what makes a classic?

[Jazgeek]

I had a conversation with a neighbour today about my spider. He really likes it but has a hard time calling it a classic even though it's 27 years old. He instead will consider it a nice "old" car.

This got me to thinking what actually a "classic" car is. How old does a car have to be to be considered a "classic" or even antique. Google searches come up with every possible play on the words and most classic car sites are geared towards detroit steel and seem to place heavy emphasis on 60's and early 70's muscle.

Argueably the 85.5 azzura is the most sought after spider and judging from another thread an 81/82 is a close second. But how can that be? I had an 85 K car and if it was still kicking, I'd not even venture for it be considered a "classic"

anyone want to chime in?

[Nick]

I think it really depends on what you personally think. Some people only really care about muscle cars and all, I'd consider our Spiders to be classics.

[Leesfer]

If you want to be technical, Caifornia considers your car to be a classic car if it was made before 75

To me, a classic car is a classic car if it has the design that doesn't die, cars that beautifully stick out from the crowd

[So Cal Mark]

my interpretation of "classic" is a model that doesn't look dated, and brought something unique to automotive design, or improved a feature that became a standard of the industry. IMHO, there are very few "classic" cars. Most are just old cars, albeit many are restored or in excellent condition. But just because it's well preserved doesn't make it classic

[RevDave]

I think the term "Classic" is relative... It can be tied to age, rarity, or style/beauty or innovation - and therefore a car's resulting desirability...

And of course, we have to remember that one man's trash is another man's treasure. A 1972 Ford Pinto may be 36 years old, but for "most folks" it would hardly be considered a classic! (Though lets not be too quick to judge... there are some rabid fans of Pintos out there too!) Similarly, is a (50 year older) 1922 Model T Ford a classic? I would certainly say yes, even though Ford built a zillion of the things and they were sold in every town in America.

On the other hand, a 1972 Corvette would generally be regarded as a classic because it is considered by most to be a desirable car. Conversely, a 1965 Rambler Station Wagon would probably be regarded by most as an "old car" - nothing more!

The term "Classic Car" is a very, very slippery slope! Beauty and "classic" status is in the eye of the beholder!

Dave

[Jazgeek]

interesting repsponses.... I did come across this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_car

any automobile that is 25 years or older is considered an antique...

[81autospider]

Here's my 2 cents on the topic ...I do understand a little bit of the crowd using Detroit iron as their lingo to label an American car a classic such as a 65 Mustang...however you must compare the two as an example...classic muscle cars have lots of chrome...so how much of the 85 Spider do you see bright work?...not too much in that year....if you pulled up to a gas station in a early Spider that was loaded with bright work, you would probably get the usual remark from a passer by, "hey, nice classic car dude!"...but not the same remark from a newer Spider with less chrome...it's more of an attractive appearance that the chrome brings of an era that is long gone...this is why there is such a big market in the stick on chrome that people buy to enhance their ride to draw attention...because chrome is king!...hope this helps explain things a little better...at least that's how I see it

[mdrburchette]

Well, by reading this thread, it looks to me that my early 70's Spider is considered a classic and the 80's Spider is just an old car. Who'd a thunk?

[Leesfer]

Well, by reading this thread, it looks to me that my early 70's Spider is considered a classic and the 80's Spider is just an old car. Who'd a thunk?

We have four bars of chrome for the bumpers, you guys only have two

See how stylish and awesome/classic the tube bumpers are?

[racydave]

Maybee the term classic covers a broad area, I reserve it for cars like Duesenberg, Cord, Auburn, LaSalle, Cadillac etc...otherwise I like the term collectors cars.

[kristoj]

http://www.classiccarclub.org/CarList.htm

[81autospider]

Maybee the term classic covers a broad area, I reserve it for cars like Duesenberg, Cord, Auburn, LaSalle, Cadillac etc...otherwise I like the term collectors cars.

I would call those cars and that era..."Antique cars"....when you start referring to stuff that is 50-80 years old...it only fits that era...now don't confuse the issue with people though...I'm not saying that when you see you grand parents the next time, that you blame it on me why you are calling them antique instead of just "old"

I also think the word classic is also attached to a popular make and model...Mustang and Camaro both were very popular as were many other models of the last 25-40+ yrs....I think that has a lot of meaning with the word "classic"

[sjmst]

This got me to thinking what actually a "classic" car is. ....

A Fiat Spider

[SpiderHead]

The owners do.