do you really have a tank in your front garden? cool!
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A centurion too! I had a corgi one when I was little.
Yup.
3 gallons per mile, but by God itâs handy in Tescoâs car park.
In fact, itâs a blast.
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Ian,
I did some work on this before fitting a Watling bar to my '97 California.
Legislation was changed in 1998 - which meant that the car had to be type approved to tow - namely the bar fitted to set points and (as I understand it) perform in a prescribed manner as set out by the manufacturer in event of accident etc, they were also required to prescribe the weights at the relevant point to ensure any aftermarket equipment fitted the right points/weights avoiding damage to the vehicle.
Prior to this there would be no reason to show the required weight as it was irrelevant?
the 1998 amendment says âIf your car* is registered on or after 1st August 1998 and you fit a towbar, it MUST by law be approved to EC94/20 and installed correctly according to the manufacturersâ instructions. It is an offence under the vehicle Construction & Use Regulations to fit, use or permit to be used, a non-approved towbar on the vehicleâ - therefore surely the manufacturer and fitter would be liable for a legal claim in the event of the car NOT being able to tow.
More important (IMO) is that the V5 and VIN Plate do not show a â0â value which would prescribe a nil value permissible weight - Otherwise GTW/MAM can be calculated easily - particularly if the trailer is plated as per the 1997 regulations (my 1975 one is).
Yes I have passed police cars with it on the back of the car. Not an eyebrow lifted, even with a '78 Chopper on the trailer. Heathens⌠
Totally agree on trailer weight - the 750kg is irrelevant. Its the weight of the tow car that drives it.
Not sure that âIâve only carried a bike, never towed with itâ as defence in other posts would stand up - go on then prove it⌠you canât⌠shrug
Mark
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I used to tow a boat trailer with my dadâs Hillman Imp, I remember the angle iron tow ball mount that ran right across the rear of the car. At a kerb weight of under 700kg, 45 hp in the engine and drum brakes all round it towed very well so beimg forbidden from towing with a MX5 doesnât make much sense to me. Health and safety I supposeâŚ
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That is the most detailed and best response I have seen on this topic after months of research. Thank you, really appreciated.
I agree that the police are never going to pull you over unless you are towing something that looks redicilious. But the biggest concern would be if doing somthing wrong, and the worst happens, you are not insured. Your explanation puts my mine at rest on that topic.
Now time to convert an old MX5 into a tear drop trailer. Hahaha only joking
Ian,
Iâm not an expert, but, to put the rig I wanted together, I did a load of checking.
Iâm comfortable that Iâd be ok in a sensible conversation with the boys in Blue, and didnât get any push back from my insurance company when I mentioned it.
I previously tried to fit a bar to my NC for a bike rack, but no-one would do it, the âfixâ was to install the electrics but no hitch, so I could use a light board.
Sad to say the MX5 trailer has already been done - and yes if I had the roomâŚ
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Good GriefâŚJust When I Thought Iâd Seen Everything via Rocketeer Projects !
I HAVE A SERIOUS QUESTIONâŚ[APOLOGIES FOR HIJACKING POST]
Still Too IT Numpty/Nervous About Starting a New Post
Vehicle is NB 2.5
Itâs Those âMud Flapsâ [Technical Term] that Iâve Seen on Pictures but Are Same Colour & Metal of the Vehicle
Are These Originals that come with Certain Models OR Can You Buy Them
Please AdviseâŚ[Bullit in Queue for Welding et al ( 
) with Specialist Sept/Oct
Just Want to Restore to Normal [How She Was Originally Designed]
Only Upgrades I Think Will Help Her is Those âMetal Mudflapsâ
Plus Iâve Seen My Model with Plastic Grill over The Fog-Lights
Please Keep Advice Simple âŚas My Specialist MX5 Restorer Will Know
MY TASK [In Hand] Is To Source the Finance
Appreciate Any Thoughts
Me & Bullit
The MX5 trailer has been done, but not an MX5 tear drop style caravanâŚ
Not sure what ones you are talking about. On my mk1 in front of the rear wheels they are project G rear flare replicas, for a mk2 you can get mudflaps or the longer rear spats.
All are fiber glass or plastic and painted to match the car.
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YepâŚItâs the ones I can see in pics posted by Mark_Mc as the Orange & Yellow MX5 look like an NB
Thanks re material they are made of 
Nice, I rang them today, ÂŁ300 posted I will shop around a bit, once I have one installed buying one of those buzz racks, they look awesome!
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The MK 1 was issued with a towing weight here in the UK , so yes you can tow with a MK 1 , there is a gray area with the imports, but its a MK 1 , âYOU CANâ fit a tow/hitch bar to any car so the other marks can have them, but you cannot tow with them , you can add on bike carriers etc to the ball as long as it is attached and not being pulled.
M-m
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Can you explain how they were âissued with towing weightsâ? Nothing on VIN / V5 on mine.
Thanks
Mark
Hi Mark,
You do not mention which mk you have, I had a mk1 that could tow as it had passed the tests needed for the UK, my 2.5 has nothing listed on the vin / v5 thus it was not tested and it not legal for towing, however the work around as long as not towing, as mentioned above by Wayne, if you are using a bike rack or such, you can fit a towing hitch, the only place I found one this side of the usa is moss europe, but atleast it makes it legal, not cheap but legal
âHide Awayâ design, Hard Dog Mx5/Mx5 receiver hitches are suitable for tire carriers, bike racks and small trailers. Their superior mounting systems provide the strongest attachment point available. Features: Class 1 Standard 1 1/4" receiver Class 1 weight rating: 200 lbs. tongue weight / 2000 lbs. gross trailer weight.
Chris,
I said it was a '97 California in the post of 24th June and included pictures on the 25thâŚ
Checked and Watling (who supplied my hitch) appear to have closed 
Mark
After my original post from a couple of years ago, I converted a trailer tent into a mini camping pod (queen bed on wheels with storage) for the MX5. The turbo MX5 pulled the pod surprisingly well and I get better MPG than when I am not towing!!
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I think the gov site is not very accurate with regards to what you can tow on your licence.
I have C1E entitlement which means I can drive a 7500 KG truck with a trailer making gross train weight of 12000 KG
Thats on my car licence.
There is no mention of towing with older cars either.
I used to tow a 750 Kg unbraked trailer with a Mk1 Escort Mexico also the same trailer with a Vitesse 2L convertable.
The towing speed limits were lower back then though.
After all you can tow a trailer legally with a motorbike over 125cc as long as its under 2/3rds of the bikes weight and you mark the bikes weight near the tow point.
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I was told that legally theyâd go by the figure in the workshop manuals for the car, however sometimes the workshop manual and drivers handbook have different information.