Steve I agree with all that you posted. I have raced back in mid 90's then again mid 00's and hope to have a car back on track ASAP (reads mid 2014 going by funds and time available currently)
For the reasons you have posted I am making the car 100% T&C if I could get Schedule K I would but the car has a dual MC setup which is not permitted under Schedule K for Saloons/Sports and GT (I mention Sport and GT as I have 2x Datsun 260z which are both 2 seaters = Sports/GT even though in period they raced in Saloon grids as they were higher volume production cars unlike most Sport/GT of the day)
So I am following the rules as they are written using only period parts (some as luck had it I was able to acquire new). Part of that is there also appears Anti-Japanese in a lot peoples minds - but to become a classic a car has to show racing pedigree which a car like the Datsun Z cars did in both World Rallying and circuit racing like Le Mann, Spa, SCCA, UK (Big Sam driven by Winn Percy), Nertherlands and of cause the home land in Japan all under FIA regulations there was even a Datsun 260z 2+2 that entered Bathurst.
The issue is even the T&C rules have changed over the years - however I see the latest change does address the part via approval from the HCC
Back in Manual 33 the body work was to "Standard Series Production Vehicle made from the original material - or alternative material that was available in period if originals were longer available" (I don't have a copy of the old manual with me but it was something like that)
Then when Manual 34 came out - it was only original material - this automatically would have made a large number T&C compliant cars now illegal under T&C. So like you say in this case enforcement was the issue + a major rule change that would cost a lot of competitors a lot of $$ to fix - if even possible.
I know some might say my stance/always bring up the rules is silly but is this not what they are there for? So we have cars that conform to them? If we did not have the rules I am sure I could have had my car going sooner - ie not sell the Wilwoods it had etc
I think the term hotrod could apply to any car that does not fit the rules? ie modified beyond what the rules permit. The issue is how people interpret those rules.
I think we are really lucky here in NZ with the T&C rules as they do allow good scope of modifications within the given rules.
This is what we want That is what I want to do - and I don't care if someone has a hotrod - so long as they respect other cars/drivers on the track who might not have easy to replace plastic parts like they might have. With 4 young kids and working for wages, for me to get out to the track takes a lot of resources (hence why I am not out there - yet) and once the car is on the track I would like to keep it that way.
First look at the top note on the T&C rules
So that tells me first you need to check if the car in questions fit under the Schedule K or FIA Appendix K rules - then if outside of that then these rules apply.These rules apply to all saloons, sports and GT cars over fifteen(15) years old and not covered by Appendix Six Schedule K or FIA Appendix K.
So the next question I need to get an answer for can a new build fit under Schedule K - this question is key as some seem to think "YES" others "NO" which is it? I know FIA Appendix K does allow for new builds.
Then your car is T&C then this is another key statement
From the above statement I notice the following words - ONLY ALLOWABLE and "standard model variant that the vehicle represents."These regulations define the ONLY ALLOWABLE changes in each vehicle raced, which differ from the standard model variant the vehicle represents.
So if we take a Escort 1300 then that was a standard model I am using as the base car. But I have decided I want to run as RS2000 by fitting a pinto engine which is allowable and we are still talking about a standard model variant ie one Escort 1300 now represents a Escort RS2000. However a FIA Special like a Holbay is not a standard model variant - that is an FIA special homologated under group 2 aka non Standard Model. So a car that is trying to represent a Holbay Escort does not fit under T&C so the car needs to fit under either Schedule K or FIA Appendix K to comply to a Classic car under MSNZ.
The same could be said to a Datsun 240z - if I install a L26 engine replacing the L24 then the car now represents a 260z or if I install a L28 then the car represents the 280z all based on the same S30 chassis sold at different times/markets. If I install a L28 into a 71 240z then the car now represents a 75 280z as 1975 was the year the L28 was homologated for use in the S30 chassis. But if I wanted to install a FIA rally spec cross flow LY28 engine (complete with the ECCS DCOE EFI that Nissan used on some rallies) into a 240z/260z then that is not a standard model variant but again a FIA Group 4 homologation special so T&C is not the place for what the vehicle now represents - I would have to see if the car fits under Schedule K or FIA Appendix K.