hi, im just wandering will the 4th generation prelude h22a be a classic??
id like to hear some peoples veiws on this
thanks, prevtec

 

Well I think to legally be a classic car, it must be 25 years old. So in that respect, it is not a classic.

 

Antique plates are on my list, 9more years to go. IL just changed it to 25yrs recently. An AV plate means $75/5yrs for plates VS $78/yr
It was a classic in my mind the second I bought it.......
But just like cars of years past.....There will only be a small % that will make that 25yr cut.......

 

hmmm...im not sure, each state is different...i know in minnesota its only 20 years to be considered a classic

 

Yeah, I guess it is different for each state. Missouri is 25 years.

 

When you consider American production #'s form the 50s-70s, there is such a small % of them still on the road!
Purist and enthusiast FTW!!!
Maybe my Preludes AV/25yrs Gift will be a K26 with a Rotrex S/C! 9yrs is plenty of time to go crazy!

 

here its 15 years its classic and 25 years is antique. also with a classic plate you dont have to get emissions but you still have yearly inspection. antique you dont have to get inspected or emissions.

 

OBD1 in IL=No emissions EVER!

IIRC AV plates in IL also entitle you to AV insurance which is dirt cheap, but has a 2500mi/yr limit with random inspections.

 

Yeah, the big downfall of registering as an "AV" is the mileage restrictions. Everything else is a plus, but only being able to drive "X" amount of miles per year is no fun. I will have to look into the "AV" laws here is CA. Because I know a number of people with "AV" registration and a lot of them definitely drive quite a bit.

 

I wonder what are the laws for CA.

 

In a lot of states cars with AV plates aren't allowed to drive at night either

 

I dont look twice for 4th gens.

 

x2

Every state is different and it would be interesting if other state residents on HT post what their rules are.

In ILLINOIS the plates go for five years
ANTIQUE VEHICLES
Antique Vehicle license plates are available for motor vehicles more than 25 years old, or a bona
fide replica, which is only driven to and from antique shows, exhibitions, demonstrations, or for
servicing. The plates may also be issued for fire-fighting vehicles more than 20 years old that are
used only for exhibition (625 ILCS 5/1-102.1).
A registered owner of an antique vehicle may display historical plates representing the model year
of the vehicle in place of Antique Vehicle license plates. If such plates are used, the owner must
provide the plates for display and carry in the vehicle the current set of Antique Vehicle plates and
their vehicle registration identification card. The plates have brown and red characters on a straw
background (625 ILCS 5/3-804). The plates have an “AV” suffix. The current registration expires December 31, 2009.

The Wisconsin rules

All motor vehicles 20 years or older that have NOT been altered or modified from the manufacturer's specifications.

Things you should know

* License number is assigned to the owner for as long as you own the collector vehicle. A letter suffix is added to the number i.e., 1A, etc. for subsequent collector vehicles owned by the same person. Registration does not expire.
* To qualify for Collector plates, each owner must have at least one other motor vehicle, which is used for regular transportation, and is currently registered in Wisconsin under the same name(s) as the collector vehicle.
* Truck type vehicles with Collector plates cannot haul more than 500 pounds.
* Collector plates cannot be personalized.
* Collector vehicles cannot be operated during January unless a temporary plate is purchased. A five-consecutive-day plate may be purchased by sending form MV2750 PDF with the correct fee to the address provided on the form.
* Street modified vehicles, replicas, homemade motorized vehicles or vehicles that have been altered or modified from the original manufacturer's specifications do NOT qualify. These vehicles may be eligible for Hobbyist license plates, form MV2388.
* For second and subsequent Collector plates, allow approximately 4-6 weeks for the manufacturing process after the new Certificate of Registration has been issued.
* Collector special plates are available for autos, trucks (registered at 8,000 pounds gross weight or less), farm trucks (registered at 12,000 pounds gross weight) and motor homes (registered annually) regardless of the model year if you have one or more vehicles registered with regular Collector plates.

Also in Wisconsin modified collector cars can get 'HOBBIST' plates.

Hobbyist license plates
Eligibility:

* street-modified vehicles at least 20 years old
* replica of a vehicle at least 20 years old
* reconstructed vehicles at least 20 years old
* motorized homemade vehicles (homemade motorcycles must replicate a cycle at least 20 years old.)

Hobbyist registrations differ from collector registrations which are available for vehicles 20 years old or older that have not been altered or modified from the manufacturer's specifications.

Hobbyist license numbers are assigned to the owner for a lifetime. Registration does not expire. A letter suffix is added to the number (i.e., 1A, etc.) for subsequent hobbyist vehicles owned by the same person. Hobbyist plates CANNOT be personalized.
Types of hobbyist vehicles:
Street modified vehicles

* Vehicle must be at least 20 years old.
* Vehicle may be modified from the original manufacturer's specifications.
* Vehicle can still be recognized as the original year and make.
* Vehicles are typically known as "hot rods" or "street rods."

Replica

* Vehicle is a reproduction of a vehicle originally made by another manufacturer.
* Vehicle must replicate a vehicle at least 20 years old.
* "Kit cars" may be replicas.
* May need to have form MV2855 PDF completed.

Reconstructed vehicles

* Vehicle must be constructed from a vehicle at least 20 years old.
* Vehicle must no longer be recognizable as the original vehicle.
* Vehicle must be inspected by a Wisconsin State Patrol Officer. An appointment for the inspection must be made in advance.
* Application materials must include bills of sale for all major parts used in the construction of the vehicle.

Motorized homemade vehicles

* Homemade motor vehicles, other than motorcycles, qualify for Hobbyist plates.
* Vehicle must have been constructed from new or used parts not originating from or resembling a previously manufactured motor vehicle.
* Homemade motorcycles that replicate a cycle at least 20 years old.
* Vehicle must be inspected by a Wisconsin State Patrol Officer. An appointment for the inspection must be made in advance.

Things you should know:

* Owners of a hobbyist vehicle must have at least one other vehicle used for regular transportation and currently registered in Wisconsin under the same name(s) as the hobbyist vehicle.
* Truck type vehicles and motor homes with Hobbyist plates cannot haul more than 500 pounds.
* Hobbyist plates are do not expire for as long as you own the hobbyist vehicle.
* Hobbyist vehicles cannot be operated during January unless a temporary operation plate is purchased. A five-consecutive-day plate may be purchased by sending form MV2750 with the correct fee to the address provided on the form.
* For second and subsequent Hobbyist plates, allow approximately 4-6 weeks for the manufacturing process after the new Certificate of Registration has been issued.

 

I believe many of the faster sport compacts will become classics because the sport compact car market today is dying. According to SportCompactCar magazine which I read from the last issue they said that they are issuing cause they are going out of business. The author wrote to say that auto makers are going to slowly stop making sport compacts and just make compact gas econo savers. And the only sport cars will be the high dollar exotics or high dollar high horsepower cars. I even heard that honda is going to stop making the s2000 and is bringing in a station wagon instead.

Also with ebay and cheaper off brand mods major brands for aftermarket mods are losing money. And will slowly go out of business too. And other companies that just sold high dollar mods that give no performance are going out of business too.

So what he said will happen is that companies will emerge to make restoration parts for your late model sport compacts and they will slowly be increasing in value.

So hold on to your soon to become classics.

This still could be hearsay, but sorta makes sense. With gas issues and the economy.

Honda still makes the civic, but is that really a compact? Its much larger than my 91 accord 4 door sedan which was honda's full size car at the time. Its also much larger than a prelude.