More stats on 99 VR4s, 95 3000GT Spyder VR4s, and 95 R/T TTs

[curt_gendron]

Back in May I was surfing around the Minnesota government website reading through the statutes concerning collector cars. Found an interesting clause in it that states if a car is 10 years old and only 500 units of that make and model were sold in the United States, it would qualify as a collector car. Of course I then thought, hmmm, I have a bunch of cars that are over 10 years old.

I have a 99 3000GT VR4, a 95 3000GT Spyder VR4, and a 95 Stealth R/T TT. All of those I knew were hovering or under the 500 mark. So first I contacted Mitsubishi about my 99 VR4 since its tabs were due at the end of May. I received a letter from Mitsubishi stating that 274 99 VR4s were sold in the United States. (this varies slightly from the wiki page stating 287) So then I was off to the DMV to apply for collector plates. I did get a little grief from them since my 99 is only 12 years old. (collector cars in MN are suppose to be 20 years old). But I showed them the statue referring to the 500 units or less made. I paid for my plates and then four weeks later, I got them in the mail:
http://mn3s.org/99-collector.jpg

Then I started to work on my 95 Stealth and 95 Spyder. I was worried about getting any information out of Chrysler since they pretty much don't care about the Stealth. But I did get a letter out of them stating 365 95 Stealth R/T TTs were sold in the United States. Unfortunately, the Spyder just missed the 500 unit cutoff. There were 520 95 3000GT Spyder VR4s sold in the US according to Mitsubishi.

So I was able to submit the paperwork to get collector plates for my 95 Stealth. I haven't got them yet since the MN government had a nice little shutdown in June, but I should be getting them anytime. The Spyder will have to wait three more years until it hits 20 years old. :(

There are a couple of really nice benefits for collector plates in Minnesota. No more buying tabs for it, EVER! Also, you don't need to run a front plate when you have collector plates. One more possible benefit is window tinting. In MN cars are only suppose to have 50% tint. It very vague whether this law applies to collector cars. I may have to test that one sometime. LOL

I just changed my signature picture. After this whole process I really realized just how rare of a collection of 3/Ses I've gathered. :coo3l:

later,
Curt

[DocWalt]

Wow, that really is a pretty rare collection. All black too, very nice :p

[AdamVR4]

Holy shit. I need more pics of your cars. The ass-end of that '99 looks immaculate!

[curt_gendron]

Holy shit. I need more pics of your cars. The ass-end of that '99 looks immaculate!

LOL. You can browse through this thread for more pics from right after I bought my 99 last year: Minnesota 3/S • View topic - New pics of the armada (not 56k friendly) (http://forums.mn3s.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4595)

[AdamVR4]

I sent those pictures to a couple friends and the wife... "This is our goal"... LOL... God damn I need to drive my car again.

[green-lantern]

Very nice collection you got there Curt! I’m very envious! The black is my favorite color also.

Good info, Congrats on the tags

[92pearltt]

Good stuff Curt I am going to get them for both my stealths now. Who did you email from Chrysler to get the production numbers or would you mind just sending me a copy of the letter they sent you.

[curt_gendron]

Good stuff Curt I am going to get them for both my stealths now. Who did you email from Chrysler to get the production numbers or would you mind just sending me a copy of the letter they sent you.

I'll make a copy and put it on the MN 3/S board. We probably have 10 club members with 95 R/T TTs. That is 3.6% of all the 95s out there. Very cool.

[j2k4]

Beautiful selection of mechanicals, Curt.

[Jimvr4]

Curt, if your Spyder was a 96 you would have been below 500. You should have bought the rarer one :p

[IPD]

i have more respect for 95tt's now. that makes < 500 total z15's sold in the USA. wow.

[curt_gendron]

Curt, if your Spyder was a 96 you would have been below 500. You should have bought the rarer one :p

Yep, the 96s are a lot more rare. But I like the light beige leather much better than the darker beige they used in 96+ cars. We affectionately call the darker beige "camel toe" in the MN 3/S club. :D And I think all 96 Spyders are stuck with camel toe. To each there own.

[J-Groove]

Great work!

I will have to check Texas law for collectors plates.

Who and what did you email at Mitsu for the verification?

Thanks,
-John

[AdamVR4]

Let me know what you find out John :)

[Jimvr4]

Yep, the 96s are a lot more rare. But I like the light beige leather much better than the darker beige they used in 96+ cars. We affectionately call the darker beige "camel toe" in the MN 3/S club. :D And I think all 96 Spyders are stuck with camel toe. To each there own.

I couldn't agree more. I bought the 95 black/ivory because I loved the lighter interior. I put all new leather in mine and made a point matching it to stock as close as possible. And it's rare enough already for me. If I had bought a 96 I would have gone for a red or white with the camel toe. That interior jest doesn't go with black imo

[J-Groove]

Let me know what you find out John :)

I just did some quick digging. Same 25 years or older as before. I will do more digging during lunch to see about a limited run exception.

Also, Adam, I do know of a black '99 VR-4 that may be for sale soon.

-John

[AdamVR4]

I just did some quick digging. Same 25 years or older as before. I will do more digging during lunch to see about a limited run exception.

Also, Adam, I do know of a black '99 VR-4 that may be for sale soon.

-John


It would take a pretty special deal for me to consider it, but shoot me a link when it happens :)

[curt_gendron]

Here is the Minnesota statue concerning collector plates:
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=168.10

Subd 1c. is the part that pertains to the 500 or less sold in the US. Its in that first paragraph. I have no idea if other states have a clause like that. But I'm sure glad I found it. B)

[J-Groove]

Here is the Minnesota statue concerning collector plates:
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=168.10

Subd 1c. is the part that pertains to the 500 or less sold in the US. Its in that first paragraph. I have no idea if other states have a clause like that. But I'm sure glad I found it. B)

Thank you for the post. Also, your 3 3S' are just amazing!!

Adam, bad news for us Texas guys, I can fin no amendments and for VTR-850 is clear about the 25 years or older rule as being the verification. We still have to wait. Which mean, we still have to get emissions inspections. Once you get the classic plate then it is only safety inspections.

I did learn that the classic plate costs and extra $15 a year, didn't know that. But with only a safety inspection and no emissions inspection that will save almost $40 a year so you will still be money ahead.


-John

[NOMIEZVR4]

Wow...what a collection!! :D

[JohnnyTurbo]

I have an Ohio collector's plate on my '96 VR4 and it was a similar process. In Ohio, they have a list and also go off of some auction book that is generally in the 25+ year range EXCEPT for newer cars that you can prove collect-ability on. I would see new Vettes and Camaros with blowers out of the hood with collectors plates and say, hmmmmmm. For a newer car, the main hurdle is showing where over $5000 in modifications have been done on the vehicle. Also is a requirement that a letter stating why the vehicle is collectible be sent in with the application. I just used the WIKI print out and the story of your car from 3SI where it showed mine is one of 315 '96 VR4s and one of 76 with the same interior and exterior colors. That seemed good enough for Ohio BMV as the application was processed and approved the same day it was received. I plan on doing the same for my '92 RTTT as I have a stack of receipts totaling $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. For our collector's plates, they are still annual and cost $5 more than whatever your regular fee would be.

[mcshooter]

both our stealth and vr4 have collector plates, they are both 1992s the only advantage to having collector plates here in ohio is you dont have to go thru e check . but both cars had always passed even with the egr removed, they could not run them on the rollers with all wheel drive. we have pictures of the cars we sent in showing all the work along with over 10 grand in oe parts, you need reciepts of 2500 if you do the work or 5000 if you have a shop do it. along with the 3s production numbers. you still have to renew your plate every year .. also now if you store your car for 6 months you still pay the full year cost of the plates.both cars have been put into show car condition

[curt_gendron]

Its interesting to see the differences for collector plates in other states. Sounds like it is easier to get collector plates in Ohio, but there aren't as many advantages as Minnesota. In MN we don't have any kind of emissions or safety checks for cars. Collector cars don't need front plates (which isn't a big deal for states with no front plates) and the biggest advantage is never having to pay for tabs again. Buy the plate and your done.

later,
Curt

[curt_gendron]

A little update. I just received my plates for my 95 Stealth. Here is a pic of my two "collector" cars:
http://mn3s.org/collector.jpg

later,
Curt

[wingnut]

^^^nice job sir!

for those of us stuck on the left coast...california has V C Section 5004 Vehicles of Historic Value, but that seems to regulate using of the car for "purposes of exhibition and historic vehicle club activities" :(

next up would be their definition of collector...Collector Vehicle – is a special interest vehicle of any age which is unaltered from the manufacturer's original specifications. Because of the vehicle's significance, such as an out-of-production vehicle, or a model of less than 2,000 vehicles sold in California in any model year, it is being collected, preserved, restored, or maintained by a collector or hobbyist for purposes of restoration, maintenance, or exhibition.

...but i have yet to find a mention of a "collector plate" out here?!?

[J-Groove]

Curt, that is awesome!!

-John

[niterydr]

Curt, Did you find anything regarding mileage stipulations? I've thought about putting collector plates on my 92, but don't want the Eden Prairie cops to bother me saying they see it everyday in the summer.

[UTRacerX9]

Very cool. TX unfortunately a car has to be 25 years old to get collector plates. I am very much looking forward to it, as emissions no longer needs to be done.

[curt_gendron]

Curt, Did you find anything regarding mileage stipulations? I've thought about putting collector plates on my 92, but don't want the Eden Prairie cops to bother me saying they see it everyday in the summer.

In MN you have to have another car with regular plates and your "collector" car can't be used for daily transportation needs. So I wouldn't drive it to work every day in the summer. On January 1st, you can go start the registration process for a 1992 car.

I'm guessing by the time we are ready to drive our cars in the Spring, the MN 3/S group should have about 10 3/Ses with collector plates. Time for a photo op! LOL

later,
Curt

[mcshooter]

in ohio if your car is 25 years old you can get historical plates which is a one time thing. a car with a collector plate is easy to read .. it starts with the letters OC . i douth there are 10 3s in ohio with collector plates as the areas in ohio where the politicans live do not have any e check ..

[aaronatstate]

in ohio if your car is 25 years old you can get historical plates which is a one time thing. a car with a collector plate is easy to read .. it starts with the letters OC . i douth there are 10 3s in ohio with collector plates as the areas in ohio where the politicans live do not have any e check ..

I doubt it too, since 1991 was only 20 years ago...

[keo92stealth]

sick collection. you better keep these. in the future, your lookin at some real $$ for them babies!

[gs1000kat]

I have an Ohio collector's plate on my '96 VR4 and it was a similar process. In Ohio, they have a list and also go off of some auction book that is generally in the 25+ year range EXCEPT for newer cars that you can prove collect-ability on. I would see new Vettes and Camaros with blowers out of the hood with collectors plates and say, hmmmmmm. For a newer car, the main hurdle is showing where over $5000 in modifications have been done on the vehicle. Also is a requirement that a letter stating why the vehicle is collectible be sent in with the application. I just used the WIKI print out and the story of your car from 3SI where it showed mine is one of 315 '96 VR4s and one of 76 with the same interior and exterior colors. That seemed good enough for Ohio BMV as the application was processed and approved the same day it was received. I plan on doing the same for my '92 RTTT as I have a stack of receipts totaling $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. For our collector's plates, they are still annual and cost $5 more than whatever your regular fee would be.

Missed this thread somehow. Did a quick google search and found pretty much what you are saying.

From the "APPLICATION FOR COLLECTOR’S LICENSE PLATES":


“Collector’s Vehicle” means any motor vehicle or agricultural tractor or traction engine of special interest having a fair market value of one hundred dollars or more, whether operable or not, that is owned, operated, collected, preserved, restored, maintained or used essentially as a collector’s item, leisure pursuit or investment, but not as the owner’s principal means of transportation.
Due to passage of supplementary legislation, additional criteria is required for the issuance of collector’s license plates. To ensure that all vehicles registered as collector vehicles are truly collectible, we now reference the National Automobile Dealers Association Classic, Collectible and Special Interest Car Appraisal Guide. If the vehicle is not listed in this guide, we do have other comparable publications that are similarly authoritative and include the 4th Edition Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 (Krause Publications) or The New Complete Book of Collectible Cars 1930-1990 (Consumer Guide). Vehicle models not listed in these publications may be considered collector vehicles if the applicant obtains documentation from the manufacturer that the vehicle was in limited production or is in demand as a collectible vehicle at the time of application. To ensure every opportunity is afforded for the applicant to be granted collector’s license plates, additional consideration will be granted to applicants providing photographs to substantiate vehicle collectibility.

[curt_gendron]

As a little follow up to the collector plate thing. Several of the MN 3/S club members have collector plates now. I've got two, Oskar has two. Josh, Andy, Eric, John all got there plates. A few others are working on getting their collector plates. Should have about a dozen 3/Ses with collector plates by the end of the year for the MN 3/S guys. Here is the backends of three of them from the Tuesday meet last night:

http://forums.mn3s.org/download/file.php?id=670

later,
Curt