For aficionados of classic auto designs of yesteryear, nothing beats a perfectly restored classic or antique car. Elegant line, dazzling chrome and even genteel carriage evoke pleasant memories of the past, transporting us into personal fantasy where “They don’t make them like they used to” will never ring false. But how are people ever to tell if their hobby cars are antique or classical? Thankfully, there are guidelines. Just remember, whether a car is classic or antique, it should generally not be used as a daily commuter, unless you have unlimited funds at your disposal and don’t need auto loans to purchase vehicles.
Aren’t antique and classic the same thing?
Some sources claim classic and antique are the same, but the truth is it ain’t necessarily so. According to Wikipedia, some car aficionados in the United States use “classic car” to refer to high-quality vehicles from the pre-World War II era. However, 20 years of life for a car is approximately double the expectancy intended for most modern cars according to U.S. auto insurance laws, so the “classic car” title sets in after a car is 20 years old. And classic or antique car insurance tends to be almost always more expensive than insurance for any standard vehicle because older models don’t have the same safety features that come standard in newer cars. In the United Kingdom, the term “antique car” isn’t used at all, even though they do use the phrase “vintage” to refer to vehicles more than 100 years old.
The Classic Car Club of America contact
The Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) has many people who live and breathe classic and antique cars. They have developed their own standards for what constitutes “classic” or “antique” when it comes to cars, and those standards are stringent. More expensive mass market cars made between 1946 and 1985 fit under their definition of “classic,” but certain larger sports and racing vehicles do not qualify. Original parts need to be included in these cars and it doesn’t necessarily have to be American-made. The Antique Automobile Club of America classifies cars that are older than 25 years antique, but “the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely,” according to Wikipedia.
Things are different in the UK
Car insurance companies in the UK also play a role in defining what “classic car” means, but the timeframe is just a bit different. Cars made 15 to 25 years ago are modern classic cars, but to confuse things a bit, UK insurance companies aren’t sticklers about this. Cars that don’t fall within the guidelines can still be considered collectible.
Classic car insurance final word
Funneling money into maintaining and restoring a classic or antique car makes insuring it essential. Discussing the matter with a licensed insurance agent is advisable if you want to fully protect your classic or antique car investment.
Find more information on this topic:
Wikipedia (classic car)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_car
Wikipedia (antique car)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antique_car
HowToDoThings.com
http://www.howtodothings.com/automotive/how-to-determine-if-your-car-is-a-classic
Classic Car Club of America