So-called modern classics are facing extinction.
Cars built from the mid 1980s are fitted with electronic control units which are generally becoming harder to source.
If an ECU breaks and cannot be repaired the car is undriveable as full units are sometimes unobtainable.
The International Federation of Historic Vehicles is moving to ensure these black boxes continue to be made by specialists, and Bosch is one of the supporters, having made original units for the cars over 40 years ago.
Controversially, the issue could be worse for younger classics which were fitted with scores of black boxes controlling a multitude of features but which gradually degrade and stop working.
Low numbers of these components mean they are not economical to repair or even to obtain new units and the car’s function is simply bypassed if at all possible without affecting the car’s running.
If some ECUs controlling emissions break down the vehicle will not pass MoT tests and cannot be driven on the road without substantial modification if that is possible.
