[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 173 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46897-46899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22537]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 96-091; Notice 1]


Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur Passenger Cars Are Eligible for 
Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur 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 1984 
Rolls Royce Silver Spur 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

[[Page 46898]]

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 October 7, 
1996.

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: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. Sec. 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. Sec. 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.
    Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (``Champagne'') 
(Registered Importer 90-009) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 
1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur passenger cars are eligible for 
importation into the United States. The vehicle which Champagne 
believes is substantially similar is the 1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur 
that was manufactured for importation into, and sale in, the United 
States and certified by its manufacturer, Rolls Royce Motors, Ltd., as 
conforming to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
    The petitioner claims that it carefully compared the non- U.S. 
certified 1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur 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.
     Champagne submitted information with its petition intended to 
demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur, 
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 1984 
Rolls Royce Silver Spur 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, 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, 209 Seat Belt 
Assemblies, 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.
    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) 
installation of a seat belt warning lamp that displays the appropriate 
symbol; (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; (b) 
installation of U.S.--model front and rear sidemarker/reflector 
assemblies; (c) installation of U.S.--model taillamp assemblies.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims: installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror: replacement of the convex 
passenger side rearview mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: installation of a warning buzzer 
and a warning buzzer microswitch 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. 118 Power 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: installation of a U.S.- 
model seat belt in the driver's seating position, or a belt webbing 
actuated microswitch inside the driver's seat belt retractor. The 
petitioner states that the vehicle is equipped with combination lap and 
shoulder restraints that adjust by means of an automatic retractor and 
release by means of a single push button in both front designated 
seating positions, with combination lap and shoulder restraints that 
release by means of a single push button in both rear outboard 
designated seating positions, and with a lap belt in the rear center 
designated seating position.
    Standard No. 214 Side Impact Protection: installation of 
reinforcing door beams.
    Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a rollover 
valve in the fuel tank vent line.
    Additionally, the petitioner states that the bumpers on the non-
U.S. certified 1984 Rolls Royce Silver Spur must be reinforced, or 
U.S.-model bumper components must be installed, 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 also be considered.

[[Page 46899]]

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: August 29, 1996.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-22537 Filed 9-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P