Classic Cars crushed by ULEZ Scrappage Scheme since 2023 revealed by FOI Request!

[mab01uk]

"A FOI (Freedom of Information Act) request to TfL (Transport for London) which has revealed the devastating truth about the classic and cherished cars lost to the latest London ULEZ scrappage scheme since 2023. To qualify, vehicles had to be owned for at least a year, be roadworthy, and have a valid MOT and insurance, meaning these weren’t old wrecks ready for the scrapyard – they were still being driven, with life left in them.
Thousands of classic and collectible vehicles have been scrapped, including Alfa Romeos, Porsche 924, Ford Mustangs, Fiat 126 and even a rare Mitsubishi 3000GT 4WD 4WS as well as 70 VW Golf GTI hot hatches! The scheme also saw the end of several classic Minis, including a special edition Mini Thirty from 1989. High-performance vehicles weren't spared either, with 91 Mazda MX5s scrapped, among them a rare Jasper Conran Platinum Edition. Jaguar lovers might wince knowing that two XJ-Ss, two XK8s, and eight XJ6 saloons were exchanged for £2,000 each. Even 10 Subaru Imprezas met their demise, including the coveted Turbo 2000 Prodrive.
This is evidence of a tragic loss to our automotive heritage, with as many as 54,000 vehicles potentially still roadworthy, needlessly destroyed for grant compensation to the owners. What makes this even more shocking is that some of these cars had the potential to become cherished future classics.
In this video, the most heartbreaking cars scrapped in the latest ULEZ scheme are revealed, based on an official FOI request. Did your favourite car make the list of casualties? These cars have been removed from London’s streets, crushed under the guise of creating a cleaner environment – but at what cost to car culture? And what impact will it have on the used car market?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlKVc_1T2IM

In response to the FOI request, TfL confirmed that 54,000 vehicles were processed through the scrappage scheme, with £186 million handed out in grants. That’s 54,000 cars off the road, many of which were not only usable but potentially future classics. The full list of vehicles is given in link below (scroll down) :-
https://browncarguy.com/2024/10/07/exlu ... ge-scheme/

[cockney21]

With the cost of ownership and restoration for classics I do wonder if many of those disposed off would ever have had made it far into the future. With current prices at auctions being on the low side for restored cars I don't see the point in buying a rough one. I don't often quote Derek at Matthewsons but when he said " everyone who ever wanted one has got one" I can see his point, and I can't see there being anywhere near the number of cars being restored by people in the future.

[gs.davies]

I don't think this has ANYTHING to do with air quality, it's all about artificially stimulating the new car industry.

Most of those cars would have reached a natural end of life sooner rather than later, and probably many of them were new sales when the last large scrappage scheme was around.

If we're serious about the environment then we need to reduce the amount of new things we make to replace things with plenty of good service life ahead of them but are simply 'unfashionable'.

We're becoming ever more wasteful, it's shameful.

[Costafortune]

Most of them were rubbish, but some were not.

I stripped a 1992 525i Auto that had done so few miles, the suspension and diff could be cleaned with a rag and Mr Sheen. I stripped every last nut and bolt, and sold everything.

The new car industry is a monster out of control, and it needs savagely pruning. We do not need 90 million new cars a year. A tenth of that will do fine. Cars should by now have a 20-30 lifespan. A 50% tax on all new cars will sort it out in short order. Don't make cars, make parts instead and affordable as well. Most modern cars with the exception of Toyota are junk anyway, fragile crap relying on plastic engine parts and very dubious electronics. I was behind a Renault Australe earlier, a pig ugly SUV that looks like it fell out of an elephant's arse. Nobody needs rubbish like that.

[gs.davies]

Most of them were rubbish, but some were not.

I stripped a 1992 525i Auto that had done so few miles, the suspension and diff could be cleaned with a rag and Mr Sheen. I stripped every last nut and bolt, and sold everything.

The new car industry is a monster out of control, and it needs savagely pruning. We do not need 90 million new cars a year. A tenth of that will do fine. Cars should by now have a 20-30 lifespan. A 50% tax on all new cars will sort it out in short order. Don't make cars, make parts instead and affordable as well. Most modern cars with the exception of Toyota are junk anyway, fragile crap relying on plastic engine parts and very dubious electronics. I was behind a Renault Australe earlier, a pig ugly SUV that looks like it fell out of an elephant's arse. Nobody needs rubbish like that.

Couldn't agree more.

[hanlminiman]

Oh dear what has happened? When I was a young teenager experimenting with speed and car control (or lack of!) I over corrected a rear wheel skid and wrecked an offside rear wheel which hit the nearside kerb. Wet leaves at this time of year. BUT by the river in the local town was a scrap yard with lots of goodies, including the wheel and tyre I needed. Way before recycling it was a very useful source of basic material for creating a "kart?" with abandoned pram wheels, lumps of wood, a few nuts & bolts and steering quality rope to steer the front wheels. We called ourselves "Team three-quarter tears!" as we were always tearing our jeans Those were the days! Still have the scars to prove how much fun we had as kids - searching for basic bits and bobs at scrap yards to create something. It did help that my friend's father bought him a full woodworking tool chest from the Houndsditch Warehouse near Petticoat Lane, London in the early 1960s.

[cockney21]

All those scrap yard owners were offered £££ for the land so sold up and moved to Spain. The land was used to build crappy over priced flats, sold to people who will be trapped in them for years. At 59 I am pleased I had the best of times! We just need to try and educate the younger generation that perhaps there is another route .

[mab01uk]

Many of the Minis stacked up in the 'old school' scrapyards that I visited regularly back in the day, were in far better condition than today's expensive ebay 'barn finds'....