[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13759-13760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6148]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-14; Notice 1]


Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1973 Lancia 
Fulvia 1.3 S 2-Door Coupes Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1973 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 S 2-Door Coupe 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 decision that a 1973 
Lancia Fulvia 1.3 S 2-Door Coupe that was not originally manufactured 
to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is 
eligible for importation into the United States [[Page 13760]] because 
it has safety features that comply with, or are capable of being 
altered to comply with, all such standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is on April 13, 
1995.

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 St., SW, Washington, 
DC 20590. [Docket hours are from 9:30 am to 4 pm.]

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 decided 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 altered to conform to all 
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. Where there is no 
substantially similar U.S.--certified motor vehicle, 49 U.S.C. 
30141(a)(1)(B) (formerly section 108(c)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the Act, 15 
U.S.C. 1397(c)(3)(A)(i)(II)) permits a nonconforming motor vehicle to 
be admitted into the United States if its safety features comply with, 
or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable Federal 
motor vehicle safety standards based on destructive test data or such 
other evidence as NHTSA decides to be adequate.
    Petitions for eligibility decisions 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 decides, 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 decision in 
the Federal Register.
    G&K Automotive Conversion, Inc. of Santa Ana, California 
(Registered Importer No. R-90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide 
whether 1973 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 S 2-Door Coupes are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The petitioner contends that this 
vehicle is eligible for importation under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 30141(a)(1)(B) 
because it has safety features that comply with, or are capable of 
being altered to comply with, all applicable Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the 1973 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 
S 2-Door Coupe has safety features that comply with Standards Nos. 102 
Transmission Shift Lever Sequence . . . ., 103 Defrosting and Defogging 
Systems, 104 Windhsield Wiping and Washing Systems, 105 Hydraulic Brake 
Systems, 106 Brakes Hoses, 107 Reflecting Surfaces, 109 New Pneumatic 
Tires, 111 Rearview Mirrors, 113 Hood Latch 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, 209 Seat Belt 
Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 211 Wheel Nuts, Wheel 
Discs and Hubcaps, 212 Windshield Retention, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The petitioner further contends that the vehicle is capable of 
being readily altered 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) placement of approved symbols on the controls for 
the lights, hazard warning flasher, windshield washer, and windshield 
wipers.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of sealed beam headlamps and front 
sidemarkers with a DOT marking; (b) installation of taillamp lenses and 
rear sidemarkers with a DOT marking.
    Standards No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a buzzer 
microswitch in the steering lock assembly, and a warning buzzer.
    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. 116 Brake Fluids: Installation of a label with 
required information near the brake fluid cap.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a seat 
belt warning system and light.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of 
reinforcing beams.
    Additionally, the petitioner claims that the bumpers on the 1973 
Lancia Fulvia 1.3 S 2-Door Coupe must be reinforced to comply with the 
Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR Part 581.
    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 
date 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)(B) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; 
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on March 8, 1995.
Harry Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-6148 Filed 3-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M