http://www.trainweb.org/norm/roster/CRC_CD_05.htm
In the 1960's this was the sobriqet given to Shaker Heights Rapid Transit car #12 (G.C. Kuhlman, 1914) by the railfan group that restored it in 1963 and then used it for chartered railfan trips for a number of years. Currently #12 resides and still operates at the Northern Ohio Railway Museum southwest of Cleveland.
When that claim was made San Francisco's car #1 ("Wonderful One"), built in that city in 1912, wasn't operating as it does today (when it isn't undergoing repairs). Also, there was no Internet to verify or confuse things and there's been a good deal of traction restoration in the past 55 years or more.
Question: In your opinion, what's the oldest operating streetcar in North America in 2022?
I would vote for the Perley Thomas streetcars currently operating on Canal Street in New Orleans.
NKP guyQuestion: In your opinion, what's the oldest operating streetcar in North America in 2022?
The New Orleans St. Charles line mentioned by Paul is considered the oldest continuously running line in the world. Chartered 1833, first run 1834 and first revenue run 1835. Electrified 1893. The Perley Thomas cars currently in use were built 1922-1924.
But, if I understand NKP's question, he's looking for oldest operating car, and I think New Orleans may still be in the running. Car #29 is currently in use as a maintenance car. It was built in 1896 or 1899 (depending on which book I read) by Standard Car Co. in St. Louis to a Ford Bacon Davis design.
Original design except platforms have been enclosed by vestibules:
http://friedman.cs.illinois.edu/album/Pic01-045.htm
Current configuration as maintenance car:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=ZnZ7iKYS&id=8F8EFD89700F1DAAA875F0292044EEBFE75054F6&thid=OIP.ZnZ7iKYSE6ZwxLjv_n1zogHaFj&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fnolahistoryguy.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F03%2Fnorta29_at_claiborne_20090710.jpg&exph=600&expw=800&q=new+orleans+streetcar+history&form=IRPRST&ck=C7F761F1A4773988BA2C58C9E4DDF2FC&selectedindex=4&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0&vt=0&sim=11&pivotparams=insightsToken%3Dccid_XSGsqJk4*cp_FC8EA762FD04D11B1C6F7FE754A43CEE*mid_F29A08E06CA3887081D7B775B917810A613F94F1*simid_608048549247912977*thid_OIP.XSGsqJk4GvGoy-KMMxqknAHaEz&iss=VSI&simid=608020567534480842&cdnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fth.bing.com%2Fth%2Fid%2FR.66767b88a61213a670c4b8effe7d73a2%3Frik%3D9lRQ57%252fuRCAp8A%26pid%3DImgRaw%26r%3D0
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
The Fox River Trolley museum operates former AE&C (later Chcago, Aurora & Elgin) car #20 which was built in 1902. We think it is the oldest operating interurban car. Not a streetcar but......
https://foxtrolley.org/equipment-roster
Rio Vista Junction had an 1895 car in running condition, originally built as a cable car and then converted to electric. OREM has a circa 1895 car from Kyoto that at least was in running condition (may still be).
SF MUNI has an operating car built about 1895 that is regularly used for fan-trips and for riders on special occasions. The oldest operating in its original city,
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