What does 'homologation' mean in the context of car history?

Question

I've recently come across this word in a number of Classic Car articles, but the context in which the word appears gives very few clues as to it's meaning. I understand that it might have something to do with how one car is related to another in some way to do with design, engineering or whatever, but I could be barking up the wrong tree. I looked up a dictionary and it turns out to be a legal term to do with confirmation and ratification, so that was no help either.

Answer 1

Usually this refers to motor racing in that the car in question has been sanctioned by motorsports governing body (FIA) for use in a particular racing class. Often cars used in racing (eg rallying) have to be based on road legal cars and as such have to be "homologated" (verified) to meet FIA standards for the particular racing class.

Answer 2

Homologation Cars

Answer 3

All volume production road vehicles go through a process of "homologation" which is a series of tests, calculations, measurements, etc. to ensure that they meet the legal requirements for that type of vehicle in the country in which they are to be sold.

To qualify a car for some racing or rallying categories, the manufacturers may be required by the rules to produce a certain number of road-legal cars (200 for group B rallying, 5000 for Group A or N). These road-legal cars may have included certain modifications from the more normal versions of the same car - modifications made purely for competition purposes. When this is the case, the road cars are often referred to as "homologation specials" i.e. they were special versions homologated for road use so that the competition version met the rules.

Typical examples include the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, Lancia Delta HF Integrale, Toyota Celica GT-Four and various incarnations of the Mitsubushi Lancer Evo.

Less typical examples include the Peugeot 206 GT and Skoda Fabia vRS, both of which have longer bumpers than the standard models to take them over the 4m minimum length for WRC. The actual WRC cars have very little in common with these models, but the rules say the WRC car must be based on a car over 4m in length.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Hi there,
The best way I would explain the word "homologation" is that some race cars are prototypes but to make them ready to be a production model they is homologation involved ie homologate to recognize (a particular type of car or car component) as a production model or component rather than a prototype, as in making it eligible for a motor race. Taken from the Oxford dictionary.
Hope this helps

Answer 6

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RE:
What does 'homologation' mean in the context of car history?
I've recently come across this word in a number of Classic Car articles, but the context in which the word appears gives very few clues as to it's meaning. I understand that it might have something to do with how one car is related to another in some way to do with design, engineering or...

Answer 7

It means making a certain number of the cars so they can be classified as a production car. Many racing governing bodies demand that a certain number of cars must be produced in order for the car to qualify to race in a particular series. If the rules say 1000 of the cars must be produced in a year, the homologation would be satisfied if 1000 were produced in a year.

Answer 8

Competition cars - for example, rally cars - are meant to be "normal" road-going cars with a few certain permitted modifications. To qualify or be "homologated", a certain number of road legal cars have to be made and sold. The best examples I can think of are the old Escort RS2000 Triumph TR7 V8 (aka TR8), Focus ST170, and Subaru Imrpeza WRX.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

IT means lots of gay people have bought the car,,,not that theres anything wrong with that.