smart51
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 02:42 PM |
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when is a classic car a classic car?
We've been debating this one and we've got a few ideas. What do you think of them?
Hard and fast rules are silly. Americans consider classics to be made in 1959 or older. A car built in 1960 is not a classic even if it is identical
to one made in 59. Any old heap made in the 50s is a classic. We think that's wrong.
A classic will be oldish. Not vintage but not modern. Its also got to be nice or interesting or historically significant, but not necessarily all
three.
Here are the rules.
Production of the VERSION of the car should have stopped 25 years ago and production of newer versions 10 years ago. (Mk1 mini is a classic but the
last of the old shape minis isn't)
Unless production started more than 40 years ago and your car is more than 20 years old. (Morgans, Bristol Blenheims etc)
Two of the following 3:
The car should be popular, anywhere on the scale from "slightly popular with everyone" to "fanatically followed by a few" (not
a morris marina)
The car should be interesting. This would include the delorean, which had a very interesting story to it but would exclude something ordinary, like a
Mk4 escort.
The car should be historically significant. The first front wheel drive car would be included, the first car with twin filament headlight bulbs would
not.
Examples
Mk1 Golf
production started in the 70s so probably old enough. Current golf is not based on the Mk1 even though they share a name. It isn't a special
car, even though it was VWs first non beetle based car. People are not bothered about it generally. Old, not classic.
Mk1 Golf GTi
Same as above but with a popular following and was the first of the whole genre of Gti cars to which it gave the name. Classic.
MGB
1960s to 1981, excluding the MGRV8 reissue in 1996. Very popular if not spectacular. No-one said it had to be good. Classic.
Austin Allegro.
1970s so probably old enough. Hateful nasty cars that too few people love. Interesting story as the original design was quite nice. The bonnet was
raised to fit in the old 1.3 lump. The sides were wider than expected because they were made wrong and the company wouldn't pay for the tooling
to be remade. Old not classic.
Ford Probe
Too new. Too modern looking. Not interesting or particularly popular. Modern.
Lotus / Caterham 7
1960s to present date. Not a classic. Series 1 cars perhaps because they are old and look more old.
2CV
1950s to 1990, so not long enough out of production, but will be soon. A historical milestone in many ways but unloved. Would have been a classic if
they'd stopped making it sooner. Under the rules it will be a classic in a year or 2.
Citroen DS.
A ground braking and interesting old car. Classic.
So, not vintage or modern plus 2 out of three of popular / interesting / significant. What do you think?
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blakep82
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 02:58 PM |
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too many rules, too confusing lol
20years + is modern classic
30years + is classic
50year+ is vintage 
________________________
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Lightning
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 02:58 PM |
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My TVR Chimaera is on classic car insurance and hence £190/annum fully comp, which is good enough for me
[Edited on 4/6/09 by Lightning]
Steve
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nick205
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:01 PM |
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Could be quite a subjective subject for most people.
What criteris do insurance companies use to determine vintage and classic status?
For me the 205GTI goes straight in the classic section 
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smart51
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:12 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
What criteris do insurance companies use to determine vintage and classic status?
For me the 205GTI goes straight in the classic section
Insurance companies want your money so will say whatever they think will stop good business going to a competitor.
Liking a 205 Gti doesn't make it a classic. Neither does the fact that it was good. It isn't quite old enough so perhaps a future
classic, though I suspect it isn't particularly interesting or historically significant. Sorry.
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MK9R
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:15 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Could be quite a subjective subject for most people.
What criteris do insurance companies use to determine vintage and classic status?
For me the 205GTI goes straight in the classic section
I was just about to ask how the 205 faired, as i consider it to be a classic now. What about stuff like the original sierra cosworth ??
Cheers Austen
RGB car number 9
www.austengreenway.co.uk
www.automatedtechnologygroup.co.uk
www.trackace.co.uk
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smart51
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by MK9R
I was just about to ask how the 205 faired, as i consider it to be a classic now. What about stuff like the original sierra cosworth ??
Is the cossie old enough? I'm not sure of the years but the sierra is long dead, so maybe. I suppose it is quite interesting, the sierra had a
troubled birth. The cosworth has a following so by my rules, future classic until it is 25 years from end of production then it becomes a genuine
classic.
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MK9R
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:35 PM |
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original RS500 cossie was 1984, so its a classic ?? 
I've never owned one, but it was the first real performance car i went in, i was about 10 and dads friend came round in one and took us out for
a spin, i thought my eyes were going to explode!
[Edited on 4/6/09 by MK9R]
Cheers Austen
RGB car number 9
www.austengreenway.co.uk
www.automatedtechnologygroup.co.uk
www.trackace.co.uk
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:36 PM |
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Rigidly defining a classic is like trying to nail jelly to a wall!
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:37 PM |
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My 97 XJ6 is on classic insurance. Halfed my premium last year 
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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clairetoo
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:47 PM |
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As I see it - if they dont make them any more and they are good , then it's a classic
I loved my 1990 Alfa 164 - I bought it when it was just an old car , and cheap , but you just dont see them around and prices are going up . That
makes it a classic .
Its cuz I is blond , innit
Claire xx
Will weld for food......
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blakep82
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:47 PM |
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1997?! lol
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don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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blakep82
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:48 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
As I see it - if they dont make them any more and they are good , then it's a classic
I loved my 1990 Alfa 164 - I bought it when it was just an old car , and cheap , but you just dont see them around and prices are going up . That
makes it a classic .
good call, so when value start going up its a classic? i like it
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:56 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
1997?! lol
Yeah but she is well looked after
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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Fozzie
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 03:58 PM |
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So then..at what age/criteria would you define the Historics?
Fozzie
'Racing is Life!...anything before or after is just waiting'....Steve McQueen
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 04:00 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Fozzie
So then..at what age/criteria would you define the Historics?
Fozzie
When the value goes over £40k
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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Fozzie
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 04:05 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
quote:
Originally posted by Fozzie
So then..at what age/criteria would you define the Historics?
Fozzie
When the value goes over £40k
Nope!
'Racing is Life!...anything before or after is just waiting'....Steve McQueen
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blakep82
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 04:37 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
1997?! lol
Yeah but she is well looked after
does a well looked after 3 year old car then become a classic?
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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blakep82
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 04:38 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Fozzie
quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
quote:
Originally posted by Fozzie
So then..at what age/criteria would you define the Historics?
Fozzie
When the value goes over £40k
Nope!
over 70 years
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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Humbug
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 04:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by smart51
...
Mk1 Golf
production started in the 70s so probably old enough. Current golf is not based on the Mk1 even though they share a name. It isn't a special
car, even though it was VWs first non beetle based car. People are not bothered about it generally. Old, not classic.
...
I'm not sure what constitutes a classic (probably as many theories as there are people on this forum!) but the Golf came out in 1974 and the K70
came out in 1970. Not based on a Beetle (though it was designed as an NSU, but released as a VW after they got taken over)
linky
[Edited on 04.06.2009 by Humbug]
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 04:46 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
quote:
Originally posted by blakep82
1997?! lol
Yeah but she is well looked after
does a well looked after 3 year old car then become a classic?
Depends if its a jag or not
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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thunderace
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 05:12 PM |
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i say my 80s golf mk1 gti karmann cabrio is retro not classic
but i think my 1973 dutton is a classic.
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 06:39 PM |
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my 1989 Bluebird was in the modern classic section at the last car show
Just got it reinsured today and the guy on the phone said he'd not insured one in over a year, asked me to repeat the mileage when I said it was
44k
best classic are the everday humdrum cars that heaps of folk had and then recognise at shows, then say "OH MY GOD I HAD ONE OF THOSE!!!"
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 07:17 PM |
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I think a classic as anything which stirs your soul, heart, loins and is not in current production.
Entirely a personal thing
Except FSO's - they will never be classic
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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austin man
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| posted on 4/6/09 at 08:42 PM |
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my austin was a 1958 and definitely a classic see avtar
Life is like a bowl of fruit, funny how all the weird looking ones are left alone
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