OWNERS OF antique cars running on leaded petrol will find themselves paying hefty sums to convert their vehicles to run on unleaded petrol as of May 1 next year.
According to a new European Union harmonising law, approved by parliament last week, all vehicles must run on unleaded petrol by the time Cyprus joins the EU in May 2004.
A Transport Department official told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that cars running on leaded petrol could run on high octane unleaded petrol once a special additive was added.
“People have got the wrong idea, leaded petrol engines can run on unleaded without being modified as long as they use high octane unleaded fuel and use a special additive,” the official said.
“People should not panic. They should contact their mechanics for any assistance on what to do if they own a car running on leaded petrol.”
But antique restorer and mechanic Paris Koullapis told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that although some cars could run on unleaded fuel, older cars and especially antiques would have to be modified or risk burning their valves.
“There are some leaded cars that have hardened valves and therefore with an additive would be able to run on unleaded fuel,” Koullapis said.
“But antique cars older than 20 years like for instance, Morris Minors, Minis and so on would have to be converted or they will be damaged.”
Koullapis said the average conversion costs would be between £150 and £250 depending on the type of the car.
“More distinguished cars like Jaguars and Mercedes would cost more to convert, but just how much again depends on the type of the car to be converted,” Koullapis said.
Communications Minister Kikis Kazamias did not rule out the possibility of introducing government incentives for the removal of leaded cars altogether, such as higher road tax and registration fees.
Kazamias said all mechanics had been informed of the change in legislation during special seminars organised by the Transport Department outlining the required modifications for leaded cars to be able to run on unleaded.
“In the future if someone wants to replace his car we will introduce incentives which include the free renewal of registration and a re-evaluation of consumer tax,” Kazamias said.
There are believed to be around 3,000 cars on the island that cannot currently run on unleaded fuel.
