Low Volume Compliance

[zoltrix77]

All,

More for curiosty than anything else, can anyone enligten me the process a company would have to take to be able to build and supply Low Volume Cars, eg Cobra Replicas.

From my research, it looks like there have only been two such cars in the past, one being Robnell and the other being the "Coke" cobras.

Information on the DoIT website under "Low Volume Scheme for New Vehicles" mentions thyat the vehicle needs to be on the SEVS register, but it first needs to be a identified model before it can be added. An example would be say when Elfin has decided to make the "Elfin Type 5", what did they have to do before it could be added to the register? And then who decides if the the car does indeed meet the relevent ADRs? Is it a engineer that deals with ICVs? Does each an every vehicle undergo an inspection before a compliance plate is fitted or just the first one?

The DoIT website seems to focus more SEVs cars that are imported 2nd hand via a RAW rather bespoke locally manufactured vehicles. It also isn't very clear about the process for BRAND NEW imported SEVs, who inspects and plates those?

I just thought it might have been likely one of the local kit builders would try to register a few cars this way for a true turn key way to buy a new Cobra that can be easily be transfered between states.

Adam.

[Zedn]

An engineer is used to confirm that the car meets each adr. There is a form for each adr that gets completed and submitted with supporting test results and evidence. There are pre approved exemptions much the same as ICV.

Im not 100% sure on the process but i believe there is an ongoing conformity of production process required. I think they are subject to regular audits to confirm that adequate controls are in place to ensure that all cars produced are the same. Quality records need to be kept and are part of the audit. I may be wrong, but from memory that was the process when i looked into it back when cars weren't passing in NSW.

Not sure about the SEVS process, but i think Treeve may have got a car added to it. Maybe he will post about the process?

[beauies]

From memory Peter Gillard (engineer: ADR COMPLIANCE SERVICES) had low volume compliance for his 550 spyder he was producing.

[Merv and Sharon]

I think that his car has 'died'. It was a great one. I looked at it carefully.

[CMY-427]

I own 1 of the 12 Coke LVPV cars and was told that one car had to be built to the exact standard that the rest of the cars were expected to be built, It was then destroyed in a crash test in which the car was to be inspected and then the decision given for the approval of the 12 LVPV Compliance Plates. I guess this is the reason why It really hasnt been done since, the cost would be prohibitive and the cars would all have to be built exactly the same..

[Zedn]

I did a little bit of reading on this and this is my take:

There is definitely an exemption to crash testing for low volume. It covers ADR 69, 72 and 73, satisfied by a seatbelt labels and placard warning the occupant (same as ICV). You can read about it here RVCS MENU under administrators circulars number 0-2-13.

A cobra would be eligible for entry to the SEVS register because there is no full volume vehicle available to the market. Caterham 7 is on the register and sold as low production.

As CMY-427 says the cars would have to be built the same except for variations in colour and minor trim changes. You couldnt choose motor type, brake combinations, suspension etc.

Realistically how many turn key complied cars would actually sell? The cost of these cars for it to be worth while for the manufacturer would be in the high $100ks and then they would be having to sell and market them much the same as a car dealer, perhaps they would need a trader license as well, show room, test drives, more insurances etc etc and they will be limited to how many they can produce.

This kind of defeats the purpose if you cant make it your own. Also a kit is a much cheaper option. Many of the people on this forum (including me) wouldnt own a cobra if you had to buy it as a complete production vehicle costing $150k - $200k.

[zoltrix77]

Hmm, looks like the crash testing is the prohibitive part if that's the case then, however from the DoIT website.

"The Low Volume Scheme for new vehicles allows for the supply to the market of up to 25 or 100 vehicles per year per vehicle category. The Scheme provides a major concession in that it allows alternative forms of evidence to be submitted against some of the ADRs. In the main this applies to ADRs where destructive or expensive testing is required".

Which leads me to the conclusion that crash testing isn't required. I know this has been raked over a million times, but why can't an ICV just be issued with a national ICV compliance plate on completion of engineering? That wy the car can be transferred around the country with zero hassles.

Adam.

[Modena]

I believe you need a permit of some sort for low volume compliance. Remember CSV Australia? They made HSV style hot Commodores in the late 90's earlier 2000's. CSV doesn't exist anymore for various reasons, but I believe that it cost the owner (Peter Dichiera (spelling?)) over 200K in paperwork and testing etc to be able to plate his cars, and he didnt have to do crash testing because he started with ADR'd Commodores, but to be able to sell his 400kw cars in a legal manner that was roadworthy he had to get low volume compliance and it was massive dollars.

[Krait]

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

I think that his car has 'died'. It was a great one. I looked at it carefully.

It was a very nice car....Pete and Alan in their workshop.....

[Treeve]

I've seen my name mentioned here, so I'd better pipe up.

There is a process, and there is extensive paperwork. I've got a car on the SEVS register, when I was planning on bringing my Dax Rush over under the SEVS scheme. The VIN on that register is the VIN on my race only vehicle, so no use to anyone.

The complexity with LVA is that both the Production Facility and the Design Facility have to be ISO-9001 certified (not too hard, hey Liam?).

You also need to provide the vehicle for inspection by the Department of Infrastructure, which has it's own requirements.

Finally, you need to be able to provide compliance with a couple of sticking point ADRs that you get exemptions for under VSB14 or state legislation. Emissions and 10/02 steering column come to mind (airbags anyone?).

Lots and lots of effort.

In a small aside, I was speaking to Peter G the other day, and he is no longer making the Porsche replica as he can no longer source the body - his supplier folded and so he ceased production. A beautiful car, and a great engineer too.

Treeve

[tomcat racing]

Originally Posted by CMY-427

I own 1 of the 12 Coke LVPV cars and was told that one car had to be built to the exact standard that the rest of the cars were expected to be built, It was then destroyed in a crash test in which the car was to be inspected and then the decision given for the approval of the 12 LVPV Compliance Plates. I guess this is the reason why It really hasnt been done since, the cost would be prohibitive and the cars would all have to be built exactly the same..

Did you buy your car from airlie beach, a bloke i met up here had a coke car and sold it to someone in sydney several years ago sight unseen.

[CMY-427]

Originally Posted by tomcat racing

Did you buy your car from airlie beach, a bloke i met up here had a coke car and sold it to someone in sydney several years ago sight unseen.

No, I bought this car 14 years ago in Sydney, the people who won the car lived in Perth and put it up for sale I believe in a shop called "The Toy Shop" or similar in Perth as soon as they received it, It sat for quite some time there before it was shipped to their sister shop in North Sydney that was called "The Toy Shop". It was then sold to a local man who was the 1st registered owner and he put about 2,000 k's on it before I bought it from him in 1999. I know a guy in North QLD who also has one, he bought his car only a few years after I had bought mine, he still has that car as we are still very much in touch with each other...