Bill Gates' Porsche 959

[snopes]

Comment: Was there really a federal law signed by President Clinton for
Bill Gates to legally drive his 959 on American roads?

This exact sentence was found on multiple websites when googled. I
couldn't get to the bottom of it, however.

[RichardM]

No. During the Clinton administration, the car sat in a customs warehouse impounded because it did not meet federal safety and emission laws and because an attempt was made to bring it into the country illegally. Now if Gates had just driven it across the Rio Grande.............

I'll do it my self

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by RichardM

No. During the Clinton administration, the car sat in a customs warehouse impounded because it did not meet federal safety and emission laws and because an attempt was made to bring it into the country illegally. Now if Gates had just driven it across the Rio Grande.............

I'll do it my self

Now if only Mr. Clinton had managed to control his own ahem emissions.

Me too

[RobDBlackwolf]

Originally Posted by RichardM

No. During the Clinton administration, the car sat in a customs warehouse impounded because it did not meet federal safety and emission laws and because an attempt was made to bring it into the country illegally. Now if Gates had just driven it across the Rio Grande.............

I'll do it my self

In other words... That's one thing of Bill Gates that wont crash... (I think we might need an evil grin smiley)

[songs78]

The law that was passed didn't make it legal to drive on US roads. The law just made it legal for collectors to import the cars for use in their private collections.

The following page is a list of cars eligible for importation and the 959 is specifically not on this list.

This PDF document from the Federal Register shows the law that the websites are talking about.

SUMMARY: This document amends
NHTSA’s importation regulations to
implement a 1998 statutory amendment
that adds ‘‘show or display’’ to the
special limited purposes for which
vehicles or equipment items may be
imported without having to comply
with the Federal motor vehicle safety
standards (FMVSS). Under the
amendments, a person who wants to
import a vehicle or equipment item for
‘‘show or display’’ must persuade us
that the vehicle or equipment item is of
such historical or technological
significance that it is worthy of being
shown or displayed in this country even
though it would be difficult or
impossible to be brought into
compliance with the FMVSS.

We will allow limited use on the
public roads of vehicles imported for
‘‘show or display.’’ Before entry, an
importer must describe the intended onroad
use of the vehicle and submit a
copy of an insurance contract
containing the condition that the
maximum annual mileage of the vehicle
shall not exceed 2,500 miles.

Of course once in the states. There is nothing stopping a Bill Gates from ignoring that 2500 miles rule or using the car for personal use and not for show and display.

Why do people always automatically attribute these things to Bill Gates? True, he's the richest man in the world, but there are plenty of other billionaires out there who are just as capable money-wise of doing and buying the things that he's always supposedly doing and buying.

[songs78]

Originally Posted by Class Bravo

Why do people always automatically attribute these things to Bill Gates? True, he's the richest man in the world, but there are plenty of other billionaires out there who are just as capable money-wise of doing and buying the things that he's always supposedly doing and buying.

Because the story is essentially true. Bill Gates had lawyers working on this for years. It wasn't exactly Bill Gates but it was a group of car enthusiasts of which Bill was a member. It was reported by Forbes and the bill was passed during Clinton's helm.

Plus he is easier to pick on because of his lack of social skills.

Though this situation is essentially true, that's not really what my point was. What I meant was that it seems like there are a lot of people in the general population who automatically equate anything exotic or having to do with money right away with Bill Gates when there are many other billionaires out there who, while not the richest in the world, would be just as capable of doing such things.

[Mateus]

Originally Posted by Class Bravo

Though this situation is essentially true, that's not really what my point was. What I meant was that it seems like there are a lot of people in the general population who automatically equate anything exotic or having to do with money right away with Bill Gates when there are many other billionaires out there who, while not the richest in the world, would be just as capable of doing such things.

Because the name Bill Gates is far more widely known than Larry Ellison or Warren Buffett. Hence, a story with a Bill Gates name-dropping will become that much more credible than saying, "Lakshmi Mittal will give you 1000 bucks for forwarding this email"

[songs78]

Originally Posted by Class Bravo

Though this situation is essentially true, that's not really what my point was. What I meant was that it seems like there are a lot of people in the general population who automatically equate anything exotic or having to do with money right away with Bill Gates when there are many other billionaires out there who, while not the richest in the world, would be just as capable of doing such things.

The irony is that in the Seattle area, the local media made fun of Bill Gates for escaping the anti trust law suits but still failing to get his car legalized. The mentioned car was impounded for 12 years. If he had any power, he surely did not know how to wield it.

Originally Posted by Mateus

Because the name Bill Gates is far more widely known than Larry Ellison or Warren Buffett.

Ellison, maybe.

Buffett, don't make me laugh.

There are lot few computer spazzoid/dorks out there then you think.

[snopes]

Originally Posted by 2334Paydan

Ellison, maybe. Buffett, don't make me laugh.
There are lot few computer spazzoid/dorks out there then you think.

BIll Gates' fame extends *far* beyond "computer spazzoid/dorks." The average person recognizes the name "Bill Gates" as representing someone successful and wealthy, and a good many of them can identify him from a picture and/or correctly choose him as being associated with Microsoft.

The average person couldn't pick Larry Ellison or Warren Buffett out of a line-up or name what either man does -- many of them would probably identify the former as the guy who was sworn in on a Koran, and the latter as the guy who sings about margaritas.

- snopes