wobble and rattle

[Neil MG]

Not sure about any of those.

If I had a car built in 1947, like an MGTC say, with a folding windscreen I would not have to replace it with a fixed screen or fit a screen wash mechanism, to be able to use the car today. Same with the brake lights. If the car was originally built and used legally without them (in this case it would probably have to be vintage) do they really need to be fitted? (Some of those cars still have parrafin lights!)

Same as there is no need to fit seat belts or flashing indicators in my Series II.

Doesn't matter if the car is from the 19th century regarding two red rear reflectors though. They must be retro fitted before the car can be used on a public road.

Or have I missed something?

[mike.perry]

Or to have the courtesy to switch off their headlights when in slow city traffic (or stopped) close behind another car....

If the headlights are adjusted correctly then the beam cutoff should be well below the back window of the car in front.

You do not have to change your folding screen for a fixed screen but if you have fixed screen you should have washers.
Pre legislaion many cars had one "D" light on the end of the number plate, another was fitted on the other end to comply.
The early Minors replaced the white reflector with a tail light to match the offside. I have an early tail light with a white reflector which was painted red to match the other side. If a car was fitted with parafin lights then I would imagine that it would be exempt, probably because it was not capable of reaching speeds where they would be necessary

[bmcecosse]

As I am sure you know - often they are NOT adjusted correctly = and many cars these days are high mounted - 4X4 things - the lights shine right IN the back window..... I usually put my fog warning lights on to compensate -and keep my foot on the brake too. Fortunately the rear lights are high mounted on the flanks - so the red glare should be quite obvious to the nit-wits behind.