Antique Classics
The term Antique Classics is used in reference to old cars.
According to Antique Automobile Club of America, an antique car is generally
defined as a car over 25 years of age. However, the exact legal definition for
the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely from State to State.
With about 12 years being the normal design life of modern cars, 25 years is
about double and therefore a car that's reached 25 is a rare survivor, and
probably not economic to maintain as regular transportation.
The term Classic Car is often used synonymously with the term Antique car, but
the formal definition of that term is restricted to specific high-quality
vehicles from the pre-World War II era which began with the Great Depression in
1930 and ended with the recovery after World War II in 1948.
The Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) defines the term Classic as a 'fine' or
'distinctive' automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between
1925 and 1948. A Classic was high-priced when it was introduced and was built
in very limited quantities.
Although, by the 1930s most of the manufacturing technologies had already been
invented, certain factors like including engine displacement, custom coachwork
and luxury accessories, such as power brakes, power clutch, and automatic
lubrication systems, help determine whether a car can be considered a Classic.
Some exemplary pre-war Antique Classics are:
1. 1934-1940 Bugatti Type 57. The Type 57SC has become the singular classic
car.
2. 1934 Citroen Traction Avant. Has the distinction of being the first
mass-produced front-wheel drive car.
3. 1936 MG T series, a sports car meant especially for American soldiers
fighting in the war.
4. 1938 Volkswagen Beetle, the most-famous automobile of all times. It was a
pre-war design that continues to exist even in the present times.
The CCCA Club keeps a thorough list of the vehicles they consider Classics, and
while any member may petition for a vehicle to join the list, such applications
are carefully scrutinized and very rarely is a new vehicle type admitted.
They also acknowledge the fact that their rather exclusive definition of a
classic car is by no means universally followed and hence they generally use
terms such as 'CCCA Classic' or the trademarked 'Full Classic' to avoid
confusion.
After 1930 the number of auto manufacturers came down sharply, as the industry
consolidated, and developed after the war more advances in engine design were
made, like the compression V8 engines and modern bodies from General Motors,
Oldsmobile and Cadillac brands.
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