Lousy $%^&*() Pa antique plates

[Guest Randy Berger]

Is there any hope in the near future of getting rid of these silly antique plates? I am considering buying another car and would be willing to wait if there is a reasonable possibility that Pa is going to issue an antique plate that doesn't

look like a cartoon.

[Guest Dave Mills]

I am just not gonna buy any more plates. I will just move the ones around that I have. In 35 years I have never been stopped and I am not gonna worry about it.

[Bhigdog]

Jeez guys, there has just got to be something better to [censored] about. Personally I kind of like the new plates although I really would like to be able to use YOM plates. Other than the look what is not to like about PA's treatment of us hobbiests. Once and done fee, no inspections, minimal rules. I bet there are lots of guys in other states that would happily trade DOT's.

Now if you are looking for something to REALLY [censored] about how about the cheap POS batteries we are forced to buy to be "correct". I just had another $180 #$%#@* battery die after 2 1/2 years.

Or how about the word b..ch being censored when it is listed in Webster's dictionary as "to complain or grumble" <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.......Bob

[ex98thdrill]

I know this may sound strange, but if the state charged a little more for their "lifetime" fees and issued the plates with a picture of the vehicle that the plates are on, it would eliminate the "cartoon" looking plates.

From the viewpoint of a cop, with those types of plates out there on those collector's cars, they'd immediately know if a vehicle was on the road with switched plates or stolen plates as well.

If you saw a Model 'A' plate on a Corvette it would prove as a dead giveaway.

In the meantime, New York is still trying to decide if they want to enable a 'lifetime fee' for historic vehicles, and at this point, I'd be thankfull just to know I'd only have to pay for a set of plates one time.

[Bhigdog]

That's another nice thing about PA. The one time fee antique plate is transferable to another car for a very nominal fee so you really are buying a lifetime plate. No complaints from me about PA, just those cheap P.O.S. batteries.

[ex98thdrill]

I agree. I wish there were more people who sold Optima batteries that were enclosed in the factory battery cases. That way when the Optima battery died, you just bought a new Optima and placed it back under the factory style case.

[Bhigdog]

Actually my understanding is no one sells an "Optima" battery in a period case. If you question the crooks at the repro battery companies closely they will admit it is an "Optima type" battery. BIG DIFFERENCE.......Bob

[Guest Randy Berger]

I know someone who has a nice vinyl graphic of his car and it fits nicely over the ugly roadster. But he is breaking the law and may have to pay for it. In the meantime that plate looks silly on a rod or a custom or a vintage Corvette or a nice 54 Merc and looks even worse on a Packard. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The old purple and white plates had a sort of class. These things look like trash.

And I run a modern battery even though it's too short. As long as it starts the car. Keep your old antique battery and put it in at the car show. Take it out and put in something dependable when the management says she wants to go home.

[R W Burgess]

There you go Randy.

Keep the outside of the battery looking great, but take the guts out and just use a "jumper" to get on and off the field. Everybody probably has a hot jump portable battery by now anyway, a really neat invention. Throw those jumper cables away and be happy!!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Wayne

[Bhigdog]

Yup, that's what I'm going to do. BUT, it really does feel like that's cheating to me. I guess no more cheating, though, than the Pertronics module I have hidden in the distributor. I just wish batteries weren't so heavy......Bob.

[ted sweet]

that was been proposed in NY for many years, always dies in commitee, which i think it wil again this year.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In the meantime, New York is still trying to decide if they want to enable a 'lifetime fee' for historic vehicles, and at this point, I'd be thankfull just to know I'd only have to pay for a set of plates one time. </div></div>

[Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL)]

Why don't one of you guys post a photo of the "Cartoon" plate so the rest of us will know what you're "Censoring" about. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Steve Moskowitz]

Well, I have explained many times before about this plate so I will not bother again. The picture is as follows and was the picture the folks at Pendot liked, and it is far less cartoonish than many other states.

sorry about the bad typing...fixed now!

[1937hd45]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, I have explained many times before about this plate so I will not bother again. The picture is as fo0llows and was the picture the folks at Pendot liked, and it is far less cartoonish tham nay other states. </div></div>

Look FINE to me! Of course I have no use for Post WWII crap that I'm sure all the house painters with rolling 25 year old wrecks have attached these plates to. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Guest Hal Davis (MODEL A HAL)]

Looks good to me, too. Better than ours, but of course we are allowed YOM plates, so we don't have to put up with the "Hobby-Antique" plates if we don't want to.

[Guest Silverghost]

Randy: It could be worse...We could all be riding around with a cartoon picture of governor Ed Rendell on our plates! Or if you live in Philly...Mayor John Street. How about Sen. Arlin Spector... Hair-plugs and all!

And just for you western Pa guys...Tom Ridge with his color-code Threat alert chart and a roll of Duct Tape and Plastic Wrap !

I am surprised the crooks in Harrisburg have not thought of this idea yet!

Just think... A Free Campaign photo advert on each car...

Bring back the old "Purple" Plates!

[Guest Randy Berger]

Brad, you really know how to throw a scare into a fellow! Now that you've put it in a formal context Gov. Swindell may just do that. My objection to the plate is simple. Why show a 20's vehicle? No vehicle is better than one decade over another. How would all the brethren who worship at the pre-war shrine like it if they were forced to have a 1968 Camaro splotched on their plates? I think that shoe would fit a good bit tighter than this one does me. I have a purple plate I got in 1974 - cost was $25.00. Now I think it's great that Pa. has a one-time fee for antique plates. Whoever came up with that did us a great service, but why couldn't they have left well enough alone? They just had to meddle like getting rid of "THE KEYSTONE STATE" and replacing it with "YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN PENNSYLVANIA". Obviously trying to beat "Virginia is for Lovers" which is sort of catchy. Oh well, they have done worse and will again. I just wanted to voice my opinion and I guess you all know what that is. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Steve Moskowitz]

I really was not going to reply again on this subject (see past threads) but here it is one more time. A bill was passed requiring Pendot to correct the wording on the purple plates at it sated "antique car" which was not correct since it was used on other vehicles. Penndot had less than a week if I recall to make a switch as the law was attached to another bill and I think caught them by surprise. At the same time Pa. Law enforcement has been lobbying to go to a standard format for as many plates as possible. Pendot is trying to switch all plates over to using one standard format but allowing a "square" to be used for specialty plates.

Pendot officials came to AACA's headquarters and library and were given line art, samples of plates from other states, tons of photographs from Model T's to T-Birds or Camaro's. Against my wishes they kept coming back to the photo on my wall of a car I formerly owned. Their graphic arts department liked how the car fit in the square. More modern cars did not have the height that they sought. Again, I was uncomfortable about them using the car even after it was photoshopped and all medallions, emblems removed to make it more generic.

[R W Burgess]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <span style="font-weight: bold">

I know someone who has a nice vinyl graphic of his car and it fits nicely over the ugly roadster.</span> </div></div>

Randy, I like your idea. I know it may cause a problem on the highway, but keep it in the glove box for those show days. Think of that! A picture of your own car on a license plate. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Me? I'd probably forget to take it off every now and then. I like life exciting! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Wayne

Wayne

[Guest Randy Berger]

Steve, I am not picking on you personally. Please believe me. The fact that they were late in responding to any situation and made a quick stab at resolving a problem which should not have even existed just points up the fact of how inept they are. The whole PA legislature and accompanying bureaucracies are the same, this was just more visible. You do not need to defend their decision. Where would they have gone for assistance if the AACA didn't have such a big presence in PA? I'd lay even money they might just stop at their local gas station and ask the guy behind the cash register. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[ex98thdrill]

I've got an Optima battery in my fire truck. It isn't an Optima type. This guy sells them through the Early Ford V8 Club. He takes the Stock battery cases, machines the insides out, and then the terminals to the optima go up through the holes in the top of the factory Ford case.

[MCHinson]

Randy, your original question was:

"Is there any hope in the near future of getting rid of these silly antique plates?"

I don't live in PA, but I know that the way you get something changed that you don't like is to lobby for the change. Write letters to members of your State Legislature, your Governor, and the all of the pertinent Department of Transportation Officials expressing your displeasure with the graphic on the plate. Logically explain that they should not be requiring owners of cars of different eras to display a graphic on their plate that clashes with the look of their particular pride and joy. IF enough potential voters write enough elected officials you would be surprised to see how fast they will change what they have done. That is the only way you will see it changed. The power of the voters is the only thing that politicians will listen to in the end.

[ex98thdrill]

If New York would come up with a one time registration fee like Pennsylvania, they could put a Yugo on it for all I care.

[Bhigdog]

Can you give me some contact info. I have a beautiful new Restoration Battery Co. battery that cost $180 and died in the usual 3 years that I would love to stuff a REAL battery into. You can PM me if you wish. bhigdog1@ptd.net

[Steve Moskowitz]

Randy, I did not take it personally and I have no quibble with your dislike for the plate. However, let me add a bit more to this story. The provision of the bill that required the plate change to antique vehicle instead of car was added to an otherwise obscure bill I believe and Pendot was caught off guard. The very first concern by the two gentlemen that came to us was how would hobbyists react. Being new to Pa. I contacted several locals to have them view the new plate and give an opinion on what to advise Pendot. Pendot WAS concerned about the general reaction but needed to move fast AND to deal with the lobbying of law enforcement. In the end most did not want to lose the traditional plate but understood as a hobby we needed to support law enforcement in any way we could. I know people who would LOVE the new plate if it would have a T-Bird, others who would love the plate if it had a Vette, etc. In fact, we supported a cool idea that we had heard other states do and that was to allow the "square" to contain a picture of the owner's car! However, it was far too late to lobby for that.

I came from Indiana where the plate is a silhouette of an early brass touring car. Go to the web and see the plates for other states, this is far from being the best nor the worst. If enough people lobby for YOM maybe that would resolve the whole problem and <span style="font-weight: bold">maybe</span> a lot of people do not care one way or another.

I truly believe Pendot wanted to do the right thing and maybe the only thing they did wrong was contact me! If most people in the state truly hate it (the color does clash with most paint jobs!)all I can do is apologize that AACA did not fight to keep it. All of us in Hershey felt we had a duty to support the wishes of the people that put their lives on the line for us every day. For that, I cannot apologize.

[Peter J.Heizmann]

From what I recall since 9/11, it was plastered across all PA newspapers, radio stations, and, TV that the FOP & the PSP (PA State Police) campaigned for immediate clarity of PA Plates across-the-board.

The law enforcement agencies cited the many "hard to read" vanity plates. (I can agree with one: The "Niagra" plate. Hard to read in stopped traffic, let alone highway speed.)

I believe and concur that a quick decision was made Penndot. I also believe that many organizations (AACA included) had little time to due to the pressures of our law enforcement needs to make their job easier, not to mention Homeland Security pressures practically everywhere in our country.

For the immediate, our police have plates they can read. Great!! Showing one of the new "Antique" plates is a small problem, in my opinion, when considering the overall scope of current events.

PJH

[Guest Randy Berger]

Steve, I too save most of my ire for the idiot plates that cannot be read. It probably makes the job of policing that junk much more difficult and I empathize with the police. To me it looks like Penndot is after money and they would put a nude picture of their Grandma on there if they could make a buck. I may take Mr Hinson's suggestion and see if I can't effect some change. I haven't tilted at any windmills since I left Spain.

[Dave@Moon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> (the color does clash with most paint jobs!)</div></div>

Unlike, say, lavender! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I think the design is simply not in keeping with the aesthetics of any antique car. It's simply too modern, which when compared (fairly or not) to the old purple plates (an antique design itself) doesn't not come off well. The car on the plate could be almost anything, it still would look like an afterthought.

That said, it seems a silly thing to spend a lot of time kvetching about. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Guest Randy Berger]

<span style="font-style: italic">That said, it seems a silly thing to spend a lot of time kvetching about.</span>

True, but some folks just have to get their two cents in anyway. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Steve Moskowitz]

Thanks for the laugh! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest windjamer]

Bob is your battery a grp. 24 top post?

[ted sweet]

EXACTLY

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If New York would come up with a one time registration fee like Pennsylvania, they could put a Yugo on it for all I care. </div></div>

[Guest De Soto Frank]

I would like to see Penna allow "Year of Manufacture" plates for antiques.

I came from Maryland, and we had that option so long as the car was tagged with MD "Historic" tags, which were kept in the vehicle.

How many vehicles in the Commonwealth are actually going to be out on the roads everyday with YOM plates to be that much of a headache for law enforcement ????

I'm staying with the regular annual tag for now...

[rocketraider]

Maybe y'all should watch what you ask for. You may end up with a boondoggle over antique plates like we just went thru here in Vajenya.

'Course, I'd be glad to export Delegate Danny Marshall (R-14th VA House District). He seems to have a knack for creating a legislative problem where none existed. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[Shop Rat]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If New York would come up with a one time registration fee like Pennsylvania, they could put a Yugo on it for all I care. </div></div>

I laughed so hard I almost cried. Good one. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[rocketraider]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bob is your battery a grp. 24 top post? </div></div>

If it's for his 50's GM cars I expect it's a Group 60K- a long, narrow battery with a strange cell layout and I'm pretty sure they're too narrow to fit an Optima inside the case.

[Guest Randy Berger]

I don't think you are talking about a 60K.

http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/60kw.htm

Perhaps you are thinking of

http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/2ed.htm

And you couldn't get anything in there, let alone an Optima

<img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest Randy Berger]

RR you make a valid point, but that scares me too. We shouldn't point out idiocy or just poor judgment because it might get worse? The minds of those we elect to office is suspect and the bureaucrats that work under them is more than suspect. It has been judged and found guilty. Did GW or TJ or even AL envision this mindless group of people holding sway?

Oh well, perhaps there will be good news to report soon <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[ex98thdrill]

He advertises in the V8 Times, I'll have to dig one out and see if I can find the ad. The guy that I bought that from only sells the batteries in the Ford case, and he has a space in the chocolate field near Dennis Carpenter.

[rocketraider]

Yup- 60K. Olds, Cad, Packard and some Buicks used it for many years, say 1954-64. It is the only battery that will fit properly in a 63-4 Olds battery tray and not bang around without a lot of "extra" hold-down apparatus. I'm hearing that a late-model Honda battery is close, but...