Low-Volume Manufacturers’ Law Is Set, Now Where Are the Engines? Autoweek 2/1/2021 “…and there was much rejoicing>>>P.” Research At least there was for a while. SEMA sent out a celebratory press release January 21 announcing that the long-awaited law to allow low-volume carmakers to build cars with complete drivetrains in them was finally ready. “NHTSA has completed a regulation permitting low-volume motor vehicle manufacturers to begin selling replica cars that resemble vehicles produced at least 25 years ago,” SEMA said. If you’ll recall, Congress enacted a SEMA-led bill into law way the heck back in 2015, thanks to the work of Congressman John Campbell. The law was part of the FAST Act, Fix America’s Surface Transportation Act. The act was voted into law and signed by President Obama that same year, but then sat on Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao’s desk, or it sat somewhere in NHTSA>>>P, awaiting someone to write up specific regulations for how the law should be implemented. It waited so long that SEMA finally sued NHTSA to come up with the regs. That has happened, more or less, and now the law, which streamlines requirements for small automakers, could mean Cobras, ’32 Ford Roadsters and even DeLoreans and Allards should be available for sale with engines and transmssions in them, right on show room floors. Previously companies could make or import“rollers,” cars finished except for engines and drivetrains, the latter which the law required third parties to install. Of course that setup was idiotic. But that’s why we have laws.