I was having a discussion today with my father who has owned 5 Vettes, his current is a 57. When is a Corvette considered a classic? I know that the deffinition of an antique is over 25 years. But What is a Classic? I know there is no deffinition of a classic. It is different for different people. But I was just waundering what everyone's deffinition of a classic is. Is it age? For example is a 73 Vette a classic because of it's age, If so is a 73 plymoth Duster with a straight six a classic? Same age though. And I 'm sure some people out there think a 73 duster is a classic. If it is age is a ZR1 not a classic? I guess what I am really asking is, Is my 81 a Classic, why or why not? I know to me I think it is. I love that car and would never sell it. It was my dad's now mine and I will pass it on to my kid someday. So What is a classic, and why? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

i believe a classic is 20years, and antique is 25. don't take my word for it cause i haven't thought about that in many many years.

 

Ok, here is the textbook definition:
The "Classic Car Era" was 1925-1948. Essentially, the Classic Era stopped with the end of the 1940-1948 Lincoln Continental.

For a car to be considered a "Full Classic" as recognized by the Classic Car Club of America, (the large club that boasts Jay Leno, Ralph Lauren, Nicolas Cage, as well as my father and father-in-law as members) the car has to be of "significance" due in part to its luxury, performance, technical innovation or a combination of all three. Famous "Full Classics" include, Duesenbergs, Mercedes, many Packards, Lincolns, Pierce Arrows, Cords, Auburns, Franklin, Caddies, Maybach (and the list goes on.)

Cars such as Model A, T, Chevy and other Hondas of their days are not really considered classics under the full definition, rather, collectable. For a list of Full Classics, you can go to http://www.classiccarclub.org/CarList.htm

As for Corvettes, they actually classify as a "Milestone Car," which is a club (for the lack of a better descriptive) for cars 1945-1972 of significance. All Vettes up to '72 qualify. Other Milestone Cars include my 1955 Packard Patrician, my drowned 1959 Triumph TR3, Cobras, 300SL Gullwings etc...

Now, in reality, people throw around "Classic," and that's okay. Even my published auto column is called "Sound Classics" and the story today profiles a one-owner 1965 Impala SuperSport Convertible. But keep in mind that the big-money guys don't consider a 1957 Fuel-Injected Corvette a Classic, nor does a Ferrari GTO classify...but that doesn't mean they wouldn't like one (or don't already have one or two) in their collections. It's just a definition.

Hope this helps.

Sam

 

There is a definition of a Classic Car dfined by the Classic Car Club of America. The classic era is from 1925 until 1948 and only certain cars manufactured during these years are given Ckassic Status. Classic Cars are low production, feature rich, expensive automobiles. Corvetts will neve have classic status because of the large numbers manufactured every year. The Antique Car Club of America pretty much has the same criteria for Classics but they do have some different cars that qualify.

You can go to these car club web sites and see more info.

Maybe the Corvette club has a category of Classics for Corvetts but I am not aware of any

 

I just call mine "old school"

 

well i do not agree with any of you gentlemen as a classic can only be one car and that was my first and second.your '81 however is of a vintage that can never be surpassed.enjoy it!

 

It's very simple. Only cars that have XXX original miles and are matching numbers can be classic cars.

The problem is that nobody knows what 'original miles' means, and there's no two people that can agree on the definition of 'matching numbers'.

Are '81 Corvette considered to be Stingrays, or should I just go to my room now and wait till my father comes home?

 

Thanks for the detailed info.....I have determined that my wallet decides what is a Classic (My wallet just said that I would never be parking my basket-case classic next to one of Jay Leno's Classics).

BUT.......after wanting one for 44 years...I now have my classic...wrong body parts and all!

 

I think this thread is old enough to be a classic itself.

 

Holy revive from the dead thread - 12 years old!

I'll settle for owning a classy car.
And the '73 Duster with an inline 6 is old Dodge smogger junk.
Unless you have one, then it's probably a classic

 

So it is! Normally I catch those.

Possibly the OP's car is old enough now that it's a classic.

 

I know EXACTLY how it was revived....I do a lot of searching to learn stuff....

then I forget that I have found a 15 year old thread....and I reply to it.........

(Occasionally, I revive an old thread for all the good info it has)

 

Classic is something SOMEONE else would want to own in 25 years.

Classic is recognized as something special C2C3 .....64 Mustang is classic ..etc.... 911 Porsche..




A C6 is classic .


Classically fuggly



Vintage is something from a very fine era of original design.

Like. ....old 50's Gibson LesPaul s...... Beautiful ...like classic Corvette

70 's Norlin's are old guitars , But not vintage .....and not built to vintage spec.....

 

Classic? Sadly has become a mis and over used word that actually now means absolutely nothing,going by some of the criteria given in this thread could a 1994 Hyundai or a 1989 Tempo really be considered a "classic"?

 

I agree with you. The word Classic when referencing cars is like using Kleenex for all brands of facial tissues, However a Classic car as defined by the Classic Car Club of america does make a big difference In the value.

Examples of Classic cars are Duesenbergs, Cords, Auburns, Some Packards and other low volume feature rich cars from 1925 through 1948.

I don't agree with some of the cars that have Classic status and I think some cars that don't have Classic status should.

For example if the classic era was extended to 1956 the Mark II Continental would qualify. They only made 4,000 of them and they were $10,000.

 

 

finally someone who understands english.

 

And I'm Danish !!

 

I get a kick out of this topic.

I will address it only in how it affects Corvette. But the principle is the same for all cars.

Many think: "Old Corvette, it's a Classic". This is far from the truth. Not all Corvettes are classic, or even collectible.

But people "think" they are!!!!

For example, what is classic?
1. A 1969, 427, 435 hp Stingray

or

2. A 1975 160 hp small block?

Well, the answer is obvious. The early Corvette smog cars, and even the early C4 models are totally not collectible or classic. But they are Corvettes.

This whole discussion about "Classic" has to be put into context. People will say, "But the greatest numbers of C3 cars sold were smog cars".

That is true, and the reason is ironic. During the 70's gas crises, guys dumped their Caddys and Buicks for the "economical" vette. That's correct, the corvette was the American replacement for the English econo sports cars.

The point is, a classic makes a statement of performance, style and/or technology.

The hilborn fuel injected cars aren't considered classic simply because even though technologically advanced, it wasn't worth it!!. No real performance gain and tremendously expensive. But it is unique and definitely cool.

Just my two cents.

 

anything 20 years old