remain in force. 
The "Westy" had probably not been registered for several years and the cost
of having it brought up to current standards and the associated engineers
inspection would have made getting it back on the road prohibitively
expensive. 

Michael Salter
100 (1953) #174
AHX12 (1953)
Bugeye (1961)
http://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/?p=432


-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Stephen Hutchings
Sent: March 25, 2009 2:18 PM
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] Westminster diff

This has been in the back of my mind for a day now, so I have to ask.
When Mike Salter said that the Westminster in the New Zealand dump 
was in "pristine" condition, I have to wonder.... why  would it cost 
so much to certify? Just curious.

I know my high school friend's Westminster has survived here in 
Ontario, because I read about its fate in  Bob English's column 
.......I was delighted to find out that, not only is it still on the 
road, but being taken on long road trips!

Stephen, BJ8