[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13760-13761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6149]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-10; Notice 2]
Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1973 Dodge
Colt 2-Door Coupe Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation
agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
action: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming
1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe 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 1973
Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe that was not originally manufactured to comply
with all [[Page 13761]] 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 April 13,
1995.
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 St., SW, Washington,
DC 20590. [Docket hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.]
for further information contact: Ted Bayler, Office of Vehicle Safety
Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) (formerly section 108(c)(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. 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
1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe passenger cars are eligible for
importation into the United States. The vehicle which G&K believes is
substantially similar is the 1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe that was
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and
certified by its manufacturer, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, as
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S.
certified 1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe 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 1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe, 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
1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe is identical to its U.S. certified
counterpart with respect to compliance with Standards Nos. 102
Transmission Shift Lever 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 Mirror, 113 Hood Latch Systems, 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, 209 Seat Belt
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel
Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 301 Fuel System Integrity,
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
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: (a) Inscription of the word
``Brake'' on the brake failure indicator lamp lens; (b) placement of
the required symbols on the controls for lights, hazard warning
flasher, windshield washer, and windshield wipers.
Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model sealed beam headlamps and
front sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp lenses and
rear sidemarkers.
Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire
information placard.
Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock assembly.
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.
Standard No. 116 Brake Fluid: Placement of a label containing
required information on or near the brake fluid cap.
Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a seat
belt warning light and buzzer.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of a seat
belt warning light and buzzer.
Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of
reinforcing beams.
Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
U.S. certified 1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe must be reinforced to
comply with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
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, S.W., 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 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 March 8, 1995.
Harry Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-6149 Filed 3-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-59-M
