It helps that half of my family lives in Virginia. ;-)
New law for those of us with historic tags
- Thread starter Chris0nllyn
- Start date
It helps that half of my family lives in Virginia. ;-)
lovinmaryland
Well-Known Member
The main thing I have seen people abuse the historic tags for is to by pass the Maryland state inspection. I personally think of any vehicles that should have to go through and pass a safety inspection it should be an older model veh.
But what criteria and checklists would they use? My '27 Dodge didn't have even a quarter of the equipment listed on a standard safety inspection, as just an example.
On the other hand, I agree that using that tag class solely to put some late 80s junker on the road is wrong. I have several 70s vehicles that I never considered putting Historical tags on because I thought the "limited use" rules were real. I guess they are saying "now they are real".
glhs837
Power with Control
I care far more about equipment quality than limited use. If the police are really going to spend time enforcing this, I would hope they focus on old looking POS's that seem unsafe vice trolling parking lots two days in a row at schools and businesses. Really, how many incidents are caused by vehicles with historic tags? Of any kind?
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
Not really, but given that it is 32 years old I can acquiesce to 30 years as the cut off point. Historic tags should be limited to cars being driven to shows or just cruising on the weekend. If the owner wishes to pay full price I have no problem with the historic tag though.
Hell I knew someone in the mid 90's that had a major hard on for his 1984 Pontiac Fiero but that doesn't mean it is special in any way.
glhs837
Power with Control
Well, the current law sort of says that, but there are exceptions that make that impossible to enforce. "On my way to buy a part and need to make sure it fits". "Meeting another owner down the road a ways to compare notes about authenticity". Is the officer supposed to follow me to the junkyard/other owners/house, Advance Auto to verify these things? Does he get a schedule of car shows? What if I work weekends, and my only day to cruise with my historic car is Wednesday? See how rapidly it becomes a thing you cant bother with as a cop?
As for "special", whats the criteria for that? A state panel that write a list of special cars that can get the tags, and others cannot? At some point, the Fiero might become special, as it had some unique aspects for it's time.
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
When cars only lasted a few years 20 years was a good point to consider them historic, however todays cars last much longer than they use to so 30 is probably closer to the age that something should be considered historic. Still I don't consider a 1986 anything historic on a personal level.
TimTheToolMan
Member
I don't blame you!
TimTheToolMan
Member
Several years ago, Maryland has different requirements, if a vehicle was still in production, like a Mustang, then the car had to be 25 years old to qualify as Historic. Not in production, like a Mercury Cougar, then the vehicle would qualify at 20 years old.
I currently have two vehicles that have Historic tags, the first is a 1966 Mustang that we have been doing restoration work. The second is a 1995 F-350. The F-350 is not driven a lot, it mainly hauls the Mustang to different places to get different things done during the restoration process. I have a newer car that I drive every day. My F-350 has been driven maybe 2,000 miles this year.
Nothing I have, or have had, Historic tags on was ever driven even 2000 miles a year. So I figure I'm good...still.
I have historic tags on my 2 Mustang II's. I would have no problem subjecting them to safety inspections as I keep them maintained in a safe roadworthy condition. IMO, all cars should be subject to at least a minimal safety inspection at least every 2yrs. There are some real unsafe pieces of $h1t out there on the roads and I prefer not to get killed by one of them. I see so many pieces of junk with historic tags blatantly being used as daily drivers- contractor trucks, recycled cop crown vics, used up commuter cars, pick ups, even a minivan.
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glhs837
Power with Control
My 1998 328i convertible will be eligible in just a year and a few months. Three if it's model year, seven if it's month of production.......... now, if you ask any BMW person, they will tell that of course that car is a classic, it's the last of the analog BMWs, before they started getting heavier and placing systems between the driver and the car. Is it historic? Depends on how you define that. Is a Chevy Chevette "historic"? As a driving machine, its an abominable piece of excrement. As an engineering exercise, it's a hideous pile of vomit. But seen as a time capsule of the American auto industry at that point in time, it's invaluable. Every car has it's relevance, and everyone is going to judge that relevance. Should only cars that Hemmings say are historic be worthy? I think it's wise of the state to not try and nail that down.
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
Perhaps there should be two classifications "Historic" plates that cost full price but have the caveat that there are certain safety requirements that these cars cannot meet but allow them to be driven daily. Then "antique" that are only driven for shows, special events etc that are truly meant to be historic automobiles.
The 1983 Ford Econoline van we have at work that has a hole rusted into the floor so big you can see the road rushing by should not be considered antique, but maybe historic.
I'm thinking maybe brakes, lights, excessive body damage/rot, horn, wipers, excessive suspension wear, and tires. I'm not the one to decide specifics, leave that up to the state. Unfortunately there will always be shops that will abuse their power and try to get money out of us.
That's what scares me. I can only imagine the fiasco that will result if the state decided to set inspection requirements that would then be applied to a '47 Harley, or a '59 Triumph, or a '32 Model A, or a 1915 Buick, etc etc and then some bozo at an inspection station has to interpret them... I think somewhere within that potentially huge morass is the reason why Historic tagged vehicles were exempted in the first place.
In Howard County, the local LEOs very actively enforced Historic tag useage abuse. Very actively. I'm talking back in the 70s and 80s. Same deputy saw you twice in the same week ..or even in the same month, with Historic tags on your ride, you WERE going to get pulled and warned, first, and then cited the next time he saw you. I had Historic tags on '27 Dodge coupe and a '57 Chevy Bel Air during those years; got the ticket in the '57.
Was an easy "fix" for the '57 though, because you could buy an inspection lots of places for $25 cash. ;-0
Chris0nllyn
Well-Known Member
I'm actually surprised so many of you are advocating the government do more to limit how you register your car.
I'm not one of those. I pointed out that in fact there isn't anything much new at all in the announcement. The restrictions on use of vehicles with Historic tags have not changed since I got my first set in 1974.
the State Emissions Test Station Does ..... I know I had to go back twice before the 95 Saturn Passed
TimTheToolMan
Member
I am more advocating that Maryland brings registration fees more realistic and not make them so expensive. If they would, then I can tell you at least seven trailers that will start wearing Maryland registration, instead of wearing tags from a state they will probably never see.