I may be a young, tech-savvy person, but a huge part of me loves classic cars.
There’s nothing like the soft lines of a Jaguar E-Type, the throaty exhaust note of a 65′ Shelby Mustang, or the fun driving dynamics brought on by the first iteration of BMW’s 3-Series.
Personally, if I had a classic car in my driveway, I’d revel in the unique design of Saab’s 900 Turbo—specifically, a black convertible one with gold BBS wheels.
However, owning a classic car is a chore and a half in parts of the country with strict smog and emissions regulations, especially in one particular state where car culture thrives.
Jay Leno with a 2005 Ford Mustang GT and a 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350. The former “Tonight Show” host is endorsing a California state bill aimed at keeping vintage cars on the road.
Jay Leno aims to shape California’s classic car legislation.
One of the most well-known classic car collectors and enthusiasts, Jay Leno, is endorsing a California state bill to help his community keep the cars they love driving on the road for years to come.
A hurdle to classic car ownership is emissions and smog testing regulations, which vary from state to state.
In New Jersey, where I live, vehicles 1995 and newer must undergo regular emissions testing, making classic car ownership fairly easy. However, the rules differ in California, a state rich with car culture. The stringent California Air Resources Board strongly favors newer cars, requiring 1976 model-year cars and newer to undergo a smog check.
Such rules are restrictive for classic car enthusiasts, as keeping a car compliant with the constraints of modern emissions regulations can be costly. Additionally, NBC4 Los Angeles notes that these testing requirements require dated equipment found at shops that can be difficult to book for a smog test.
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In a statement, Leno said that these restrictions impede owners who only fire up their cars a few days out of the year and are antithetical to California’s car culture.
“California’s smog check laws for classic cars need to be updated—they vary too much from state to state, and California’s rules don’t match up with neighboring ones,” The former Tonight Show host said in a statement. “Our classic cars are only driven for special occasions, weekend drives and car shows.”
Leno is backing Republican California State Senator Shannon Grove on Senate Bill 712, also known as “Leno’s Law.” It seeks to entirely exempt classic cars 35 years and older from California’s biennial smog checks.
However, this isn’t exactly a free pass. In order to qualify for a Leno Law exemption, owners must insure their vehicles as collector cars with their insurance company. The bill’s text notes that “submission of proof that the motor vehicle is insured as a collector motor vehicle, as shall be required by regulation of the bureau” will be needed to claim an exemption under this new law.
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Another key backer of this legislation is the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer’s Association, or SEMA, the California-based trade association representing the aftermarket and specialty car parts industry.
Last year, they filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in connection to the case of Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which seeks to look into the lawfulness of the EPA’s decision to allow the state of California “to limit the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.”
The bill itself is still in the legislative process and will have its first hearing with the Senate Transportation Committee in April. Nonetheless, the state senator feels the bill is an important mandate for California’s rich car culture.
“From car shows to weekend cruises, classic cars bring people together and keep our history vibrant,” Senator Shannon Grove said in a statement. “With Jay Leno’s support, we’re sending a clear message: California values its automotive roots and the communities that keep them running.”
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