DOTS: Party Edition

"lone_liberal" (token-liberal)
10/29/2019 at 11:53 • Filed to: None

I saw this little party on wheels during my commute this morning. I thought all of these things had long since gone to the crusher but this one was mint. The paint was so glossy that it had to have had a paint job recently. Hat tip to the man that has his old Fiesta repainted and stays with glorious yellow.

DISCUSSION (14)

dogisbadob > lone_liberal
10/29/2019 at 12:02

that’s because cars don’t rust over there

lone_liberal > dogisbadob
10/29/2019 at 12:05

I think c ertain cars, like the Fiesta or the Subaru GL, would rust in the Sahara.

dogisbadob > lone_liberal
10/29/2019 at 12:17

and most Mazdas, too :p

fintail > lone_liberal
10/29/2019 at 12:20

Amusing, I know exactly where this is.

Surprised it isn’t on collector plates as the car must be restored, that plate sequence is likely no more than around 3 years old. I have a memory of riding in one of these when I was a little kid, in the back, I swear it was with the seat folded down - safety!

lone_liberal > fintail
10/29/2019 at 12:27

I didn’t even think of that. It’s silly to be paying for tabs every year when you can just get collector plates. M aybe he takes that “May not be used for regular transportation” thing seriously, u nlike everybody else.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > lone_liberal
10/29/2019 at 12:36

There is a story about cars having rust from the factory being due to the metal supplier storing the metal in open sided buildings. People paid more to get rolls of steel from the middle, so the ones on the outside, exposed to the weather were cheaper. Thus the roll had surface rust before the panels were even stamped.

fintail > lone_liberal
10/29/2019 at 12:38

Yeah, I am not sure that the policy is really even enforced. I am pretty sure I saw collector plates on a rough looking Celebrity not long ago, there’s no criteria other than age, and I suspect little to no enforcement.

I have year of manufacture plates on the fintail, and although it is a sunny Sunday driver now, it was my DD for several years after I found the plates (when I was a student). I once had a cop ask me about them as he was curious about the car and not familiar with the policy, but otherwise, no eyes were blinked.

lone_liberal > fintail
10/29/2019 at 12:45

I don’t know how they could since there is no mileage limitation, or really any way to check it even if there were. Of course I have a collector plate on the Camaro and, since that’s the kind car they had in mind for it, nobody questions it. I do eventually want to get a year of manufacture plate for it to give it that old school green-on-white goodness.

Cé hé sin > lone_liberal
10/29/2019 at 12:51

As it happens, I came across an immaculate Mk1 Fiesta today. More later.

lone_liberal > Cé hé sin
10/29/2019 at 12:54

Theme day!

lone_liberal > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street.
10/29/2019 at 12:57

I’ve heard that one when discussing International Scouts. I’m not sure I entirely buy in to it over manufacturers just not doing a good job of rust protection, especially on cheaper cars, but it’s certainly plausible.

Thomas Donohue > lone_liberal
10/29/2019 at 13:23

In NJ they are technically supposed to be driven for ‘educational and exhibition use only’ when using historic plates (25+ years) - so if you’re not on your way to a car show or a school they can give you a ticket. While I don’t know many who have the plates, I’ve never heard of anyone getting a ticket. Also, paying $50 a year for regular registration isn’t a big deal for most.

Collector plates are only for limited production cars less than 25 years old - those have a 3,000 mile limit each year.

fintail > lone_liberal
10/29/2019 at 13:33

Yep, it’s effectively unenforceable - you’d have to track someone commuting in a given car regularly for a period of time, and LEOs have no time for that.

I found my YOM plates at a yard sale in 1996, for a quarter - still can’t believe I found a matching pair of the correct year for next to nothing. Back then it cost about $40 to transfer the plates, and I was good to go.

Darkbrador > lone_liberal
11/08/2019 at 16:29

My first car ! 1.1 liter with 4 speed manual and all ... Damn I’m old.

Now c atch that guy and ask him how much he wants for his Fiesta !