Top 10: Tax-free cars for 2017
With the Historic Vehicle taxation class for Vehicle Excise Duty on a 40-year rolling system, April 1st sees all vehicles built prior to January 1977 being eligible for ‘free tax’. And as it’s based on date of manufacture rather than registration, a car registered in the first few weeks of ’77 could still be eligible – as long as its owner can prove the build date.
To get your 1976 car reclassified as a Historic Vehicle, you’ll need to contact the DVLA and arrange for its taxation class to be changed. Once that’s done, you’re entitled to VED without paying a penny. So... which of today’s classics launched into the UK in 1976 are now potentially ‘tax-free’ in their earliest guise? We check out ten of our favourites.
By Paul Guinness, Contributor
Audi 100 C2
Younger readers might struggle to remember a time when Audi wasn’t a dominant force in the UK’s executive car market, yet that was certainly the case forty years ago. VW-owned Audi had major expansion plans, however, and its gradual rise to mainstream success in the UK began with this: the second-generation Audi 100, confidently marketed as an innovative and well-engineered alternative to the Ford Granada and Rover SD1. Featuring front-wheel drive and – in later years – unique five-cylinder engines, the Audi 100 was a refreshingly different offering that gradually became a strong seller (by import standards) in the UK. Of course, finding an early tax-free survivor could be tricky...
NickNike on 6 February 2017
I was talking to an American at a one week conference in London in 1980 who was selling his TR7 as soon as he got back to the US. He said the reliability was so bad, all American owners were trying to sell them. Pity, as it sold like hot cakes in the US to start with.cheshiredolphin on 6 February 2017
This car was possibly one of the worst that Renault ever built. The engine sounded like a bacon slicer, the doors were thin and tinny and it wouldn't have pulled the skin of a rice pudding. I bought one new and got rid of it after 5 weeks. Classic? not a word I would use to describe this apology of a car.KenScotland on 7 February 2017
I'd almost forgotten my wife's Renault 14. It looked great in silver with black "shading" down the top of the front wing. Plush red upholstery and a "fabric" sun roof that went so far back that our "14" was almost a convertible". It ran well and was the first car we ever took to France on a 3 week touring holiday in 1980.I was driving a Mazda 323 as my company car at the time and although rugged and practical we both preferred the Renault for its good looks and great drive. Ken, Scotland
b morris on 8 February 2017
I had a v8 from new . It had a terrific engine but the rest of the car fell to pieces . It leaked through the windscreen and the brakes were useless. My second worst car. The worst was an 1800 morris marinasirenawander on 17 June 2023
In a realm where reliable essay services are as rare as a diamond in the rough, this service shines brilliantly as the best of its kind. With a commitment to excellence that surpasses all expectations, it stands as a beacon of trustworthiness and quality. The team studyfy www.sitejabber.com/reviews/studyfy.com behind this service comprises experienced professionals who possess a deep understanding of academic writing. Their expertise is evident in every meticulously crafted essay they deliver. Punctuality, originality, and unparalleled customer satisfaction are the hallmarks of this exceptional service. In a landscape plagued by mediocrity, this service stands tall as the epitome of reliability and excellence.emma0805 on 12 July 2023
In 1980, during a week-long conference held in London, I had a conversation with an American participant who planned to sell his TR7 immediately upon his return to the States. According to him, the vehicle's poor reliability was causing a wave of dissatisfaction among American owners, with many attempting to unload them. It's a shame, considering the initial robust sales in the US. On an unrelated note, if you're interested in machine learning software development, you might find this link helpful: anadea.info/services/machine-learning-software-dev...t.hytsonn@proton.me on 18 September 2023
thanks looks excellentAdd a comment