I think you’re overestimating the size of Bethel Garage, they’ve got like 30 employees and $2.9 million in revenge. Ok, pretty big for a local towing company, but that’s not exactly legions of high paid VPs working on the penthouse level of a skyscraper size. They probably have like two people, tops, that are even…

How was a random parking lot 5 months later the first opportunity the dealer had to repossess the car, if Steelman was apparently driving it to work at the dealership? I mean, it was parked somewhere on their own damn premises the day the fraudulent deal was done, they couldn't just get it then or another day before…

no, they did aluminum Roamers as well, starting from the early 60s. By the time this one was made in 1970, I believe the aluminum hulls were outselling steel 

Chop it up, use it as an aggregate in asphalt or concrete (there’s studies, it actually seems to reduce cracking and spalling)

They built it into the seat belt instead of the wheel.

The airbag is contained within the lap portion of the seatbelt, like on some airplanes, but this is the first time its been done in a car. Downside - somewhat thicker/heavier belt, upside - vintage thin steering wheel with chrome horn ring. I’m OK with that tradeoff.

That is really useful, really illustrates what’s going on here. Hood, bed, roofline, and window sill height have all increased dramatically, almost entirely due to styling trends, and, while length has grown by 1-2 feet (for probably no functional reason, either), the other increases make it look way worse. Like if a…

If it's got a tag on the body with the date it left the assembly line and the phrase "this vehicle conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect on the date of manufacture shown above", then it's still golden 

It isn’t off road capability they’re after, they now consider any vehicle not certified by the federal DOT as complying with federal safety rules on the date it was built as being suitable only for off-road use (eg, on private property), and illegal for use on the public roads and highways. An off road vehicle just…

The relevant bill was introduced by a Democratic state representative, with a Republican co-sponsor, and signed into law by a Democratic governor. Both of the Big Two monopoly parties have their fingerprints on this one 

Yeah, but if it's a car that absolutely cannot be registered in Maine, is it totally the same thing? I mean, you're not cheating the state out of tax on your Delica, if the state themselves are the ones making it impossible for them to collect their own tax on it by not allowing you to register it. No tax is due to…

Yeah, that is ambiguous. The law doesn’t say anything about cars that predate FMVSS, whether imported or domestic. I guess, if someone at the state wanted to get really anal about it, the statute is probably broad enough that they could just void the registrations for all pre-1968 vehicles across the board. Anything…

She clarified it - old cars that met FMVSS when they were new are eligible for antique plates, old cars that never met FMVSS can’t be registered at all. You can choose to put antique plates on a 1996 Chevy Cavalier, but you can’t put any plates, antique or not, on a 1996 Mitsubishi Delica

The first version of FMVSS went into effect on January 1st, 1968, from that date, all vehicles sold in the United States have been required to have placards attached to their body shell attesting to their conformity with FMVSS in effect on the date of manufacture. Maine’s amended vehicle code simply says that any…

No, they already have catalytic convertors, and likely would pass a basic tailpipe emissions test anyway. The Maine legislature passed a new law in June that classifies any vehicle not in conformity with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect on the date it was manufactured as an off-road vehicle, making…

There doesn’t seem to be any specific carve-out for any categories of vehicles that are not FMVSS-compliant (eg home builds, kit cars, customs), so, I guess, the only real answer on that is that they remain legal unless and until the BMV gets around to declaring they’re not. As far as forms not being updated, this was…

yes, that is probably the impetus. The federal government (NHTSA/EPA) allows newer kei trucks (less than 25 years old) to be imported for off-road use only, but only ones 25+ years old are legal for on-road use, and any vehicles imported under an off-road exemption can’t ever be put on the road after reaching the…

No, they did change a law, this stems from an Act to Amend the Motor Vehicle Laws (HP1049/LD1433), which was signed by Governor Mills on June 15th of this year. It broadened the definition of “off-road vehicle” to mean any vehicle not originally built to conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in effect…

No, they’ve closed any possible classic car loophole for non-USDM imported vehicles. This is the result of Maine amending its law to redefine what constitutes an “off road” vehicle - basically, anything not built to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards is now an off-road vehicle, and can’t be registered…

Bottom line - any vehicle manufactured after January 1st, 1968 that was not originally built for sale in the United States is now illegal in the State of Maine, unless the owner can obtain a letter from the manufacturer certifying that the vehicle is complaint with US standards as of the date of manufacture, which,…