"Do you still Drive it?????"

[Twitch]

I feel for you on that inspection crapola. Even California ain't that stringent. I was told the inspection stuff was pretty worthless as this guy went and was told he needed brakes. He ate lunch and went back through a different inspector and the car passed fine. Go figure!

[The Old Guy]

We have a problem in Michigan with the insurance. The cars with regular plates are hit with a $100-$120 dollar fee to cover catastrophic claims. The cars with antique plates have one fee for the fleet (you pay one fee for all the antiques you own) The license plates are also issued for as long as you own the car, which also saves a bundle. I drive my antiques all summer and have been stopped for the plates only once in 30 years. That was in Kentucky, and the cop did not know about "year of manufacture" plates. When i showed him the paper work , he let me go.

[EdA]

Still drive my 1934 Rolls Royce. To church many Sundays, and county roads in North and South Carolina. Love to "honk and wave" as I drive by folks sitting on their front porch - figure they'll wonder "Who the heck was that and what kind of car was that?" We've got lots of small towns with nice parks, shops and good "home cooking" near the Charlotte NC region and in our mountains that seem to welcome old cars. Nothing like a spring or fall drive on our Blue Ridge Parkway in your antique auto. With top speed limit of 45 mph, no commercial traffic, and plenty of turnouts and picnic areas, it's a great drive and popular with most car clubs.

In North Carolina, we can use "year of manufacture" NC plates as long as we have a currently valid plate in the "boot" (trunk). Also, cars registered with Antique (30 years or older) or Horseless Carriage (50+ years) are eligible to apply for a maximum property tax value of $500 instead of the multiple thousands they might be worth. I've heard too that they may eliminate the "inspections" on antique cars since the state feels most collector car that are driven are kept in good shape by their owners anyway (We are already exempt from the smog tests and only have to have "orginal" items on car as delivered.). But every couple of years or so some "tree hugger" tries to introduce a "if it's old don't let it be driven" law. AACA, RROC, CCCA and other car club members usually "rise up" and hobby stays pretty welcome here. Ed A

[Guest Albert]

I love driving my old Packard (54) during the summer months, the looks you get Are priceless, Some people just dont figure I can do 70 Mph, and the look i get when you Pass these kids in the Hondas, Pricele$$. One time my my boss and i had to pick up a 220lb air compressor in the Packard, Would not fit in the back of his Lexis, i was doing about 75 on the highway when he asked me if my speedo was in Kmph as we went flying by the other cars. But I have only been Stopped by the Police once as to how i have a 1954 plate on the car with an 2005 val tag on it, I said easy you stick it on. Then I had to explain to him about YOM plates and how we get them attached to the Ownership/car, He said it was the first time he had ever seen of this, and he was not a rookie. Another time a friend and myself where comming back from up north in his van, we figured we should pick up some beer in the next town, as it would be too late and the beer store would be closed by the time we got back. Well about 30min later we thought every thing was going good, then the temp guage started going up and the bottom end started banging, smell of oil burning, Big Opps. Now where where out in the middle of no where on a hot summer day, and no AC, gotta save the beer, could not let it get warm... So we where both into our Second beer (Canadian Beer) when the cop cruser pulls up. He takes one look at the open beer in the van and wanted to charge both of us with Impaired driving as the keys where still in the ignition... I said to the cop that there is no intent of driving this van in the next few days at least as ther was a big puddle of oil under the motor.. He then asked if he could call a tow truck for us..

[Guffin]

My family loves our Hupmobile 1929 Century 8. It has been in the family since 1960 and we drive it every summer as much as we can.. The first years we had the Hupp it was the only car we had and we drove it also in wintertime. Then, for many years we had the Hupp and a Fiat 600 (a very tiny car). With two children and luggage you can guess which car we preferred to use on vacation trips.

The winter driving was not nice to the car so we decided, long time ago, to use it only during the summer months. Since the children grow up and left home we don't put so many miles on the car every year. Mostly we take the grandchildren out for pick nick or go to a car meet. On the other hand my wife and I have, during the last five years, made three long trips abroad, each about 2000 miles. The only mishaps we had was oil leak on a brake drum and a broken door lock, when driving in Scotland.

I think these old cars are very reliable. You can drive in 60 on the highway and the brakes are not so bad, if well adjusted.

The Hupmobile is not restored and we are not going to restore it. It is, however, in a very good original shape. The lacquer is the original but we have kept it nice with spray cans. (The spray can paint is similar to the old lacquer).

The Hupmobile can be seen on the photo pages.

http://www.aaca.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3156&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1

Sweden has the highest taxes in the world but there is no tax on cars made before 1950 and you dont have to have it inspected more than once.

Jan

[R W Burgess]

Hard to believe that HUPP looks that good Jan. It's interior seems to be in excellent shape. Wayne

[Guffin]

It is the original interior. The Hupp had only 44000 (27k miles) km on the odometer in 1960. Unfortunately the rear seat bottom part is not as nice as the front seat. They put the rims on the rear seat when the car was stored during WW2 and the moth liked the dirt. We bought the car from the first owner.

[Guest J446]

I've owned this car for 14 years and have put over 25,000 miles on her.

One Sunday I set off as the sun was rising over NYC and headed North. I usually go for an hour or so before heading back but I was enjoying myself so much I kept going. I didn't stop until I reached Vermont. I had a bite to eat turned around and headed home. As I reached NY it began to snow. I'm quite sure that I'm the only person in the world that's ever driven one of these in the snow...

[Johns36chevy]

Howdy Gang, I bought my first car vintage car 2 years ago.

Its a 1936 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Town Sedan. I am the 3rd owner and very happy with the car. It is unrestored and in origional condition and I drive her as much as possible.

when I bought the car she had 52000 miles and now she has 55600 miles. I bought her to enjoy driving in not to be a trailer queen.

Remember if you see an old car driving down the road and you like what you see Please honk your horn we'll know why you beeped. )

[nearchoclatetown]

Jim, if you ever head south on one of these drives, you'd better stop at my house, I'll buy lunch. I thought the editorial in Vintage Motorsports was rather humorous.

[R W Burgess]

Jim, what gear do you drive that machine in on the highway, "first"? It's no way I could drive that but once. The pedal to the metal in me would have me locked up before I was even out of my own home town. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Wayne

[Guest J446]

The MK-IV has quick change drop gears which enables you to change the rear end ratio easily. When they ran at Le Mans they ran 2:50/1 which gave them 223mph at 6400 rpm. On the street I use a ratio that is somewhat lower.

Best

[Tom Deering]

Joe,

I'm moving to Michigan from the west coast. I am bringing 3 1957 cars into Michigan. I just went through my collection of Michigan plates and found two pair of new '57 Michigan plates and a single "Historic Vehicle" plate that I removed from a 1962 Buick I previously inherited and sold. Are you saying all three of these plates may be used on the three 1957 cars I'm moving into the state and I'll get a break on this "catastrophic loss" thing that Michigan imposes on cars registered in the state? I'm almost afraid to ask how much the no fault rip-off is going to cost.

Tom

[Guest EDBS0]

As long as you <span style="font-weight: bold">"Drive it like you stole it" </span>

Live long and prosper.

[Guest J446]

BTW for those in Canada these two drivers will be at the Canadian International Auto Show in Feb. (click on box)

<a href="http://img141.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img141ℑ=1080828img4xk.jpg" target="_blank"><img

[rocketraider]

Sunny and close to 60 degrees here today, so I took the Toronado out for a run, about 100 miles when it was all done, and 90% on 2-lane roads. Stopped for a snack and the car drew a crowd at that little country convenience mart. People from middle-school kids to geezers- I was there close to half an hour with them. A 13-year old boy said "Thanks for showing us your car, mister. I never saw a car like that."

The car was done 13 years ago and the paint has started to show its age, but driving that car on winding two-lanes is a blast, powering thru curves with the FWD. And comments like the kid's make your day when you have a car out. So not only yes, but hell yes, I still drive it.

I only wish I had more time to drive them as I did today.

[The Old Guy]

You may register the 57 plates, but you can not reuse the "antique plate. you will need to either get another set of 57 plates, or purchase a new antique plate. Hagerty will insure all three,and only get you for one catastrophic claim.

[CharlieF]

29,888 miles in nothing newer than a '66 Mustang last year. Most mileage 5558 in a '52 Ford Vic.

[Twitch]

They got cars in Canada now, eh?

[Tom Deering]

Thanks for the feed back Joe. I'm really looking forward to cruising all the two lane roads in NW Michigan. After living in the West for nearly a half century, it's not going to hurt my feelings to have the nearest freeway at least 50 miles away. Tom

[The Old Guy]

There is only one interstate road in the UP, so you will be able to tour to your hearts content.