Regarding antique cars, mileage-driven-per-year, daily driving, and state
restrictions on usage.
In a very "Clintonian" way, I think it depends on the definition of "antique".
As far as my state definition (PA) goes, anything 25 years old can be called
"antique". As far as I can tell, the only driving restriction is that to be
driven at night ANY car, including those regiatered as "antique" needs to have
adequate lighting. So, really antique cars with woeful lights are not legal
after dark.
There is a restriction on usage of "antique" and "classic" (over 15 years old).
They are intended to to be used as a way to preserve interesting and special,
and old cars. Therefore, they are not allowed to be used for daily driving,
the idea being that the wear and tear of daily driving is inherently
non-preservative. The rules are somewhat nebulous, but once a week driving
other than shows/parades is OK. Of course any day might be the only day it was
used this week, unless the police put you under surveilance.
So, my "antique" tr7 is thoroughly modern as far as its legality for driving
goes, the "antique" registration simply somewhat limits my ability to use it.
But I feel free to drive it any time I want (my TR4A too!) as long as I am not
driving to work, and especially not in rush hour traffic on week days. I have
been known to go to the office on a saturday in the car, but that was not for
"work" in the usual sense of the word.
So, there is a world of difference between a '29 Duesy and any TR/Spitfire as
far as modern road going is concened, and these differences are the issue in
normal driving. vs parades/shows only. Unfortunately there was also a big
difference in build quality too.
-Tony
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