Replicas, i.e. replica cars from the past, certainly do not have a good reputation among classic car enthusiasts. The fact is, however, that with classic car prices on the rise, replicas may be the only way for a fan to take a seat in a Cobra or GT40, to name two examples, at a reasonable cost. Many countries and their licensing authorities have declared war on replicas, but the United States may now be taking a step in the other direction.
The "Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015" (dated June 4, 2015) is intended to make it possible to build and market replicas in small quantities (500 per year). The draft of the new regulation defines that a replica should correspond to the design of a car that was manufactured at least 25 years ago and that the builder of the replica must have the corresponding license rights (and patents, commercial rights, naming rights, etc.). In addition, no compromises are to be made in terms of environmental protection, and the engine must comply with the registration regulations of the year of manufacture of the replica.
If the US Senate and Congress approve this "Bill H.R.2675", the provisions would become legally binding after 12 months at the latest and it can be assumed that a new flourishing replica industry could emerge in the United States on this basis. The question is, of course, whether other countries will follow suit. And the other question, of course, is whether new technology in old shells is really desirable ...
