European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 26, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday january 26, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13 but bus Ness still Good says executive a conversion scene Chan the car conversion scene has changed dramatically since the Epa s mandate of strict new rules governing the importation of non conforming motor vehicles. The new rules took effect last july 1 after the Epa abolished its five year waiver pro Gram one that had been on the books for several years. The waiver had allowed cars 5 years old and older to be converted to meet . Department of transportation safety standards. Engine emissions tests were not necessary. Then shortly after abolishing the five year waiver the Epa granted a hard ship exemption meaning that cars Pur chased prior to dec. 1, 1987, could still be converted on the Dot safety basis if shipped to the United states before dec.31, 1990. While the Epa s waiver abolishment definitely cooled Down the conversion Industry there was never an intention to end importation. The Epa simply wanted to control the direct import situation. Today foreign cars of any Model year still May be purchased for conversion purposes but now they must pass both Epa engine emissions requirement Sand Dot safety requirements and then be imported through an Independent commercial importer Only. And with both engine emission work and safety conversion work Nec Essary importation obviously has be come More expensive. In this much tighter Market Only the Strong firms have survived and in car expert Ernst Grossmann s opinion thesis All to the Good. To get an update on the conversion scene we talked to Grossmann who is chairman of trans car an cafes concessionaire since 1979. The trans car shipping company is a shareholder in the import Trade services .a., inc., a conversion firm based in Secaucus . Working together trans car it offers a Complete car conversion and shipping program with cafes stand ing behind it and guaranteeing the Cus Tomer will receive the Epa and or Dot Bond release letters for his vehicle. Import Trade services Grossmann said is an Independent commercial importer and is directly responsible tothe Epa for every car it converts. Any car purchased for conversion must now by handled through a . Based Independent commercial importer. In order to qualify for Ici stat us a conversion company is subject Toan extensive review by the Epa and then must pass rigorous testing at thee a Laboratory in Ann Arbor Mich. This is a Good thing Grossmann says because it eliminates the re entry of the Fly by night companies and it eliminates All possibilities of fraud and there was plenty of fraud going on during the heyday of the five Yean waiver Era. The Epa through its icis now has Complete control Over the direct import Market to see that things go the right  there Are Only five Epa certified icis in the entire conversion Industry Grossmann says and because of Cheicis the buyer has Confidence again in the direct import  looking Back on the car conversion scene Grossmann said the Peak years for the Industry were in 1983 and 84 when the Dollar was in the 3.40 Mark Range. But our business remains Strong he says because it s now Clear to everyone that the program is not Over and that cars May be converted through an Ici. The conversion business will always grow not Only within the military but for Commer Cial business As Well. After All there is Aneed for it. Much of course depends on the strength of the Dollar. If the Dollar goes up against the Mark the conversion Busi Ness will get even  Grossmann says that import Trad services holds an Epa certificate on Mer cedes Benz cars and at the moment is authorized to perform both safety and emis Sions modifications on any fuel-injected1987 Mercedes Benz or older. Among the 1988 Mercedes models the Only ones acceptable at the moment Grossmann says Are fuel injected Mer cedes Benz 300 series vehicles mercedes300 bewitch the 230 and 190 series mod Els soon to follow. Any vehicle six Yea sold or older is also of this meaning any fuel injected vehicle for instance a 1983 porsche Bow Etc. All cars still eligible under the Epa hardship exemption May also be converted through the trans car its Safe program. All emissions and safety conver Sion work is performed at the its shops inthe United states. If one is not certain about a make of car qualifying for conversion he should Call trans car offices in Germany at 06107-8051. Despite the Epa abolishment of the five year waiver Grossmann says there Are still certain advantages in owning a converted car because you can buy cars in Europe some Mercedes models for instance that Are not even available for Purchase in the United states. And there Are More and better used Mercedes Bow and porsche models available in Europe. Generally speaking most of these cars have been Well taken care  Grossman says that Mercedes Bow and porsche have always been the leading makes for conversion purposes. Conversion is still a Good Way to go Grossman says and the later the Model the better. For cars 10 years old and older forget it. There is no Point in converting cars in this age group because it is no longer Good financial  Grossman says that in late november the National Highway traffic safety administration decreed that High theft line cars of the 1987-Model year and later Many converted cars fall into this category must have specified parts marked prior to . Shipment. Trans car is the Only fir operating in Europe that has the technology to Mark these parts Grossman says adding if a car is imported without the proper anti theft parts markings it is subject to a heavy  so what about conversion costs Grossman says the trans car its aver age Cost for both Epa and Dot work is $4,990, this Cost also including bonding port fees handling Etc. The average Cost for the Dot safety conversion of a car that still qualifies under the Epa s hard ship exemption comes in at $2,450, this also including bonding port fees Etc. Shipping from Europe is extra in both cases All conversion work is done by its in the United state shipping costs averaging $850. Trans car has conversion offices at 28 cafes outlets in Germany most of them cafes new car sales office four out lets in England and two in Italy. Those interested in conversions May obtain Complete information at these outlets. Trans car s main shipment offices rein Kelterbach near Frankfurt Bremerhaven new York and Houston. Randy Barnet Auto columnist Toyota removes converters from new models maintaining that current Epa rules on catalytic converters Are insecure and Are unfair to the vehicle owner As Well Toyota of Germany has instructed its car world sales outlets to remove the convert ers from nearly All of its 1989-Model cars. Jeffrey l. Scott the Section manager for .-specification cars at Toyota s head quarters in Cologne West Germany says Toyota and car world Are jointly participating in a customer assistance pro Gram to guarantee its american buyers problem free return to the United states without hassles caused by the Epa s new emissions testing program. In 1986, we sold Toyota with the converters removed Scott said and then with plenty of Lead free Gas available in 1987 we followed suit with most everyone else and we sold our cars with the converters on and we did the same in 1988. But with the confusion that arrived last year with the Epa guidelines and in our opinion that confusion is continuing we have decided to Market our cars with the converters removed. Aft Rall what s to keep the Epa rules from changing again and again so we feel the Only Safe Way is to sell the car with the converter removed. The converter will be stored in Bremerhaven then just before return to the United states the converter will be refitted and the car s engine and emissions system tested at a Cost of $45." Scott stressed that even with the con Verter removed a new Toyota must be driven with Lead free gasoline to main Tain a clean emissions system for its subsequent test and . Return. Two 1989 Toyota models the celica stand camry deluxe cannot have the con Verter removed due to mechanical considerations. Toyota says owners of these models need Only follow simple converter guide lines using Lead free Gas to get their cars Back into the United states. Should the own ers not follow the guidelines and ruin their converters a replacement will be available on these models for $250 or less. As of now owners of .-specification cars foreign or american made fall into two categories 1 those who were driving their converter equipped vehicles before oct. 1,1987, and therefore Are not eligible to apply for the Plum Tesmo testing per formed at Usa eur car inspection Cen ters and 2 those driving converter equipped cars on or after oct. 1, 1987. The second category is eligible for the annual Plum Tesmo test and has no problems except the car s emissions system and converter must pass that initial test and annual tests afterwards for return to the states without problems. As the rules stand now those in the pre oct. 1, 1987" category will have to Post Bond and buy a new converter when they return to the states. That could Cost As much As $800 to $1,000 but is Nec Essary according to the Epa because there is no other Way to determine if the old equipment had been disabled Over seas through the use of leaded fuel. Scott says Toyota and car world have worked out a special program to provide new catalytic converters at $220 for some models with $484 the most expensive. Replacement converters Are also available for Toyota owners who Pur chased their cars in the states and brought them to Europe. For customer assistance program details those interested should Call 0631-5342184. The phone number 02234-1022127 should be used by those stationed outside Germany. . Opels up and away toward record four opel Vorsas Are shown on their Way Vorsas passed the 100-Kilometer Mark four Vorsas beat the old record which to setting a world record for two wheel 62 Miles on two wheels. Two of them stood at 55 Kilometres 34 Miles the ing exploits. Performing on the racing achieved 156 Kilometres or 97 Miles be opel Corsa feat has gone into the Guin circuit in Mantrop Park Sweden All four fore settling Back onto four wheels. All Ness Book of world records