<VV> Corvairs with 'Antique' plates

[Arlette Carl]

Hi everyone,
 
About 4 or 5 years ago my wife and I purchased our 1965 Corvair Monza convertible over ebay from Australia. We then travelled from Australia to the the USA (Wheeling West Virginia to be exact), took deliver of our 65' Monza convertible, drove it across the USA to Los Angeles from where we shipped it back to Australia and we are now well advanced with its ground restoration to probably better than brand new condition.
 
The seller was not easy to deal with in that his knowledge of Corvairs and selling cars generally seemed limited. Maybe this limited knowledge was genuine or there were other reasons, but I think he was simply lacking any real understanding of handling these transitions, particular when the buyer was from another country.
 
When I collected our Corvair it had a single West Virginian Antique number plate mounted in on the rear but no plate at the front. The seller assured me that the Corvair was registered for road use, and I guess 5 years on it no longer really matters much if it was or was not registered.
 
Looking back I am now of the view that my wife and I (without realising it at the time) drove our 1965 Corvair a total 5,500 miles across the USA 'unregistered'. I say this because it is now my understanding that with these West Virginia Antique plates:
 
The vehicle:
1. Must primarily be used for antique exhibitions, parades, and related activities. 
2. May be used for general transportation needs from 4 p.m. on Fridays through the end of the weekend, and on holidays.
3. Cannot be transferred to another owner.
4. Antique plates carry a one-time $35 fee, which covers 10 years.

We did have extensive personal & property insurance cover for ourselves and the Corvair, but I am nevertheless happy we were not involved in an accident. 
 
What does everyone think? Am I right in believing that we probably drove this Corvair unregistered through numerous states across the United States before shipping it back to Australia?
 
Just wondered.
 
Carl L. Kelsen
1965 RHD Monza convertible
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
 		 	   		  
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