[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25164]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 12, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 94-78; Notice 1]
Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1971 MGB GT
Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1971 MGB GT passenger cars are eligible for importation.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that a 1971
MGB GT that was not originally manufactured to comply with all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is eligible for
importation into the United States because (1) it is substantially
similar to a vehicle that was originally manufactured for importation
into and sale in the United States and that was certified by its
manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) it is
capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.
DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is on November 14,
1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket number and notice
number, and be submitted to: Docket Section, Room 5109, National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4 pm]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section
108(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act
(the Act)), a motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured to
conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards shall
be refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided
that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor vehicle
originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United
States, certified under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30115 (formerly section 114 of
the Act), and of the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle
to be compared, and is capable of being readily altered to conform to
all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either
manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to
49 CFR Part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice
in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords
interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the
close of the comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the
petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is
eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in
the Federal Register.
G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California (``G&K'')
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether
1971 MGB GT passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United
States. The vehicle which G&K believes is substantially similar is the
1971 MGB GT that was manufactured for importation into, and sale in,
the United States and certified by its manufacturer, British Leyland
Motor Corp., Ltd., as conforming to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1971 MGB GT to its U.S. certified counterpart, and found the
two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to compliance
with most Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate
that the non-U.S. certified 1971 MGB GT, as originally manufactured,
conforms to many Federal motor vehicle safety standards in the same
manner as its U.S. certified counterpart, or is capable of being
readily altered to conform to those standards.
Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified
1971 MGB GT is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart with respect
to compliance with Standards Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Level Sequence
* * *., 103 Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and
Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 107
Reflecting Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113
Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 201 Occupant Protection in
Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 203 Impact Protection for the
Driver From the Steering Control System, 204 Steering Control Rearward
Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention
Components, 207 Seating Systems, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 209
Seat Belt Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel
Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, and 301 Fueld
System Integrity.
Petitioner also contends that the vehicle is capable of being
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner
indicated:
Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: substitution of a lens
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure
indicator lamp.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies with
sealed beam headlamps; (b) installation of front and rear sidemarkers.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of an ignition
warning light and a buzzer system.
Standard No. 115 Vehicle Identification Number: installation of a
VIN plate that can be read from outside the left windshield pillar, and
a VIN reference label on the edge of the door or latch post nearest the
driver.
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the petition
described above. Comments should refer to the docket number and be
submitted to: Docket Section, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC
20590. It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
All comments received before the close of business on the closing
date indicated above will be considered, and will be available for
examination in the docket at the above address both before and after
that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the closing
date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition
will be published in the Federal Register pursuant to the authority
indicated below.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141 (a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8;
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
Issued on September 28, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-25164 Filed 10-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M
