What constitutes a classic car? In insurance terms it is any vehicle over 25 years old, but many cars in that age bracket don't always find a place in the elite sector. Many cars from the 70s and 80s have fallen from grace despite very few remaining on the road.
Diesel engines were used in larger passenger cars during the 1930s when weight and cost penalties were not noticeable; their longer lifespan and higher reliability compared to petrol equivalents were also advantageous. Therefore many old diesels were simply workhorses rather than anything special, potentially reducing classic potential. Obviously that's different nowadays, where diesel engines can be found in most modern cars.
One PHer said classic status has little to do with the engine under the bonnet for most everyday cars. However, he lauds the fact that some people are still chugging along in early passenger cars with the diesel variant being rare at the time. When numbers of older cars start to dwindle will a diesel car be chased after as much as its petrol equivalent?
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