antique, & classic plate questions

i would like to keep my project as close to factory as i can but i would like the jeep to be a little more driver friendly. if i put disc brakes on the front can i still use a classic or antique plate in pa. same with power steering. and if i keep drum brakes but upgrade to the 11" will it be enough and still allow me to use the classic or antique plate. looking for options here before i decide which direction to take and what replacement parts to start getting.

 

in CT it all depends on year, not what you have done with it. I have Early American plates on the Jeep, but I could not put them in the 67 chev due to the fact that if you do you can no longer use the bed for anything.

 

straight off Pa's dmv site: reading this I would say you are good to go with the mods you want

ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC VEHICLES
PURPOSE
This fact sheet outlines the policy for issuance of antique and classic registration plates.
DEFINITION OF ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC MOTOR VEHICLES
Antique Motor Vehicle - A motor vehicle, but not a reproduction thereof, manufactured more than 25 years prior to the
current year which has been maintained in or restored to a condition which is substantially in conformance with
manufacturer specifications.
Classic Motor Vehicle - A motor vehicle, but not a reproduction thereof, manufactured at least 15 years prior to the current
year which has been maintained in or restored to a condition which is substantially in conformity with manufacturer
specifications and appearance. Any classic motor vehicle registered under Section 1340 (relating to antique, classic and
collectible plates) on the effective date of the amendment to this definition which fails to qualify as a classic motor vehicle
pursuant to these provisions may retain such classic registration unless another type of registration is applied for and
issued for the vehicle.
USE OF ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC REGISTRATION PLATES
The use of antique and classic plates is governed by Section 1340 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code which states: “It is
unlawful for any person to operate a motorcycle or vehicle with antique and classic registration plates for general daily
transportation. Permitted use shall be limited to participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, occasional
transportation and similar uses.” Occasional transportation and similar uses is defined as one day a week.
Although buses and trucks are eligible for Antique and Classic plates, buses MAY NOT be used to transport passengers and
trucks MAY NOT haul cargo.
Antique and Classic plates are not available for motorized pedalcycles.

 

I got pulled over for having a vintage '53 plate on the front of mine a couple weeks ago. mehh

 

it will vary state to state. you should confirm with your state's DMV.

 

Antique plates in Pa require that you send in pics, and not digital pics, of all 4 sides of the vehicle. They will never see brake mods in those pics. No state inspection anymore either. Not sure how the Classic tags work but I'm pretty sure you still need to have them inspected yearly. I will add this, they do expect the vehicle to appear original and in either excellent original condition or restored to new condition and unmodified for an antique tag. They refused one for me for Tuxedo because it was " too rusty."

 

I had classic PA plates on my 1984 J-10. Sent in pics, got my plates, no more having to re-register every year. I drove it around more than once a week, state troopers here didn't even know what the rules for running classic plates were. I will say, if you run antique plates, you can still do inspection for your own piece of mind/safety. My dad still gets his antique plated cadillac inspected to ensure safety on the road...ball joints, brakes, etc. Also, if you use antique plates, you can only drive "from dawn to dusk". The DOT doesn't want Antique plated out after dark...ran into this with my 1930 Marquette...tried to sneek back home late from a local show and got nabbed w/ warning.

 

Louisiana used to require Antique vehicles to belong to an antique car club for that particular vehicle. Problem is, it was a govenment agency requiring membership in a private club. That didn't last long. They reversed it and said it has to be at least 25 years old and have a picture (like it used to be). The out after dark thing sounds very socialistic...lol. IMO that requirement is very arguable.

On that same note, my dad got pulled over one time because his windshield was down. The officer said it was a law he had to have his windshield up, but my dad being a retired officer himself said he didn't read the R.S. code. In louisiana, it says you have to have a windshield, but it doesn't say what position it has to be in.

Like someone said above, I doubt the average officer even knows what the law says. That's one of those dark dusty corners of the law world