When is a classic car a classic car?
Discussion
Very interesting thread.
I would like to throw my penny in the ring by saying a classic car is a car that when you go shopping in your local supermarket you are very unlikely to see one parked in the car park and definitely not two. I say unlikely to see one only because I often take my 1968 3.4 S Type Jaguar shopping but I have yet to see a second in the car park that I can park next to.
I would like to throw my penny in the ring by saying a classic car is a car that when you go shopping in your local supermarket you are very unlikely to see one parked in the car park and definitely not two. I say unlikely to see one only because I often take my 1968 3.4 S Type Jaguar shopping but I have yet to see a second in the car park that I can park next to.
To be a classic requires people to love the car, before they all go to the scrap yard.
It helps to have a owners club and a forum to establish a knowledge Base.
The most unlikely cars can become classics, the Hillman Imp a prime example. So no requirement to be either iconic, or a example of engineering excellence?
It helps to have a owners club and a forum to establish a knowledge Base.
The most unlikely cars can become classics, the Hillman Imp a prime example. So no requirement to be either iconic, or a example of engineering excellence?
Mr Teddy Bear said:
The most unlikely cars can become classics, the Hillman Imp a prime example. So no requirement to be either iconic, or a example of engineering excellence?
The engine in the Imp was a real gem and they made great first cars, since I could pick up the whole long engine/gearbox/transaxle assembly which made working on them so much easier. 
a8hex said:
The engine in the Imp was a real gem and they made great first cars, since I could pick up the whole long engine/gearbox/transaxle assembly which made working on them so much easier.
I agree and after all if the Mini gained classic status then why not the Imp it had superior running gear with a proper engine rather the bendy A series.dinkel said:
I'm asking this because Ace Cafe is having a Classic Car Night June 10th. I managed to reserve 12 spaces for us PHers. Some friends have 80s and 90s cars that I regard as classics, dunno if the Ace does as well though. I want to have the proper arguements.
. . . and about 8 more cars please. PM if you can make it and want your classic wheels at the Ace display.
The 'official' Ace Cafe classic car policy is anything on 'old-style' number plates, not the 'AA11 AAA' style, so pre 2001. To be honest it depends who you get on the gate. I was once stopped in a 1972 Land Rover SIII while the Mk2 Toyota MR2 in front of me got in.. . . and about 8 more cars please. PM if you can make it and want your classic wheels at the Ace display.
gowmonster said:
note to cass3958, holy thread resurrection batman! 2008!
There is still a lot of life in this thread.I brought this back up as I went to a classic car show a couple of weeks ago and parked on the Jaguar Enthusiasts stand with my 1968 Jaguar S Type and beside me was parked a 2013 Jaguar XF diesel estate. I could see the car depreciating in value as I looked on with my mouth wide open. How could this ever be called a classic car now or in the future? Its a diesel for Gods sake!!!! Now its remarks like that which can cause controversy and discussion.
cass3958 said:
There is still a lot of life in this thread.
I brought this back up as I went to a classic car show a couple of weeks ago and parked on the Jaguar Enthusiasts stand with my 1968 Jaguar S Type and beside me was parked a 2013 Jaguar XF diesel estate. I could see the car depreciating in value as I looked on with my mouth wide open. How could this ever be called a classic car now or in the future? Its a diesel for Gods sake!!!! Now its remarks like that which can cause controversy and discussion.
I would agree with you and by my definition above, it quite clearly is not a classic yet.....I brought this back up as I went to a classic car show a couple of weeks ago and parked on the Jaguar Enthusiasts stand with my 1968 Jaguar S Type and beside me was parked a 2013 Jaguar XF diesel estate. I could see the car depreciating in value as I looked on with my mouth wide open. How could this ever be called a classic car now or in the future? Its a diesel for Gods sake!!!! Now its remarks like that which can cause controversy and discussion.
//j17 said:
Said a man at a classic car show in 1970 when he parked his 1935 SS Jaguar next to one...
I take your point and agree with you that no one knows what will be a classic car of the future. I agree that in 1970 I would not have said the S Type would have turned in to a classic as it was deemed to be very ugly compared to the MK2. My point is that you should allow the car to become a classic by itself, over time, not parade a new car as a classic of the future when time has yet to make its decision. And the XF estate in question was still a diesel no matter what you say.cass3958 said:
My point is that you should allow the car to become a classic by itself, over time, not parade a new car as a classic of the future when time has yet to make its decision.
Fine - but then you said it was on the Jaguar Enthusiasts stand so maybe the club are just trying to show that they are enclusive and not just for the stereotyped flat cap and tweed wearing 1950's/60's owners, and also showing that the mark it still alive, unlike most classic British marks.//j17 said:
Fine - but then you said it was on the Jaguar Enthusiasts stand so maybe the club are just trying to show that they are enclusive and not just for the stereotyped flat cap and tweed wearing 1950's/60's owners, and also showing that the mark it still alive, unlike most classic British marks.
Point taken again and I can not disagree with you that some of the stereotypes you refer to do look down their nose at some of the new models that that are produced by TATA and think that they are not really Jaguars. As MG owners did in the 80s when the MG metro, Meastro and Montego came out. Not many of them left even at classic car shows but still loads of MGBs and Midgets. I had a V8 MGB at the time and all MG owners used to flash their lights and wave at each other. When you did this to an MG Metro you got a strange look back with the question "Do I know you". Same occurs now with old Jaguars and new owners. One who bought their car to appreciate that its a Jaguar and the other who chose it from a list of company cars available to them. Yes it was the Jaguar Enthusiasts club stand but it was at a classic car show.
Both my cars are under separate companies and both are under "classic" cover.
AH.3000Bj8 (1968) and a Cit.ACTIVA V6 (1996)
I cannot really call the ACTIVA a "classic" yet in all fairness, just "interesting old"
The ability to keep post 80's cars on the road will be harder and harder VERY soon, the parts are to complicated to re-manufacture in all but a very few cases. "Modern Classics" will be VERY VERY rare
AH.3000Bj8 (1968) and a Cit.ACTIVA V6 (1996)
I cannot really call the ACTIVA a "classic" yet in all fairness, just "interesting old"
The ability to keep post 80's cars on the road will be harder and harder VERY soon, the parts are to complicated to re-manufacture in all but a very few cases. "Modern Classics" will be VERY VERY rare
//j17 said:
Scary but that means cars built this millennium are classics!
Not saying they aren't/shouldn't be, just that I can remember when the year 2000 was in the future
Not saying they aren't/shouldn't be, just that I can remember when the year 2000 was in the future
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