(1) The owner of any street rod may apply to the tax collector in the county of his legal residence on an application prescribed therefor by the State Tax Commission, for a special street rod license plate to be displayed on his street rod.

Upon receipt of an application for a street rod license plate, and upon payment of the fee as prescribed in this section, the tax collector shall issue to the applicant such special plate on a permanent basis, and it shall bear no date but shall bear the inscription “Street Rod-Mississippi” and shall be valid without renewal as long as the automobile is in existence. This special plate shall be issued for the applicant’s use only, and in the event of a transfer of title, the owner shall surrender the special plate to the tax collector.

Such special plates shall be issued in lieu of, and shall have the same legal significance as, ordinary registration plates.

In lieu of the annual license tax and registration fees, a special license tax fee shall be levied on the operation of street rods. The fee for a license shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00), and it shall be issued on a permanent basis without renewal. The fee, less five percent (5%) thereof to be retained by the county tax collector, shall be remitted to the State Tax Commission on a monthly basis as prescribed by the commission. The portion of the additional fee retained by the tax collector shall be deposited into the county general fund. The portion of the fee remitted to the Tax Commission shall be deposited into the State Treasury on the day it is received and shall be deposited by the State Treasurer into the State General Fund.

(2) For the purpose of this section, “street rod” shall mean any modified antique automobile or truck produced by an American manufacturer in 1948 or earlier which has undergone some type of modernizing, including modernization of the engine, transmission, drivetrain, interior refinements and any other modifications the builder desires, which vehicle is to be driven under its own power and is to be used as a safe, nonracing vehicle for family enjoyment.