[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13760-13761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6149]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. 95-10; Notice 2]


Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1973 Dodge 
Colt 2-Door Coupe Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

action: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1973 Dodge Colt 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 
Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe that was not originally manufactured to comply 
with all [[Page 13761]] 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 altered to conform to 
the 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 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 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)(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.
    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 (``G&K'') 
(Registered Importer 90-007) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicle which G&K believes is 
substantially similar is the 1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe that was 
manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United States and 
certified by its manufacturer, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non-U.S. 
certified 1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe to its U.S. certified 
counterpart, and found the two vehicles to be substantially similar 
with respect to compliance with most Federal motor vehicle safety 
standards.
    G&K submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that the non-U.S. certified 1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe, 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 altered to conform to those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that the non-U.S. certified 
1973 Dodge Colt 2-Door Coupe is identical to its U.S. certified 
counterpart with respect to compliance with Standards 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, 111 Rearview Mirror, 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.
    Petitioner also 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) Inscription of the word 
``Brake'' on the brake failure indicator lamp lens; (b) placement of 
the required symbols on the controls for lights, hazard warning 
flasher, windshield washer, and windshield wipers.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: (a) Installation of U.S.-model sealed beam headlamps and 
front sidemarkers; (b) installation of U.S.-model taillamp lenses and 
rear sidemarkers.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a warning buzzer 
microswitch and a warning buzzer in the steering lock 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. 116 Brake Fluid: Placement of a label containing 
required information on or near the brake fluid cap.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Installation of a seat 
belt warning light and buzzer.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of a seat 
belt warning light and buzzer.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: Installation of 
reinforcing beams.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
U.S. certified 1973 Dodge Colt 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, S.W., 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 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 March 8, 1995.
Harry Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 95-6149 Filed 3-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-59-M