In the US there are many people for whom the ownership of classic cars is a hobby and a passion, but in some less affluent areas of the globe it has been an enforced and unavoidable part of life.

Earlier in the year the news that Cubans would be able to trade in their vintage vehicles, most of which originated from 1950s American designs, for newer models, was headline news. Now it is the turn of Burmese people to get an upgrade which will see their anachronistic collection of classic cars exchanged for more modern replacements.

Most of the cars owned privately in Burma dated from between the 1960s and the 1980s, with one taxi driver telling the Chicago Tribune that he had been running a Mazda B-600 from the 1960s in order to support his work.

Under new government rulings, it will be possible for people to exchange their ageing vehicles in order to gain a licence, which will let them import a car built no earlier than 1995.

Many Western nations have sanctions placed on the import of vehicles to Burma, but following a regime change earlier in the year, it could be possible that these will be lifted. In turn, classic vehicles might flow in the other direction.