Is it possible for a vehicle to embody history? The Old Car before us might just answer that question.
The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., houses an impressive collection of antique automobiles. It shows automotive milestones. The collection includes what many consider the first American automobile. It was driven by an internal combustion engine.
These Old Cars tell a story. They whisper tales of innovation. They speak of a time when the automobile was a newfangled contraption. Imagine witnessing the birth of an industry. The Old Car helps us connect with that past.
Many collectors have their own antique automobiles. The Smithsonian’s collection stands out. It houses automotive milestones. Consider the Winton “Bullets” Nos. 1 and 2. They are in the Smithsonian collection. They share the honor of writing the first chapters in automobile racing.
The Old Car embodies preservation. Important relics from the dawn of the automotive industry have vanished. Now, more than ever, remaining relics must be saved. They should be marveled at by future generations.
The District of Columbia has a unique history with antique vehicles. Two distinct registration types have been used. There was the Antique Car plate. It was issued from 1958 through early 1979. Then came the Historic Motor Vehicle plate. It has been issued since early 1979. The latter replaced the former. No Antique Car plates were issued after HMV plates arrived.
Congress approved distinctive license plates for antique vehicles in 1957. The annual registration fee was $5. It remained there until being raised to $9 in October 1976. The 1957 statute defined an antique car. It was a vehicle made before January 1, 1930. It was owned solely as a collector’s item. Its use was limited to club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, and similar uses. It could not be used for general transportation.
The Old Car before us may once have sported one of these plates. Imagine it rumbling down the streets of D.C. with an “Antique Car” plate. The earlier Antique Car plate was steel. It had a painted background. A letter A was a suffix to the number. Metal year tabs validated it. Later Antique Car plates were aluminum. They had a reflective background. They featured a letter A prefix to the number. Stickers validated them.
The Historic Motor Vehicle plates have been issued since February 1979. Individuals must renew their registration annually. These plates are not issued on a permanent basis for a one-time fee. The first expiration date for HMV plates was March 31, 1980.
HMV plates may be used on vehicles that are at least 25 years old. They can also be used on vehicles at least 15 years old. This applies to makes that are no longer in production. Numbering began at HMV 1 in 1979.
Consider the dedication it took to change the rules. Skip Lackie worked to update the law. He wanted to register his 1937 Lasalle and 1954 Studebaker pickup.
Regardless of the tides of human fortune, early machines are being preserved. So many relics from the dawn of the industry have disappeared. The Old Car is a reminder of this ongoing effort. It is a testament to preservation. It is a link to our automotive past.