It's a very simple concept called "The Grandfather Clause" - Was [X] il/legal at the time it was made? The old Willys Jeep fully complies with all automotive regulations which were in effect throughout the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1980s, however, the US DOT outlawed manufacturing "wheelover" vehicles due to the mandatory inclusion of 'crumple zones'. If you look around, you'll find everything from Thames Freighters to VW Buses to Chevy vans to Ford Falcons to Toyota 'shuttlecraft' throughout the 1950s to 1970s where people are literally driving around sitting atop the front wheel with their toes a few inches from the front bumper. In a front-end collision, the driver is pretty much guaranteed of breaking (and likely losing) at least one leg; which is why the design was outlawed (somewhere around 1983, as best I can remember). Such vehicles manufactured before this date - wherever and by whomever - are legal in all US States and Territories; those manufactured after this date (such as the one in the video) are prohibited (unless explicitly permitted by local authorities).
I just want a drive over wireless charger for my driveway, so having an electric car, I would have to do nothing extra to charge. Then I'd even consider a under 200mi range EV. Untill then...
The Fiat 500 by anyone who has owned it it is actually unsurprisingly not insulated therefore it is very loud... I remember as a child having my hears ringing after 20/30 minutes trips in it...
The speeds you are reaching remind me of my 2012 Royal Enfield 500 classic after I added the sidecar. GPS 103kph( 64 mph ) down hill with a tail wind. Mind you it was always fun when you overtook a truck.
it's a mix of grandfathering & protecting Corporate America's Interests. If a WW2 Jeep was made today, it'd be illegal on the streets. Truthfully, me thinks we just need to deregulate the economy.
