2023 Delaware Code › Title 21 - Motor Vehicles › Chapter 21. REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES › Subchapter VII. Antique Motor Vehicles › § 2197. Street rods.

§ 2197. Street rods.
(a) If any modified antique motor vehicle manufactured more than 25 years prior to the current year, hereinafter referred to as a “street rod,” is duly registered in the State, the owner of such street rod may apply to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, on special application forms prescribed by the Secretary, for a special street rod motor vehicle plate, to be displayed on such street rod in lieu of the standard vehicle registration plate.
(b) Any street rod, registered pursuant to this section, shall be used only for participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades and similar uses, but in no event shall it be used for general transportation.
(c) Upon receipt of an application for a special street rod motor vehicle plate on a form prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary shall issue to such applicant a special street rod motor vehicle plate on a permanent basis, and it shall bear the inscription “STREET ROD” with yellow letters on a blue background. In addition, such plates shall have displayed thereon the word “DELAWARE,” the words “THE FIRST STATE,” the expiration date of the plates and the vehicle number assigned to the vehicle by the Secretary. This special plate shall be issued for the applicant's use only for such motor vehicle, and in the event of a transfer of title, the transferor shall surrender the special plate to the Secretary.
(d) Upon approval of the application the Secretary shall assess the applicant an initial fee of $25, in addition to the registration fee levied under this chapter. The special plate shall be renewed upon payment of the registration fee levied under this chapter.
(e) A “street rod” shall mean a vehicle, the body and frame of which were manufactured more than 25 years prior to the current year and which has been modified for safe road use, or a kit car which resembles that of an original vehicle manufactured more than 25 years prior to the current year and has also been modified for safe road use. For the purposes of this section “modified” means, but is not limited to, a substantial and material alteration, or replacement of the engine, drive-train, suspension or brake system or alteration of the body which may be chopped, channeled, sectioned, filled or otherwise changed dimensionally from the original manufactured body.
(f) Street rod requirements:
(1) Door latches. — Every street rod that is equipped with doors leading directly into a compartment that contains 1 or more seating accommodations shall be equipped with mechanically or electrically activated door latches which firmly and automatically secure the door when pushed closed and which allow each door to be opened from the inside by the activation of a convenient lever handle or other suitable device.
(2) Glazing. — Every street rod shall be equipped with a laminated safety glass windshield that complies with the provisions appearing in the current ANSI Z26.1 Standard, AS1 or AS10. The windshield shall be in such a position that it affords continuous horizontal frontal protection to the driver and front seat occupants.
The minimum vertical height of the windshield glass shall be not less than 7 inches, or as originally equipped by a recognized manufacturer.
a. Side and rear glass. — These items are not required, but if they are present, they must comply with the provisions of current ANSI Z26.1 Standard. (AS1, AS2, AS4, AS6, AS10, or AS11.)
b. Window tinting. — Shall be allowed only as permitted in Delaware Motor Vehicle Regulations, § 4313 of this title and [former] Division of Motor Vehicles Policy Regulation number 76 [see now 2 DE Admin. Code 2277].
(3) Hood latches. — A front opening hood should be equipped with a primary and a secondary latching system to hold in a closed position.
(4) Hood. — a. Hoods on street rods shall be optional, but if the hood, top and/or sides are removed from the vehicle, the fan must be enclosed within a shroud of substantial rigid material to prohibit anyone from inadvertently being injured and to prevent the fan from flying up from the engine compartment should it become loose.
b. Protrusions from engine compartment shall be no more than 6 inches above the highest point of the hood, or when the hood has been removed 6 inches above the highest point of the hood's normal location.
(5) Instrumentation & controls. — a. Speedometer. — Every street rod shall be equipped with an operating speedometer calibrated to indicate “miles per hour.”
b. Odometer. — Every street rod shall be equipped with an operating odometer calibrated to indicate “total miles driven.”
c. Steering wheel. — Every street rod shall be equipped with a circular steering wheel with an outside diameter of not less than 13 inches.
(6) Rear view mirror. — Every street rod shall be equipped with 2 rear view mirrors, each providing a clear field of vision 200 feet to the rear.
One shall be mounted on the inside of the vehicle in such a position that it affords the driver a clear view to the rear. The other shall be mounted on the outside of the vehicle on the driver's side in such a position that it affords the driver a clear view to the rear. When an inside mirror does not give a clear view to the rear due to window tint or other obstructions, a right-hand outside mirror shall be required in lieu thereof. The mirror mounting shall provide for mirror adjustment by tilting in both horizontal and vertical directions.
(7) Seat belts. — Every street rod shall be equipped with a safety belt system for each occupant of the vehicle. Any such safety belt system must at a minimum be a Type 1 (lap belt) and must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 209. All safety belts systems shall be securely anchored to the body or frame.
(8) Windshield wipers. — Every street rod shall be equipped with at least 1 windshield wiper installed in a position which effectively clears the windshield area directly in front of the driver. The operation of the windshield wiper shall be controlled by the driver from within the vehicle and shall be electrically or vacuum-operated.
(9) Accelerator control system. — Every street rod shall be equipped with an accelerator control system that returns the engine throttle to an idle position when the driver removes the actuating force from the accelerator control.
(10) Service brakes. — Every street rod shall be equipped with hydraulic brakes acting on all wheels. The service brakes, upon application, must meet all the requirements as specified in the Delaware Motor Vehicle Regulations, § 4303 of this title.
(11) Parking brakes. — Shall meet all the requirements of the Delaware Motor Vehicle Regulations, § 4304 of this title.
(12) Bumpers. — Shall be optional on street rods.
(13) Exhaust systems. — Every street rod shall be equipped with an exhaust system that is free of leaks including the exhaust manifolds (including headers), the piping leading from the flange of the exhaust manifold(s) and the tail piping.
Exhaust systems on street rods shall discharge the exhaust fumes at a location to the rear of the vehicle body or direct the exhaust fumes outward from the side of the vehicle body at a location rearward of any operable side windows. No part of the exhaust system shall pass through any area of the vehicle that is used as a passenger carrying compartment. Every street rod must be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise. Muffler cutouts or mufflers without internal baffle plates are prohibited.
(14) Fenders. —
Street rods shall not be required to have fenders on wheels.
(15) Fuel systems. — Every street rod shall have all fuel system components, such as tank tubing, hoses, clamps, etc., securely fastened to the vehicle with fasteners designed for this purpose so as not to interfere with the vehicles' operation and shall be leak proof.
Fuel lines shall be positioned so as not to be in contact with high temperature surfaces or moving components.
(16) Steering. — A street rod shall have no steering components extending below the wheel rims in their lowest position. The use of unconventional steering components such as chain drive, sprockets or electric solenoids shall be prohibited. The steering system shall remain unobstructed when turned from lock to lock.
(17) Suspension. — A street rod shall be equipped with a damping device at each wheel.
(18) Tires & wheels. — The tires and wheels on street rods shall comply with current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (D.O.T. approved). All tires must be grooved and have 3/32″ tread depth minimum.
(19) Electrical system. — a. Lighting. — 1. Street rods shall have a minimum of 2 headlights.
2. All headlights must be equipped with 2-position dimmer switch which will lower and raise the candle power of the headlights. Rheostat type switch not allowed.
3. Vehicle must be equipped with taillight, brake lights and a license plate light which illuminates the license plate.
4. Two taillights and 2 brake lights required. Each light shall provide 6 square inches of luminous lens area unless a National Street Rod Association inspector verifies the lights are original equipment.
5. All replacement lenses shall be made of approved reflective material.
6. Street rods shall have turn signals, front and rear. Each turn signal shall provide 6 square inches of luminous lens area, unless a National Street Rod Association inspector verifies the turn signals are original equipment.
b. Horn. — Every street rod shall be equipped with a horn that is electrically operated and that will emit a minimum sound level of 92 db(A) measured at a distance of 200 feet directly in front of the vehicle under clear weather conditions. The switch used to actuate the horn shall be easily accessible to the driver when operating the vehicle.
(20) Automatic transmission lockout. — Street rods equipped with an automatic transmission shall have a neutral safety switch which allows the vehicle to start in either neutral and/or park only.
(21) Emission. — Street rods shall be exempt from state and federal emission standards.
(22) Except as required by this section, unless the presence of certain equipment was specifically required by a statute of this State as a condition of sale when the vehicle was manufactured, the presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered under this section.
61 Del. Laws, c. 62, §  2;  67 Del. Laws, c. 411, §§  13, 14;  71 Del. Laws, c. 321, §  1;  72 Del. Laws, c. 336, §  1;  74 Del. Laws, c. 110, §§  45, 46;  76 Del. Laws, c. 207, §§  1, 2;  79 Del. Laws, c. 256, §  1;  82 Del. Laws, c. 40, § 1;