ULEZ extension impact

DASHBOARD ULEZ EXTENSION THREAT TO ‘MODERN CLASSIC’ DEALERS

Bid to improve air quality in the capital could see many customers of specialist workshops offloading their cherished cars to save on fee.

Plans by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to expand the city’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to most of Greater London are set to have an impact on specialists selling some of the UK’s most popular classic cars.

It currently covers central London, and the move, which is set to come into force on August 29, 2023, has already been criticised because of its potential impact on low-income motorists, but it could also have a huge economic effect on specialists selling some of the most popular classic cars of the moment.

According to Car & Classic – the UK’s biggest classic car sales and auction platform – values of 1980s cars have more than tripled in the past three years, while those from the 1990s are up by 180 per cent. The trend, described by C&C editor Chris Pollitt as ‘an evolution of nostalgia’ is down to cash-rich buyers in their 30s and 40s buying the cars they admired in their youth – iconic models such as the Peugeot 205 GTI, VW Golf Mk 2, Porsche 911 and Jaguar XJS.

But if the ULEZ expands, then an extra four million motorists will be exposed to road charging of £12.50 a day to use their cars within the zone.

Andy Spiteri, who runs SE Jags, a classic Jaguar specialist in Charlton that is already inside the ULEZ zone, said: ‘We already have to remind our customers with cars that have yet to reach the 40-year cut-off for ULEZ exemption that they may have to pay £12.50 to bring their car to our workshop and the same again to drive it home afterwards, and while it’s a bitter pill to swallow most of them understand.

‘If the ULEZ expands. then a lot of our customers, who live in the outer reaches of London and can still enjoy their cars as they rarely venture into the inner part of the city, will be forced to get rid of them and the impact on our business will be significant.

‘A lot of them drive 1990s classics such as XK sports cars or XJ saloons, and nobody is going to pay £12.50 every time they want to take their cherished car out for a drive.’

Campaigners are calling for the reintroduction of a 25-year exemption for classic cars or for a tax system similar to that in Germany, where owners of ‘old-timers’ who agree to cover a limited mileage are exempt from congestion charging.

Nigel Hemmaway from the Association of British Drivers said: “The issue here isn’t about air pollution – London will be better off without badly maintained older cars and vans that belch out smoke. But a well-maintained and cherished enthusiast-owned car shouldn’t be tarred with the same brush. It’s very different. It’s not part of that equation.’

Meanwhile, owners are already bidding goodbye to their cherished classics. Michael Koby, who lives in Hendon, north-west London, recently sold his 1995 BMW 520i via a Car &

We already have to remind our customers with cars that have yet to reach the 40-year cut-off for ULEZ exemption that they may have to pay £12.50 to bring their car here and the same again to drive it home afterwards.

Classic auction. He achieved more than £9,000 for the car – a lot more than it was worth four years ago – but was devastated to say goodbye to a beautiful, well-loved car he’d owned from brand new. ‘The fact is, were it not for ULEZ, I’d have kept the BMW for the rest of my days,’ he said.

‘It’s immaculate, low mileage and I’ve maintained it diligently for all of its life. It would easily have lasted me another 20 years, but I’ve had to sell it as although we’re not in the ULEZ zone, our preferred shopping area is.’

Michael is fortunate enough to have been able to afford a new Hyundai Ioniq, but he would never have spent the money had the ULEZ not been introduced.

‘I like my electric car,’ he added. ‘But I’m not convinced that buying a new vehicle is any better for the environment than keeping the old one, which I loved dearly.’

Faheem Khan lives in Golders Green – right on the edge of the current ULEZ zone – and currently buys and sells classic sports cars as part of his business portfolio.

‘I have a lot of customers to whom I sell Mercedes-Benz SLs from the 1980s and 1990s,’ he said. ‘It’s a strong market right now and they achieve good money once I’ve prepared them to sell, but many of them live within the M25.

‘I had a chap who was all set to buy a 1990 Porsche 928 recently but backed out of the deal when he saw the mayor’s proposed ULEZ extension, as he lives in Chigwell, which is in the proposed charging zone.

‘Can I blame him? No, I can’t. But these are people’s livelihoods at stake.’

I’m not convinced that buying a new vehicle is any better for the environment than keeping the old one, which I loved dearly.

Michael Koby

Former 1995 BMW 520i owner

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