Smiles were in abundance when the 100 Mile Cruzers Car Club classic car enthusiasts heard Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett – a long- time classic car enthusiast herself – explain ICBC's new extension to model years and expansions to modifications that now include the "muscle car" era on March 10.
"Many collector vehicle owners are from rural parts of B.C., and this opens up opportunities for them to join the very popular collector vehicle program. This inclusion of more car eras helps to expand the horizon of the collector car industry in B.C., and we are happy to help facilitate this change," said Barnett.
If you own a car or truck that was built in 1974 or earlier, now is your chance to join the collector program, which has been extended by 16 years from with the previous cutoff of 1958 or earlier, she said.
The modifications have been expanded to include replica (non-original) vehicles resembling production models built in 1942 or earlier, for example, allowing a 2014 Ubilt to be registered as the 1937 Ford it resembles, she explained.
The local MLA noted Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone had approved the change in partnership with ICBC and the Specialty Vehicle Association of British Columbia (SVABC), after SVABC had requested the update in 2013 to keep the program popular and updated with the times.
Barnett, who is also Minister of State for Rural Economic Development with Stone's ministry, told the Cruzers Car Club members she is pleased and the SVABC members are thankful to the ministry for hearing their request and "delighted that is is coming to fruition."
To qualify for the collector vehicle program as a modified vehicle, it must meet the following requirements:
• Registered as a 1974 model or older,
• in excellent condition,
• has been altered so that it resembles but is no longer identical in appearance to the original body, and
• has had one of the following components replaced or altered: chassis, engine and/or power train, suspension, steering and braking component.
To qualify for the collector vehicle program as a replica vehicle, it must meet the following requirements:
• Registered as a 1942 model or older,
• in excellent condition,
• be identical to in appearance or resemble the original body by the original vehicle manufacturer, and
• if your vehicle is approved, your collector plates will be sent to your Autoplan broker after June 30, 2017.
For more information, or to register, visit the website at www.icbc.com/ vehicle-registration/collector-mods/Pages/default.aspx.