The petition’s supporters want the release of cars still being kept in storage years after the Scrappage scheme ended.
More than 3500 classic car fans have signed a petition calling for the Government to release vehicles that escaped the crusher during 2009’s official Scrappage scheme.
While an estimated 300,000 older vehicles were traded in as part of the ‘cash for clunkers’ operation to boost the nation’s motor industry – including 45 Jaguar XJSs, 655 Minis and 572 MGs – we are aware of numerous vehicles in salvageable condition being stored years after the scheme closed.
The petition’s supporters are keen to see the classic cars that were not destroyed during the scheme to be either sold on for restoration or broken up for spares to give the nation’s historic vehicle movement a boost.
Among the vehicles traded in during the controversial 2009 scheme – which are understood to still be in restorable condition – are a 1990 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo, a 1989 Volkswagen Golf Clipper Cabriolet, several 1980s Minis and a 1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo.
Petition creator, Ryan Huddlestone, a classic Land Rover fan who currently owns a Discovery MkI and a Series II, said: ‘A lot of the cars will require little work from the right enthusiast to get working again. What I propose, at the very least, is that they release these cars back into the public domain and allow them to be bought at auction or from a company such as the many who sell off used and outdated military equipment around the country.’
Sir Greg Knight, who during the last Parliament was chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group, said that he will be investigating the matter further after the General Election. He said: ‘My own view is that their release sounds like a good idea – even if the cars themselves are beyond economic repair, the parts are still usable and can be used to keep other classic cars on the road.
‘As custodians of the public purse, the Government should be looking at whatever the best value option for these vehicles is, and with some of them being regarded as classics they may be worth more in parts than as scrap.’