Receipt of Petition for Determination That Nonconforming 1971 Rolls Royce Corniche Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No. 94-34; Notice 1]

Receipt of Petition for Determination That Nonconforming 1971

Rolls Royce Corniche Passenger Cars Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for determination that

nonconforming 1971 Rolls Royce Corniche 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

1971 Rolls Royce Corniche 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 June 6, 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 St., SW.,

Washington, DC 20590. [Docket hours are 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 Section 108(c)(3)(A)(i) of the National Traffic and Motor

Vehicle Safety Act (the Act), 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3)(A)(i), a motor

vehicle that was originally manufactured to conform to all applicable

Federal motor vehicle safety standards shall be refused admission into

the United States on and after January 31, 1990, 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 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.

J.K. Motors of Kingsville, Maryland (``J.K.'') (Registered Importer

R-90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to determine whether 1971 Rolls Royce

Corniche passenger cars are eligible for importation into the United

States. The vehicle which J.K. believes is substantially similar is the

1971 Rolls Royce Corniche that was manufactured for importation into

and sale in the United States and certified by its manufacturer, Rolls

Royce Motors, Inc., as conforming to all applicable Federal motor

vehicle safety standards.

The petitioner stated that it carefully compared the non-U.S.

certified version of the 1971 Rolls Royce Corniche to its U.S.

certified counterpart, and found that the two vehicles are

substantially similar with respect to compliance with most applicable

Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

J.K. submitted information with its petition intended to

demonstrate that the non-U.S. certified 1971 Rolls Royce Corniche, 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

1971 Rolls Royce Corniche 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 Mirrors, 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, 208 Occupant Crash Protection, 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.

Additionally, the petitioner states that the 1971 Rolls Royce

Corniche complies with the Bumper Standard found in 49 CFR part 581.

Petitioner also contends that the 1971 Rolls Royce Corniche 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 and front sidemarkers; (b)

installation of U.S.-Model taillamp assemblies which incorporate rear

sidemarkers: (c) installation of a high mounted stop lamp.

Standard 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. 118 Power Window Systems: installation of a relay in

the power window circuit so that the window transport is inoperative

when the ignition is switched off.

Standard No. 301 Fuel System Integrity: installation of a check

valve and factory-supplied gas cap to prevent any fuel loss in the

event of a 30 mph front or rear impact.

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 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: 15 U.S.C. 1397(c)(3)(A)(i)(I) and (C)(ii); 49 CFR

593.8; delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Issued on: April 29, 1994.

William A. Boehly,

Associate Administrator for Enforcement.

[FR Doc. 94-10764 Filed 5-4-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-59-M