Automotive tourism is one of the best parts of traveling abroad — especially in France, where dozens of instantly identifiable classics putter the historic streets of Paris to create the perfect ambiance. Until recently, French cars have almost universally possessed their own unique brand of avant garde design: dignified, but whimsical; fashion-forward, but still approachable. The streets of Paris have been the perfect place to witness automotive history in motion — until now. ClassicCars.com reports that all cars registered before 1997 will be part of the ban on cars and prohibited from entering the inner city on weekdays from July 1, 2016.

Authorities hope that people will forego their cars in favor of public transportation, relieving traffic congestion and decreasing carbon emissions from older vehicles. There’s no mention yet of an exemption for genuine classics, such as the iconic Citroen DS or Citroen SM. Rally-bred sports car legends such as the Renault R5 and Peugeot 106 Rallye are banned from entering downtown Paris as well.

Car enthusiasts will eventually have to travel outside Paris altogether to see vintage cars in the metal, as the older car ban will gradually extend to prohibit the operation of a vehicle under ten years old in any part of the city.

While it’s generally true that newer vehicles produce less carbon emissions than their predecessors, the carbon emissions created in the process of building a new car from scratch must be factored in when calculating the true carbon footprint comparison. Well-maintained cars pollute less, so remember to get to the bottom of any check engine light that appears in your dashboard.

THERE'S MORE TO PULL-A-PART THAN CHEAP USED AUTO PARTS