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Defining Antique, Vintage and Classic Cars
By David Johns of AllStangs.com
When first getting into the world of collectible automobiles you might be confused by the terminology that people use to describe different car eras. Is a first generation Mustang considered “vintage” or “classic”? How about a 1957 Chevy Bel Air? You might be surprised, but technically it's neither a classic or vintage. Antique Cars When referring to cars the term “antique” includes the very first automobiles; from the 1880’s through 1916. These machines represent the birth of the modern automobile and all of the early experiments and versions. Included in the “antique” category are the beginnings of the early combustion engine, but also early attempts using steam and electricity. Most antiques were very simplistic by today’s standard. They typically didn’t have an electric system, but instead used kerosene lanterns and manual hand crank starters. Many were little more then motorized carriages, with their basic design taken from horse drawn buggies. They had open cockpits and had very limited top speeds. After all, when driving on heavily rutted dirt and cobble stone roads, there’s little point to a car that can go 50 mph. Vintage Cars Cars built between 1916 and 1924 typically fit in the “vintage” category. Examples include the Model A, Model T, Studebakers, Chryslers, Chevrolets, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, etc. Although small car companies were still very abundant, the larger manufacturers were already leading the pack. Mass production and assembly lines defined this era, driving down costs, driving up popularity and improving on technology. One of the key improvements that define this “vintage” era is electric lighting and starters. Hand cranks used to start “antique” cars were troublesome and dangerous as they could kick back severely. Aesthetics started playing a bigger role in car design. Exterior lines became more flowing and accentuated. Fully enclosed cabs became popular for those wanting to drive in poor weather or just not get a face full of dust. Cars were becoming less of a novelty and more of a luxury; even necessity for commercial transport. Classic Cars By far this term is the most widely used, frequently for cars of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. However, according to the Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) defines a classic as a, "fine or unusual motor cars which were built between and including the years 1925 to 1948.” Unless you’re a member of the CCCA, this definition probably will surprise you. It’s just not what most car enthusiasts think of as a “classic”. The CCCA also calls these cars Full Classics or Grand Classics. These are small distinctions, but useful to explain the discrepancy between the CCCA definition and what most of us think of as a classic car. In reality what most of us think of as a classic is more properly a “modern classic.” This includes those ever popular cars from the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s. Cars like the Ford Mustang, Thunderbird, Chevrolet Camaro, Chevelle, Corvette, Bel Air, Cadillac and Pontiac GTO are all examples of a modern classic. Foreign cars also fit this category including the Jaguar XKE, MG, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo among others. Understanding the various categories of collectible cars is helpful when researching a car to buy, but don't forget the most important thing... Drive your car and enjoy the hobby, regardless of where your car fits into it.
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Contributor's Note
This article relates to my most enjoyable hobby of wrenching on muscle cars and 4x4's. I've owned over a dozen classic Mustangs, Cougars, GTO's and Mopars. I've even restored a few of them! (although many are still on the to-do list) Speaking of which, I'd better get off the computer and into the garage. Cheers!
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That was very informative. I had a customer once who drove his model A and his model T up to the top of the mountain where he lived in Montana. It was pretty much a logging road. He was telling me he could run on kerosene.
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This intel was contributed by Machinist
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May, 2012
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