When does a car become a classic?

When does a car become a classic?

Author
Discussion

Thin White Duke

Original Poster:

2,333 posts

159 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
I suppose there is no proper answer for this question, more a matter of personal taste.

How old does or should a car be before it becomes a classic? Do you go with the zero VED of pre 1973 cars, or with the
no MOT pre 1960 cars? Perhaps you think it's when a car is eligible for classic insurance ranging from 10 - 15 years old.

Looking for instance at an early 90's Bentley Turbo R, I'd say they are a future classic, rather than say a T Series from the 70's which to me says classic.

There may be those who believe only vintage cars are true classic.

What do you believe?

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
More or less around the time that people consider buying them as something other than a daily driver. With a Turbo R, that was the day it left the factory. With something like a non cossie or XR Ford Sierra, it's only just turning the corner now.

Viperz888

558 posts

157 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
When they start appreciating in value.

DonkeyApple

54,930 posts

168 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
Viperz888 said:
When they start appreciating in value.
I would hazard that is the most relevant definition.

Thin White Duke

Original Poster:

2,333 posts

159 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
Viperz888 said:
When they start appreciating in value.
Good call, hadn't thought of that one.

LiamB

7,922 posts

142 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
Viperz888 said:
When they start appreciating in value.
What about the original mini? They seem to depreciate quite a lot.


(Although they do seem to be going up again..)

Audi 525i

1,250 posts

151 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
When they appear in the Classic Cars section of eBay.


Maybe.

Jw Vw

4,826 posts

162 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
davepoth said:
More or less around the time that people consider buying them as something other than a daily driver. With a Turbo R, that was the day it left the factory. With something like a non cossie or XR Ford Sierra, it's only just turning the corner now.
This.

Jordan Rich

80 posts

141 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
Audi 525i said:
When they appear in the Classic Cars section of eBay.


Maybe.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-MINI-MINI-COOPER-RED-62000-miles-/290732330160?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item43b0ff4cb0#ht_500wt_1416
'05 mini - in the "classic cars" section...

TallbutBuxomly

12,254 posts

215 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
It seems quite variable. I was looking at a 156 gta sportswagon 2 yrs ago and spoke to a few classic car insurance companies and most were willing to put it into classic insurance due to it's rarity and for very good prices too.

bamberwell

1,266 posts

161 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
when does a car become a classic? usually a couple of years after i've sold it! frown

Engineer1

10,486 posts

208 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
DonkeyApple said:
Viperz888 said:
When they start appreciating in value.
I would hazard that is the most relevant definition.
I'd say it's earlier than that, it's when people start spending more than the car's current value on work on it.

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
Engineer1 said:
I'd say it's earlier than that, it's when people start spending more than the car's current value on work on it.
That's the best definition yet.

DonkeyApple

54,930 posts

168 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
Engineer1 said:
I'd say it's earlier than that, it's when people start spending more than the car's current value on work on it.
There would need to be a caveat or all BL cars were instant classics. biggrin

Charlie Michael

2,750 posts

183 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
When you only see them on sunny weekends.


Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
Not always about increasing in value

Randy Winkman

16,021 posts

188 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
LiamB said:
Viperz888 said:
When they start appreciating in value.
What about the original mini? They seem to depreciate quite a lot.


(Although they do seem to be going up again..)
Exactly - perhaps that means they are now "classics"?

pwrc

2,357 posts

151 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
Engineer1 said:
I'd say it's earlier than that, it's when people start spending more than the car's current value on work on it.
a good point, until you consider BL snotters as mentioned, or '80s fords which nobody seems to like. hell, people pump money into late '90s corsas, does that make them classic? no no noooooooo

Zad

12,695 posts

235 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
Whenever someone thinks of it as a classic and appreciates something for what it is, then it is a classic. The recent Focus RSs are arguably classics already. Given the speed they sold out, they were probably classics before they had been delivered. Yes, this means that pretty every car ever is a "classic" as the term is vague at best.



huwp

833 posts

174 months

Sunday 1st July 2012
quotequote all
I always thought that "Classic" was 25 years and "Vintage" 75 years. Plus then whatever else makes a car worthy.