Old School World, Classics.

Classic, the word used quiet commonly to define the old or aged items. We also use the word vintage to describe things that are really old. Today lets go old school and discuss about some classic or vintage cars. A car is called classic car if it is older than 20 to 40 years. That is at least 20 years older and not more than 40 but that is not a limit. There are different divisions of classic cars that is the classic vintage and antique. So is there any difference between the classic and antique car? Yeah there is. An antique car is a car older than 45 years and the vintage car is the oldest among the three categories the cars older than 45 years is called a vintage car. And the classic cars are the cars which are older than 20 years. The requirements for a car to be vintage, classic or antique is simple. For a car to be vintage it should be manufactured between the 1919 s and the 1930 s. and for a car to be an antique car it should be manufactured between 1975 or earlier. There is another category historic Status Certain states have specific designations for antique vehicles, deeming them “historic” as opposed to comparatively newer classic cars. So these are the division of classic cars no I mean old cars. So now obviously a question will rise, when was actually the classic cars started production? Recordically the first classic car conservation society was taken shape in the United States and for year the organization has insisted that the distinctive or fine cars manufactured between the 1915 and 1948. And mean while in the UK the preservation has rooted with the formation of authorities such as the Royal Automotive Club, and these clubs laid a strong foundation to the classic car culture out there in the Europe. Like the automotive clubs everywhere the vintage club conducts several drives as a part of the society. The most famous among them is the London-Brighton-run where the veteran classic cars participated, these cars are built between the 1885 and 1903. but things got downhill as the tragic events of the wall street clash and the bankruptcy of Bentley made it feel like the end of the golden era. According to these categories the cars built from 1931 to 1939 is considered as the post vintage cars.

The 1930s was a tough decade for the automakers all around the world. After the world war the reconstruction was pretty tough and the prewar designs took the initiative for the

reconstruction. The 1940s saw the ultimate rebirth of the automobile industry after the tragic World war period. The world war caused the massive destruction or the shift from the automobile making to the making of war related goodies. So the re transformation from a war related factory to an automobile manufacturing factory was tougher than expected. There comes the waking pill that is the prewar design which is the new world classics. The prominent prewar designs include the Morgan 4/4 Peugeot 402 Lancia Aprilla Ford Perfect E93A and many more. These prewar designs shared a common design philosophy that was the classic design theme which was really elegant and practical with the chrome elements on the front end and many other pockets. 

Now coming east towards the Europe, Britain was the birth place of luxury in the automobile industry with the elegant luxurious and impressive British saloons the Europe gained fame among the royal families. The British car makers who are famous for their luxury includes the Rolls Royce, Bentley, Land Rover and so on. The most iconic classics from the British land is the Austin Sheerline Daimler DE36 Rolls Royce Silver wraith Humber Pullman II etc.. 

From luxury to some adrenaline junkie sports saloons.  From the eastern European

countries.  With the automobile industry slowly growing back to power after the war many of the European automakers were planning to re introduce the sports cars. The Britisher jaguar introduced the XK120 the fastest production car of the era. Which went on to set speed records and sire successful racing machines. Then the Italian company was set up to focus on the production of racing cars and obviously as you know the that was a milestone and that is none other than the Ferrari. Things began to shift up when the Ferrari began focusing on street legal race cars. With high performance and the racing legacy the Ferrari earned place on the mind of every automobile enthusiasts. Some of the sports saloon during the 1940s are the Jaguar XK120 Ferrari 166MM Brachetta and many more. Ok these are basically some historic cars which are classics. 

Now lets check more about the classic world yeah exactly about the classics all around the

world. There are many clubs for the recognition of the classic cars.  First lets go to Canada in Canada The Vintage Car Club of Canada (VCCC) recognizes vehicles that are 25 years old and older. The VCCC is one of the oldest collector car clubs in Canada. It has been a registered Society since the mid 1950s. Each year a different Chapter hosts the annual May Tour in a different geographical location in British Columbia. The VCCC has approximately 2800 members in BC counting spouses. The club has been a continuous member of the (NAACC) National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada Corporation since 1971. Meanwhile in the States Cars produced in 1915 and older typically fall into the antique class and this includes the "Brass Era car" that are defined by the Horseless Carriage Club of America (HCCA) as "any pioneer gas, steam and electric motor vehicle built or manufactured prior to January 1, 1916."

The "classic" term is often applied loosely by owners to any car that is more than 20 years old. Now classic are always related with the Museum thing. The classic car museums are a great gallery of the great classics on a country and hence we can understand the legacy or the experience of a country and their amazingly beautiful classic or vintage cars. 

Classics in an American car museum:- Legally, most states have time-based rules for the definition of "historic" or "classic" for purposes such as antique vehicle registration. For example, Maryland defines historic vehicles as 20 calendar years old or older and they "must not have been substantially altered, remodeled or re-manufactured from the manufacturers original design" while West Virginia defines motor vehicles manufactured at least 25 years prior to the current year as eligible for "classic" car license plates.
Coming east to the Europe, in the UK All cars built over 40 years ago are exempted from paying the annual road tax vehicle excise duty, and also exempt from the annual UK safety test known as the MOT test, however the vehicle can still be presented for test on a voluntary basis. HM Revenue and Customs define a classic car for company taxation purposes as being over 15 years old and having a value in excess of £15,000. Additionally, popular acclaim through classic car magazines can play an important role in whether a car comes to be regarded as a classic but the definition remains subjective and a matter of opinion. The elimination of depreciation can be a reason for buying a classic car and picking 'future classics' that are current 'bangers' can result in a profit for the buyer as well as providing transport. This is about the classics of the prominent countries. 
Now lets talk about the modern classics. Modern classic cars are generally older vehicles, ranging from 15 to 25 years, but are usually not accepted as classics according to the Antique Automobile Club of America.

In the United Kingdom, the modern classic definition is open to the discretion often by Insurance Brokers and Insurance Companies who regard a Modern Classic as a vehicle that is considered collectible regardless of age. The usage of the vehicle limited to recreational purposes or restricted mileage is also taken into account. 

Now the most attractive part of a classic car the stance and the design of the classic cars. There was a worldwide change in styling trends in the immediate years after the end of World War II. The 1946 Crosley and Kaiser-Frazer, for example, changed the traditional discrete replaceable-fender treatment. From this point on, automobiles of all kinds became envelope bodies in basic plan. The CCCA term, "antique car" has been confined to "the functionally traditional designs of the earlier period" mostly pre-war. They tended to have removable fenders, trunk, headlights, and a usual vertical grill treatment. In a large vehicle, such as a Duesenberg, Pierce-Arrow, or in a smaller form, the MG TC, with traditional lines, might typify the CCCA term. Another vehicle might be a classic example of a later period but not a car from the "classic period of design", in the opinion of the CCCA. 

Now as we discussed about the design and history of classic cars this is pretty much lengthy, this is pretty brief the more I go deep the more you get bored so See you in the next post.

Hope you enjoyed. 

Follow me on Instagram @4wheelsontheroads. 

Keep Revving!!