The vocabulary of car collection

Some old cars are just old. Some donate to charity, if the charity accepts them. Others give up during community cleanups and some travel to the demolition yard. But some really do increase in value. There are old cars that have higher prices than when they were new.

When searching the net or talking to seasoned collectors, you will come across labels such as vintage cars, vintage cars, classic cars, muscle cars, pony cars. And each of these has been sought after by a collector.

You will see advertisements in prestigious magazines such as Forbes that identify the top ten classic cars and the top ten vintage cars. On Sunday afternoon, it is not uncommon to see a club at a rally. And there is a club for each category of car.

But what constitutes an antique, a vintage or a classic? Some definitions have been established, but there are also occasions when the definition is the product of the definer. And many times the definitions do not match.

For example, the Antique Automobile Club of America defines an antique car as any automobile over 25 years old. However, outside the club it is defined as those cars manufactured from the beginning of development until 1916.

Vintage cars are designated as those produced between 1916 and 1924.

Classic cars are a confusing mix. There are almost as many definitions as there are definers. Some classify a classic car as one produced from 1925 to the present day. Certainly, to become a classic car, it must be appreciated and sought after by a significant number of people.

Even car thieves have a say in what is and is not classic. Across the world, car thieves show a clear preference for cars made in Japan. In a ‘Top Ten’ list, car thieves were found to favor the Honda Civic, Toyota Century, Honda Accord, Accura Integra, Toyota Pickup, and Nissan Sentra. The other four cars on the list were American. European cars were not included. However, the content was likely influenced by the location of the list creator and the thieves’ base of operations.

But European brands, notably the 1954 Mercedes 300SL, the 1966 Porsche 911, the 1961 Jaguar XKE and the Volvo 1800 E are on the top ten vintage car list.

The demand for vintage car ads also provides a clue as to what is and is not popular.

The Classic Car Club of America defines a classic as: “a fine or distinctive automobile, whether of American or foreign manufacture, produced between 1925 and 1948.” The classics should be cars that were made in small quantities and high priced when new. The club maintains a list of classics.

The club also readily admits that its definition may not be followed. A look at Forbes’ top ten will corroborate that claim.

And then the government comes into the picture, as most states in the United States have laws defining antiques, classics, and classics for vehicle registration purposes.

So what really seems to determine a classic is popularity. If enough people fall in love with a junkyard heirloom and wish to own and restore it, that car will become a classic.

However, there is a certainty. Whether antique, vintage or classic, these cars will appreciate in value as the years go by.