This Mofo's Got History

Back when we lived in Virginia, we frequented the boonie mechanic shop with no lift to make sure our frame-cancer Volvo passed inspection. Here in Maryland, things are a bit easier. If a road bomb can't pass, folks go historic. Cars with historic plates can skip inspection. Or maybe I'm being cynical. In addition to the fine Grand Prix above, check out two other Baltimore historics I saw this weekend. Historic? You decide.

Thunderbird: The Model that Fits the Wine
By the time this Ford Thunderbird came off the line, most of the fine T-Birds the Beach Boys sang about were rotting away in junkyards. To qualify as historic, the MVA says a car must be at least 20 years old. And it must not be substantially altered from original. Although the chesty chrome goddess chilling on the T-bird's hood isn't stock, we're guess it's a period correct mod, so this owner is good. He's surely having a hard time sourcing a NOS blinker.

Ricer 4x4 Club President
I didn't have a pen to take down the make of model of this historic Asian mudder. And I can't remember if it's a Toyota, a Mazda or a Suzuki. So we're lucky that guys like these are starting a club so the breed doesn't die out. According to the MVA, cars with historic plates can't be daily drivers (who would want to mess up their classic?). They can only be driven during parades, exhibitions, club events -- that sort of thing. I didn't notice any similar 4X4s parked on Calvert Street next to this one. Must have been the first to arrive.