It may be worth looking at "Standards in the Museum Care of Collections: Larger and Working Objects" which is available for download at http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/special_collection/large_working_objects 

When acquiring items for the working collection I would recommend making it clear to donors that items are being accepted into that collection as opposed to the "permenant" collection.  You should probably have a distinct disposal policy for that collection which could include an option to "dispose if beyond economic repair".  If donors are going to continue to operate items they donate then I would try to make it clear to them that the Museums Health & Safety policies, conservation policies and safe working policies will have to apply after donation and that this may mean that they won't be able to operate the vehicles in exactly the same way they did when they owned them.   

Trevor Reynolds
Collections Registrar
English Heritage, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138 Holborn, London EC1N 2ST
Telephone +44 (0)20 7973 3482



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