[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17675]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 94-54; Notice 1]

 

Receipt of Petition for Determination That Nonconforming 1992 
Ferrari 348TB Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for determination that 
nonconforming 1992 Ferrari 348TB 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 determination that a 
1992 Ferrari 348TB that was not originally manufactured to comply with 
all 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 modified to conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is August 19, 
1994.

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 Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4:00 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)(3)(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 determined 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 modified to conform to all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Petitions for eligibility determinations 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 determines, 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 determination 
in the Federal Register.
    Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (Registered 
Importer No. R-90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1992 
Ferrari 348TB passenger cars are eligible for importation into the 
United States. The vehicle which Champagne believes is substantially 
similar is the 1992 Ferrari 348TB that was manufactured for importation 
into and sale in the United States and certified by its manufacturer, 
Ferrari S.p.A., as conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards.
    The petitioner states that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1992 Ferrari 348TB to its U.S. certified counterpart, and 
found the two vehicles to be substantially similar with respect to 
compliance with most applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1992 Ferrari 348TB, 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 modified to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified 
1992 Ferrari 348TB is identical to its U.S. certified counterpart with 
respect to compliance with Standard 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, 112 Headlamp 
Concealment Devices,  113 Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid, 124 
Accelerator Control 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, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 
Wheel Nuts, Wheel Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 216 Roof 
Crush Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302 Flammability 
of Interior Materials.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the non-U.S. certified 
1992 Ferrari 348TB complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR 
Part 581.
    Petitioner also contends that the non-U.S. certified 1992 Ferrari 
348TB is capable of being readily modified to meet the following 
standards, in the manner indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls and Displays: (a) substitution of a lens 
marked ``Brake'' for a lens with an ECE symbol on the brake failure 
indicator lamp; (b) installation of a seat belt warning lamp; (c) 
recalibration of the speedometer/odometer from kilometers to miles per 
hour.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) installation of U.S.-model headlamp assemblies which 
incorporate sealed beam headlamps; (b) installation of front and rear 
sidemarker/reflector assemblies; (c) installation of a high mounted 
stop lamp.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: replacement of the passenger 
side rearview mirror, which is convex but lacks the required warning 
statement.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a buzzer 
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock electrical 
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. 118 Power-Operated Window Systems: rewiring of the 
power window system so that the window transport is inoperative when 
the ignition is switched off.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: (a) installation of an 
ignition switch-actuated seat belt warning lamp and buzzer; (b) 
installation of a passive restraint system consisting of driver and 
passenger side automatic seat belt assemblies, tracks, and a control 
unit that have part numbers identical to those found on the U.S. 
certified 1992 Ferrari 348TB. The petitioner claims that the lower dash 
panel on the non-U.S. certified 1992 Ferrari 348TB is identical to that 
found on its U.S. certified counterpart, and that a knee bolster is not 
supplied on the U.S. certified vehicle.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: installation of seat belts 
labelled in accordance with the standard.
    Standard No. 214 Side Door Strength: installation of reinforcing 
beams.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line between the fuel tank and the 
evaporative emissions collection canister.
    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 SW., 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 
data 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 also 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: July 14, 1994.
William A. Boehly,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 94-17675 Filed 7-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M