Classic cars are cars with the wow factor; what makes a car classic goes beyond the car’s looks. Before the montage classic can be given to any particular automobile, there are other qualities to consider. Classic cars are cars whose production has ceased and have been deemed by the motoring world to be worthy of the moniker’ classic.’ They are cars with historical backgrounds that should be protected and are worthy of being added to a collector’s collection.
According to the Classic Car Club of America, a car is considered classic if it has that air of difference, having been built in America or somewhere else and must have been built between 1915 and 1948. The Antique Automobile Club of America considers a car antique if it is older than 25 years. However, this age is not static; it varies from state to state. For instance, a car is not considered classic in Montana unless it’s 30 years of age or older.
Classic cars are also permitted to have special plate licenses. This means that the vehicles can only be driven to and from an exhibition; they cannot be driven within the state for any purpose other than an exhibition making it a collector’s item.
What makes a car classic?
- Exotic nature
Classic cars are exotic vehicles. They are rare commodities that have gone out of production and cannot be easily found plying the road like other standard vehicles. The number of cars produced and how many are still available also help determine if a car becomes a classic.
- Quality
When the car was produced, was it a luxury good or a run-of-the-mill vehicle? The vehicle could be considered a classic if it was a luxury product.
- Value
Classic cars, unlike regular vehicles, do not have depreciating value. The value of a classic car may remain stagnant or increase as they are products people desire to obtain.
- Emit strong feelings
Everything about the car must have a wow factor ranging from its body to its engine, the upholstery, the purr it gives when you drive, how it glides on the road, the history behind the vehicle, the brand and the car must have style and finesse to be considered a classic.
- Sentimental
The car must be capable of evoking nostalgia in people. For some, what they consider classic may be that the cars were produced when they were young and had just begun to fall in love with cars, or they may connect that particular car to a cherished memory from their childhood.
- Design
The aesthetics of the car is also something that makes a car a classic. If the car is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, seeing as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it may be considered a classic. To some, the look and the design of the car are more critical than underneath the hood.
- Cultural trendsetters
We all grew up watching movies and fashion shows; these movies have made use of some cars that have attained classic status, such as the Aston Martin DB5 used in 1964’s Bond movie Goldfinger.